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Did you know the book ‘Master Modeler’ (the biography of Tamiya founder, Shunsaku Tamiya) went out of print years ago, and now retails for between $100 and $300 in fine condition?
Books yellow with age depending on how they are stored. So if you own any somewhat valuable hobby books (or any books), have you considered how you care for them?
Over the past couple of years I’ve found myself becoming something of an amateur book collector. It began after I rummaged through my collection of old science fiction novels, mostly purchased in the 1990s. And then started looking into what else I might like to add to my shelves – authors and books I’d always said I’d read “one day”.
But as The Flaming Lips once sang, “All we have is now…”. And lately I’ve tried to make reading part of my daily routine.
I’m a big fan of authors like Arthur C. Clarke. But I also love reference books about sci-fi films. And of course many, many books, magazines and catalogues about toys, hobbies and collecting.
But first, a question: Would you be happy if your brand new books suddenly ended up like this just from sitting on your shelves?
This isn’t my book. But this lovely phenomenon is called ‘Foxing‘. Paper generally yellows as it ages, and we can’t stop it. But we can slow it down. And in addition, we can avoid it developing those ugly spots that are caused by a type of mould. Once embedded in paper, foxing can never be removed. And believe me, I’ve tried.
Whilst recently looking through my books, I discovered that even some brand new paperbacks I’d bought only a handful of years ago (and hadn’t read yet) had started to turn yellow just sitting on shelves.
After a little more research, I learned some basic rules of book care that any book collector will tell you. Book yellowing and mould are caused by one or more of these conditions:
- Sunlight. The main cause of page yellowing.
- Humidity. The main cause of foxing.
- Wooden bookshelves. This was a new one to me. A lot of people say timber “off-gases” as it ages, and this also causes paper to turn yellow. I am unsure of the science behind it when you consider all the timber bookshelves in the world that hold many precious books…. but let’s run with it for the moment…
- Other yellowed books. Apparently book yellowing is also contagious. i.e., Putting a brand new book next to yellowed books isn’t a good idea, they say, or else the white books will go yellow faster. Myth? Truth? If nothing else, best to keep your good books isolated.
Another thing I learned is that paperbacks are made from inherently cheaper paper that loves to turn yellow (faster) than hardcover or other, more expensive editions. This makes sense given paperbacks are designed to be as cheap as possible.
Alas, a lot of science fiction novels were only ever published in paperback form. So keeping them in nice condition over the years requires a bit of special treatment. Check out this neat little edition I have of ‘A Fall of Moondust’, by Arthur C Clarke…
This copy actually dates from the 1990s. And not sure if you can tell, but I’ve sealed this book in plastic 😅 The pages were not too yellowed. And after a bit of a further clean and restore, I think the book is in great condition. And now it should (hopefully) stay that way. It’s important to note however, that you can’t use just any plastic wrap for books. It should be acid-free plastic. So, here’s what I used…
Clearly, the first thing to do with books is keep them in cool, dark, well ventilated (low humidity) locations. And if you want to go the extra mile – avoid using wooden bookshelves too. Try steel ones instead. They do exist.
But as mentioned, I’m also of the view that covering valuable books in protective, acid-free plastic will help keep them safe from humidity and wear. Some bookworms may disagree with fully covering books, claiming it “traps moisture inside with the book”. However, can anyone provide evidence of this? Because after hours of online research, I’ve not been able to find any real backup for this theory. Only lots of people parroting the same line, which made me wonder if it was a bit like the water drinking myth.
And furthermore. What about comic books? Comic book collectors have long dealt with books made from pretty low quality paper. Some rare comic books are now worth thousands of dollars. And yet, I know from visiting toy and collectible shows that many comic books are kept and traded whilst sealed in plastic sleeves with little backing boards to keep them flat. So I decided to look into some of those acid-free comic book sleeves to see if they might work for books, too.
In addition, I visited a local seller of collectible books to ask about another more common type of covering material – dust jacket covers. And he showed me how he uses this on his own books.
Armed with this knowledge, and my (now unexpectedly expensive?) mint copy of ‘Master Modeler’, let’s look at how I cover books. I’ve given it my full “covering” treatment – Steps 1 and 2…
Step 1 – A dust jacket
For hardcover books, their fragile dust jackets are prone to wear from handling alone, as well as yellowing and foxing. You’re supposed to take dust jackets off when you read books. But even if you do, they still tend to get worn out when being moved around on bookshelves for years.
Putting a dust jacket inside a cover of it’s own will not only protect it from dirt and tears, I think it also looks nicer (shinier). On advice from my book dealer friend, I opted to buy a a roll of Unifold Polypropylene Dust Jacket covering from Bookcoverco to cover my dust jackets.
The process of covering a dust jacket does take a little practice. But it’s pretty easy once you know. First, here is my uncovered hardcover of ‘Master Modeler’…
And here’s how to cut and fit a nice dust jacket sleeve. Remember that the dust jacket cover should not adhere to the dust jacket itself. It should only “contain” the dust jacket. Meaning you can always take it off later, if you want.
Time required: 10mins
- Take the dust jacket off and lay it out flat.
- Unroll the covering, and place the jacket face-up, under the clear side. With the adhesive strip at the bottom of the jacket.
- Ensure the jacket is tucked right up tight against the top, and use a couple of clips to hold it in place.
- Then turn it over, and trim the paper backing away (no particular length – just ensure it’s shorter than the jacket)
- Now fold the bottom of the cover up, as tight as possible. And remove the paper backing of the adhesive strip, then stick it down. Use your nail to tightly crease the edge of the cover, ensuring the jacket is contained tightly at top and bottom, within the cover.
- Now turn the jacket over. Then carefully trim the ends to remove the excess cover, being careful not to cut into the jacket. The trimmed edges don’t need to be perfectly straight or anything.
- Now all you need to do is fit the jacket back onto the book. Place the book spine in the middle of the jacket, then take your time to fold and crease the page flap of one side so that it fits tightly on the book. Then do the other side.
The book dust jacket is now sealed inside a nice, protective, shiny cover. So it never gets torn or dirty.
This will protect the jacket. But not the sides of the actual book pages. Which is where step 2 comes in…
Step 2 – The comic book sleeve
Book edges are the most likely part to go yellow. And even worse – if they develop “foxing”, this is impossible to remove, as I mentioned earlier.
My advice is to wrap the whole book. And you might be thinking “Er, what if I want to read it?”…
Well, if you’re about to read it – don’t wrap it. But I bet 99% of the books you own, probably won’t get read in the next 10 years. Right? So, 5mins of wrapping/unwrapping is hardly an inconvenience.
This approach works for both soft and hardcover books. I use Ultra-Pro products, such as these magazine size comic bags. They are acid-free,, come in various sizes, and in packets of 100. I have some larger and smaller ones to choose from, depending on the size of the book.
Time required: 5 minutes
- Slide the book into the bag.
- Fold the excess over onto the back side of the book (to keep the front more presentable) and tape it down. I use Scotch Gift Wrap tape as it’s nice to use, and not very visible when applied.
- Now trim the excess of the bag away, leaving about 2 inches at the top. Be sure to continually, carefully re-push the book to the bottom of the bag to ensure it’s tightly at the bottom.
- Now simply fold the top of the bag over to the back of the book, and do the same for the excess bits at the bottom.
The book is now totally sealed. And I can sleep easy, given another non-foxy one like mine could set me back some $300 one day 😅
Restoring yellowed books
While the above techniques should help preserve your new books for the future, what about books that have already yellowed? Can they be brought back to remove some of the discolouration?
The answer is “yes” – but only the yellowed page sides. Any foxing can’t really be removed.
The way to do this is to sand the sides of the book. This is a well-known book technique and people typically use something like a small sanding block, with fine sand paper, to gentle remove the yellow.
But my approach is to carefully brush away some of the yellowing, using…a Dremel! Why do it manually, when a power tool can help…
As far as I can see, nobody else on the web seems to have suggested this method to date. But in my experience, it saves a lot of effort. All you need to do is attach the ‘Dremel 512E Finishing Abrasive Brush‘ to your Dremel. Then, with the book closed, carefully and lightly run the brush at low speed along the 3 page sides of the book. In my experience this can brighten yellowed page sides by up to about 30%. I use this approach on nearly every used book I buy – just to clean and brighten up the sides a little bit. The sides are always more yellowed, than the centre of pages, as they are exposed to the most humidity/light.
Here’s a picture of my slightly yellowed, brand new paperback of ‘Leviathan Wakes’ by James SA Corey which after just a few years on my shelf, had started to yellow. Left – before Dremel sanding, and right – after sanding…
I have a fair few other valuable sci-fi books, manuals, catalogs, magazines and other things that also probably would be better off inside a comic book sleeve, or with a dust jacket.
I’ve already covered my rare hardcover of ‘A Fire Upon the Deep’, by Vernor Vinge, with its amazing artwork…
But I should probably also slip some other things into sleeves in my drawers, like this ultra rare Nikko R/C catalogue from 1980…
Or this Lego Technic catalogue from 1987…
How about you? Especially as we head into winter here in Australia, consider the risk of mould etc on your vintage hobby books and paperwork, and whether they could be stored more safely.
As always, happy collecting guys!


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Dorothy Luck finally nabbed a break in her ongoing battle against a Tarrant County probate court that has seemed bent on bleeding her dry financially in an ironic attempt to protect her.
Judge Steven King signed an agreement this month that frees Luck from guardianship in a controversial case that removed her rights — including her ability to hire an attorney — even as it sucked an estimated $1 million or more of her savings (“Grabbing the Purse,” Sept. 4, 2013).
“I wanted you to be the first to know,” Luck told Fort Worth Weekly after receiving the news. “Your article had everything to do with it.”
Over the past six years, the Weekly has published several stories spotlighting the county’s two probate judges (King and Pat Ferchill) and their web of attorneys, investigators, bankers, social workers, and others who sometimes appear overzealous in their attempts to manage — and sometimes benefit from — the lives and bank accounts of elderly and disabled residents.
The first story (“Saving Katia,” July 2, 2008) chronicled Kathie Seidel’s attempts to overturn Ferchill’s decision to remove her adoptive daughter from the Seidel home, place her under guardianship, and heavily restrict her communication with relatives. The judge made the decision in a closed hearing without the mother’s input. Seidel is still fighting to get what her now-adult daughter wants: restoration of her rights or at least a more family-friendly guardian.
Seidel sees the recent action in Luck’s case, along with a couple of other recent guardianship reversals, as victories for everyone trying to protect the rights of wards, which is what the guardianship system is supposed to do.
“This is an important decision,” Seidel said. “They [probate courts] are trying to tidy up questionable rulings.”
Seidel credits several factors in addition to media scrutiny led by the Weekly. She and others have been storming the Texas Legislature in recent years, decrying the power that probate judges wield. Social networking has enabled a previously fractured population of defendants and advocacy groups to align themselves and wield more political power. One example is the creation of Guardianship Reform Advocates (GRADE), a statewide group that seeks to protect the disabled and elderly.
King and Ferchill are typically re-elected without facing challengers, although the activists have recently been threatening to recruit opponents for them in the future. Both judges have long held up Tarrant County as a model of guardianship efficiency. The backlash they’ve been feeling from high-profile cases is changing the way they’re running their courts, said an activist who asked not to be named because she has an active case in a local probate court and fears retribution.
“They’ve got other judges [across the state] looking at what they’re doing, and a lot coming out of Tarrant County doesn’t look good,” she said.
Another Weekly story (“In Whose Best Interest,” Sept. 8, 2010) described how the probate system ensnared an elderly woman named Mary. The judges and their guardianship workers say they initiate cases only as a last resort. But Fort Worth attorney Steve Katten, who works frequently in both probate courts and donates to local judges’ political campaigns, initiated the guardianship case against Mary. She had a large amount of money, and Katten wanted to park it at Wells Fargo Bank, the court’s bank of choice in many local guardianship cases.
At the time, Katten was board president of Guardianship Services Inc., a pseudo-governmental group of guardians who act as surrogate decision-makers for incapacitated people. Tarrant County funds them. One of Katten’s fellow board members was a Wells Fargo bank vice president.
The case served as another example of how a tight-knit, lightly regulated system enjoyed near carte blanche in deciding people’s fates. The judges appeared to scrutinize and lean heavily on defendants and relatives while downplaying the obvious conflicts of interest involving the court and its cast of players.
One of GRADE’s activists is Houston resident Latifa Ring, who called the Weekly last year to push for an investigation into Luck’s case. She applauded King’s recent decision to free Luck from guardianship but is still steamed that it took more than two years for it to happen, after many hundreds of thousands of dollars were taken from Luck.
“They haven’t told her how much money she has left, but it will all come out in the end,” Ring said. “I heard Judge King wanted out of it, and a lot of it had to do with your story. Too much pressure.”
Ring remains dismayed that probate judges, with little proof, can deem people as mentally incapacitated and take piles of money from them — and then reverse the ruling after all the lawyers and bankers have been paid.
“It exonerates everybody from what they’ve done,” she said.
Luck met with court-appointed attorneys to hash out the details prior to King’s decision, and she recorded the meeting. On the tape, one of the attorneys is heard saying, “The court is a little bit afraid of you.”
Later, when the tape wasn’t running, the same attorney elaborated. “He said, ‘That little rag [the Weekly] really did get their attention,’ ” Luck recalled.
Luck got sucked into the guardianship system after relatives sued her over a property dispute. Luck refused to settle the case and demanded a jury trial. Instead, her relatives’ attorney, who works closely with King’s court, threatened to put Luck in guardianship if she didn’t cooperate. Luck, a proud and independent woman of 85, wouldn’t bend. That began a courtroom drama that led to her being stripped of her basic rights and access to her money.
King prevented her from hiring her own lawyer and forced her to work with court-appointed attorneys whom Luck believed were working against her interests. The relatives said they never intended for Luck to be placed under guardianship and tried without success to stop the court from doing so. Luck accused King of running a “kangaroo court” filled with bullies and thieves.
“Some kid can steal an apple and get 10 years in jail, and yet this court can come and do this to me?” Luck said. “Where’s the legal system going? It’s pitiful.”
King’s decision wasn’t a complete victory for Luck. She was forced to put her house and car in trust and name a beneficiary, but she will continue to use both. Most importantly for Luck, King’s decision means she’ll be able to drive, vote, and control her own money. She suspects the estimated $1 million in court-related costs taken from her accounts is the tip of the iceberg and is awaiting a final accounting of her assets.
“What have I done to anybody to cause them to be so mean?” she said. “They have done things to me constantly by mail, by phone, by every means they can conjure up. For a judge not to give me a voice and then try to strip me of everything I’ve worked for since I was 15 years old is the most preposterous thing.”
Seidel said she appreciates the news media’s efforts on behalf of people like Luck but wishes the courts would act fairly without the added scrutiny.
“It is very sad that we have to go to the media for things to be done properly in court,” she said. “Nobody wants to go to the media. Who wants your life to be an open book for everybody? I just want to have my daughter back.”
NASGA celebrates this victory with Dorothy and we are happy she is one of the few able to get her life and what’s left of her assets back. We hope she joins the ranks of advocates all over the country working for reform.
Guardianship was created to guard incompetent people and conserve their assets. It has become an appalling, yet accepted, practice for guardianship proceedings to devour the entire estate the proceedings are supposed to be protecting — and doing so with court approval.
Join GRADE and the movement to reform unlawful and abusive guardianships in Texas and also NASGA work for reform nationally.
No one is immune to this happening in their lives – both disabled and elderly. Even when you have made an effort to be prepared, people going to court, report that judges routinely tear up POAs, and ignore family members who want to be involved with the protected person-
( their loved one.)
TX. probate law requires that professional guardians are to make a ward aware/help them with options (living arrangements, other guardian choice, having rights restored.) However too many wards report that they are cut off from family and friends with severe isolation ( no mail that is not read by guardian first, NO phone calls, visits with no one without supervision, no visits with family on any holidays. ) One can imagine how very likely abuse is to occur by staff in the ward’s lving environment – knowing that the ward is so isolated; and the guardian is not concerned.
Too often the solo thing that seems to drive guardian concern is protecting the provider
( nursing home) and the entire guardianship system( guardians, courts,and attorneys ). If wards are allowed access to those who love them, there will likley be complaints about the poor level of care in insit. See DADS( TX. Department of Aging and Disability) website and the qrs- quality rating system. It reflects so poorly on this state/guardians that nothing is done to close these offending providers who so often abuse ane neglect vulnerable people.
Thankfully Dorothy is finally FREE. It’s criminal that the cost to an innocent person is loss of her: $1,000,000.00. These courthouse terrorists must be STOPPED.
The power of the press, ‘that little rag’ is the golden link to exposure and public pressure or Dorothy would have left this earth as a destitute ward of the state.
See the Robert Thurman case in Davidson County TN. Robert’s mother refused to sell her property to developers – fear not the developers did what many others have done conserve the uncooperative land owner and heck why not conserve the landowners heir, her son also. And they did just that – the financial profit on these 2 cases is astronomical.
This case is begging for investigation by: FBI – TBI – CIA – the White House – Secret Service – Navy Seals the full monty of Armed Forces all levels of investigators yet nothing is done, the cast of characters are still active and the pattern of operation continues nationwide.
“He said, ‘That little rag [the Weekly] really did get their attention,’ ” Luck recalled.
Luck got sucked into the guardianship system after relatives sued her over a property dispute. Luck refused to settle the case and demanded a jury trial. Instead, her relatives’ attorney, who works closely with King’s court, threatened to put Luck in guardianship if she didn’t cooperate. Luck, a proud and independent woman of 85, wouldn’t bend. That began a courtroom drama that led to her being stripped of her basic rights and access to her money.
Coalition for Elder and Dependent Adult Rights (CEDAR) has reported on abuse by conservators throughout California: Santa Clara County, San Bernardino County, Stanislaus County, San Joaquin County, Los Angeles County, Monterey County. In each case, false allegations were made against family in order to gain control of a wealthy individual’s assets. In each case, the conservator denied needed care and denied contact with loved ones, all while telling the court they were acting in their victims’ “best interest.”
Just today, we watched another vulnerable woman in Monterey railroaded into conservatorship. Her dear friend of many decades was vilified by the predators waiting to pillage the $1M estate. The conservator made it clear that she intends to violate the conservatee’s right to visitation with her closet friends. Public exposure is the only thing that will stop the abuse.
It is with great appreciation to Jeff Prince and Ft. Worth Weekly to “act in the best interest” of the vulnerable people who are becoming victims of the “protection racket” by informing and educating the public of what occurs in guardianship proceedings in Tarrant County and many porbate courts throughout the state of Texas. The new and improved “Estates Code” certainly identifies who is better protected in guardianships. It’s been a perfect plan and set up to change the laws to provide the necessary protections for those who are appointed by the courts to legally steal, abuse, neglect and exploit the elderly & disabled, and their families now and into the future. Everyone is treated like property, their age or disability is now the nature of a valuable commodity. The worst of all this is that this story and many others are a look at what awaits us all as we continue to age, or should become disabled.
As the Guardianship Industry continues to grow so will the Advocacy Organizations such as GRADE, NASGA, NOTEGA, CEDAR, ELDER ADVOCATES, BOOMERS AGAINST ELDER ABUSE, and many others throughout the country who are charged with doing what use to be expected for a person in need of a Guardianship. Today, Guardianships are needed by the courts and those chosen for profit, while the elderly and disabled need assistance to manage their affairs or to make decisions, they do not need to be used for financial gain which seems to be what Guardianship is all about under the guise of protecting a vulnerable personand or their estates. Too often those protected people and their estates are not protected by the bullies and theives who are appointed. There is no one other than “King” who can provide protections in guardianships.
Dorothy never was deemed to be incapacitated, but “King” was left as the only person to free her and give her the “right to hire her own attorney” and to control her own life. So what was the purpose behind the Guardianship after all???
Saving Katia is an issue that all parents of children with disabilities becoming adults should prepare for in determining the need of a guardianship. Katia, a young beautiful high functioning adult who seems to have become a long term care commodity to the guardianship program GSI in Tarrant County, in addition to her long term care provider agency where she is forced to reside in without her having a voice, choice or opportunity to explore her fullest potential. It seems that she is trapped for the need to increase head count for funding the guardianship program from local, state and federal funds. There are many young adults with disabilities who are being targeted for their federal and state benefits who receive long term care services paid by Mediciad and SSI. A guardianship should be determined by level of incapacitation and the need for protection, not by stereotype or by the stigma of the term “disabled” adult. We the taxpayers are paying for guardianship services that family and or friends could provide without any cost to our local, state or federal governments. Those who donate to the guardianship programs should investigate that their donations are not influencing head count for the many people who like Katia should have the right to be a member of their family, a member of society, have friends, fulfill thier dreams, and exercise their fullest potential for their quality of life. GSI advertises that they provide guardianship services for those who have no one willing or able to provide these services, this does not apply to Katia Seidel. She and many others have and will become the example for the need to explore other alternatives to guardianships for young adults with disabilities and their families. What has happened to HER is unfair and unjust.
GRADE advocates for the people who are victimized by guardianship and judicial abuse in guardianship proceedings. They are never heard or seen in many cases after becoming a “ward” of a non-family guardian. We are not attorneys, we are lay people working to protect and preserve the rights of people with disabilities and the elderly who become trapped under the business of the guardianship industry for what seems to be for nothing more than profit.
As for “That little rag” (the Weekly) we are grateful and appreciate your and Jeff Prince’s support in collaboration in our efforts of “truly advocating” for what is in the “best interest of the elderly and disabled” in Tarrant County and beyond. Your stories continue to prepare us all of what lies ahead into our own futures and our families if we may find ourselves in a probate court, whether if it is in need of a guardianship or one forced upon us in a court initiated guardianship such as in Ms. Luck’s case.
There is needed reforms to the “new & improved” Estates Code that went into effect as of Jan. 1, 2014. It failed to include protections from the court appointed protectors. They are much better protected to protect their property- the person under guardianship called a ward and their estates. What has happened to Ms. Luck will no doubt occur to many more with what the Estates Code has to offer under the “guise of protection”.
Texas residents needing assistance, contact us at http://www.guardianshipreform.org. or NASGA at http://www.stopguardianabuse.org
Member of GRADE
Disability Rights Advocate
Well done, Jeff, exposing the guardianship pitfalls of elderly and disabled individuals. Dorothy is a sweet, strong, courageous, intelligent woman. Her “nightmare” is not over. She needs accounting and return of her hard earned money and freedom to enjoy the rest of her years unrestrained by the probate albatross. They only have to designate someone a “ward”, an elementary juristic task, and then freewheel through the courts by slinging the term “in the ward’s best interest”. Democracy, self determination and common good are values lost to fuel the greed of the guardianship industry. This may be a sign of societal morphing to a principle of wealth defining democracy. Yes, it’s all about the money. As news for those interested, we have recovered guardianship of our wonderful daughter and she is recovering from the trauma. We and she were not able to experience justice after the 4 year abdication, but we are again in a position to protect her from exploitation until the next secret hearing comes along. Hopefully, that won’t happen because we won’t have another $400,000 retirement savings left to pay fighting to get her back again. Not many family members are able, and we believe this is one central factor the guardianship “cartel” is counting on to maintain control over their “wards”.
Facility that Guardianship Seivices and Tarrant Probate Court indicate they very satisfied to continue sending wards to. We found the rating at the site another commenter referred to above.. The facility had had the same serious problems for years.
Disabled and Ignored in Texas
12:55 AM CDT on Saturday, November 3, 2007
By BYRON HARRIS / WFAA-TV
The Cimarron Living Center is now rated highly by state regulators despite complaints and violations.
LEWISVILLE — When patients can’t speak for themselves, their stories are rarely heard.
But records do speak, and a News 8 investigation found a story of lax regulation and abuse at privately-run intermediate care mental retardation facilities in Texas.
A complaint against Cimarron Living Center in Lewisville alleged there were maggots inside the open wound of a patient’s head. “It was seeping,” said Tina Kohls, who worked at the Cimarron facility last summer.
The patient was taken to Trinity Medical Center. Kohls and others familiar with the case were surprised that Cimarron let it develop. “It was bad,” Kohls said. “I walked away and I didn’t see him again.”
The patient, who had terminal cancer, later died.
Because of the maggots, Trinity Medical Center filed a complaint against Cimarron for letting the situation develop.
The Texas Department of Aging and Disability—DADS—regulates Cimarron and facilities like it in Texas. DADS found Trinity’s complaint against Cimarron “unsubstantiated,” even though maggots were in the wound.
“The evidence was not there to substantiate the charge,” said DADS spokeswoman Cecilia Fedorov.
But the maggots were just one of the complaints filed against Cimarron since 2005, leading to questions of how well DADS regulates the facility.
Family members and staffers also filed complaints about:
• head lice in clients
• client-on-client violence
• a lost patient
• workers having romantic relationships with clients
• the theft of $3,500 from a client
Last year, records show that one Cimarron worker who is a transvestite removed a client from the facility and attempted sexual contact with him. Investigators substantiated that complaint.
News 8 asked the DADS spokeswoman if it is legal for staff members to take patients home. “I honestly—I don’t know,” Fedorov said.
We sent Fedorov some complaints to review prior to our interview with her. She said she had not examined those documents. “This is not the information that was sent to me,” Fedorov said.
Cimarron gets much of its income from the state and federal governments—as much as $95 per client per day.
“I know that it could be so much better, and it’s just all about the dollar,” said a man who has a relative at the Cimarron facility. He asked News 8 to disguise his identity because he fears retaliation against his loved one.
“No one ever comes to see them; they’re just dumped in there,” the man said. “Whatever care they get is what they get.”
“I would not put anyone I know, or even my worst enemy there,” Kohls said. “They don’t deserve that treatment.”
Cimarron holds 116 people. Tina Kohls, who was fired from her job at the facility late this summer, said there were times when only five staffers were on duty to keep watch.
When News 8 visited, clients were largely unattended.
“They’re just so shorthanded and so negligent that… there’s so many accidents, you just don’t know which way to turn,” Kohls said.
Lewsville police records show officers were called to Cimarron 101 times in the last two years for disturbances, medical emergencies and other problems the staff could not handle.
No one at the facility would talk to us.
Diamondback Management in San Antonio runs Cimarron and 30 other facilities in Texas. They did not return our phone calls.
“Sometimes our state loses sight of the fact that people that are in psychiatric facilities are people,” said Lee Spiller of the Texas Citizens Commission on Human Rights, who has been investigating abuse in the state’s psychological facilities for a decade. We showed him complaints against Cimmaron. He was surprised at the lack of information in the investigations.
“You start wondering, well, ‘Gee. How many people have to get hurt before you start citing somebody?'” Spiller asked.
There are 877 intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded in Texas. The state has 73 people to inspect them.
“I believe they’re shown what they need to see, and they don’t dig any deeper than that,” said the man with a relative inside the Cimarron facility. “I don’t think there’s really an interest in digging deep.”
State records show that Cimarron was close to having its funding revoked at the end of last year. Now—despite the alleged problems—it gets a 90 out of a 100 rating on the DADS Web site.
Disgusting, just another one of those Texas dumping grounds for the disabled.
It’s like for profit guardianships, its all about making money off of the taxpayers and exploiting helpless people. Wonder how many have for profit guardians forcing them to live in such a place and forgetting about them.
Thank you Jeff Prince. The exposure of the Weekly may be one of the few things that will help vulnerable people forced under professional guardianships. Online records show just how lucrative the guardianship game can be for both lawyers and guardians in Tarrant County.
The United States has 3 branches of government for a balance of power. Probate judges can be seen before the TX legislature every session, introducing new legislation that will make the INDUSTRY of guardianship function easier and more secure. Although a senator or representative may introduce the bill, it is quite obvious who initated the idea – judges. What these laws do to an unsuspecting public is an entirely different thing.
In a county that seems to be partial to secret hearings – so there is no due process, it costs $10,000 in security costs to even get into court to oppose rulings. This is in addition
to paying your own attorney. Then the judge will probably assign the costs of the opposing attorneys fees to the ward/family as well. This is not the justice system the United States stands for .
This is not what Tarrant County residents should expect from the Commissioners Court -which appears to give Guardianship Services Inc ( close business ally of the court) a quarter of a million dollars annually to do.
It is with great appreciation to Jeff Prince and the Ft. Worth Weekly to share these stories as no one is prepared for what occurs between the walls of the Tarrant County Probate Courts and many others throughout the State of Texas. The new and improved “Estates Code” certainly identifies who is better protected in guardianship proceedings. It has been a perfect plan and set up to change the laws to provide the necessary protections for the courts and those appointed by the courts to “act in their own best interest”. What is occurring seems to be the legalization of abuse, neglect and exploitation of the elderly and disabled, with additional abuse to their families in protecting them where the Guardianship is not. The alleged incapacitated person or the person under a guardianship are being treated as property, justified by codifying the guardianship laws into an “Estates Code”????
Due to age or disability is now the nature of a valuable commodity. The worst of all this is that Dorothy’s story and many others are a look into the future of what awaits us all as we continue to age or should become disabled.
What has happened to Dorothy is perfectly legal in the State of Texas under a Court Initiated Guardianship. In laymans terms a forced guardianship whether you are incapacitated or not and need a guardianship. What isn’t legal is abuse, neglect and or exploitation of an elderly person, child or a disabled person. Dorothy was never deemed to be incapacitated, quite obvious now that she has had her rights restored, including the right to hire her own attorney and to control her own life. At her age, this was not necessary at all. She is a victim of the very system designed to protect her from abuse and exploitation.
Unfortunately there is no system to protect anyone from the court appointed predators.
No one is prepared for what awaits them between the walls of the probate courts in Texas.
Hopefully stories like this will prepare the public of the bullies and theives waiting for nothing more than profit and special interests, and to be fully aware that one thing for sure that rarely occurrs in Texas probate courts is “Justice”. It is not design for that. It is designed to make money off of our most vulnerable Texans now and into the future.
Judge King was the judge in a lawsuit my family filed against my uncle. My uncle stole millions from our family and the judge knew it. He forced us to settle and we did – not because I wanted to – I would have taken it to a higher court but others in my family would not. My uncle used his power of attorney to put things in his name when my grandmother passed away and the judge knew it. He did not have her permission or her approval. He got away with it. Judge King is a crook. He is worse than the criminals on the streets because families depend on good judgement when they are in his courtroom and he gives them NOTHING!
Hmm. This might explain how one of probate court judges can afford to amass an impressive collection of restored antique cars that was featured in the FW Star Telegram a couple years ago. I wasn’t aware that Guardianship Services is a quasi-governmental entity like MHMR of Tarrant County that both got substantial tax dollars to support their operations. No wonder MHMR of Tarrant County packed the board of directors of the 501(c)3 arm named Visions with so many people affiliated with Guardianship Services. The picture is getting clearer now. So maybe there were other reasons than was stated officially by MHMR executives for Visions, led by many Guardianship Services people on their Board, who to bestow the honor of being chosen as their Person of the Year at their annual fancy banquet …couple of the probate court judges referred to in these stories and the man controlling county dollars, the County Commissioners Court Judge himself. Many clients of MHMR of Tarrant County have been placed in a couple of nursing home facilities in recent years, practically turning one into practically an MHMR facility since there are so many mentally ill (not retarded) clients living there. I’m not sure about the details about how these folks ended up in a nursing home but these stories and connections raise questions about how relatively young and mobile individuals end up inside a nursing home when many of them either had their own apartments or appear capable of living independently instead of on hospital beds inside a nursing home. This caught my attention because I’ve seen reports that indicated MHMR of Tarrant County had received millions of dollars in federal grants to provide independent housing for those suffering with mental illnesses. In fact, it’s so large that MHMR of Tarrant County had created its own corporation to control the money and the apartment complexes that they built, own, and operate. Just really curious because I know of MHMR clients who came from pretty wealthy families but the parents are very old and sickly or deceased, many of them attended seminars promoted by MHMR or its affiliates about how to best leave their money so that their children wouldn’t be dependent on government programs to just get by but to have more security and options than those not fortunate enough to have parents with a lot of money.
This story got me thinking about the people with mental illness again because the last time I really paid attention was a couple years ago when there was an uproar among some families of MHMR clients related to what appeared to be shady business dealing between MHMR leaders and one of the new state approved private HMOs name BRAVO Health, who was fighting with other companies to enlist Medicaid Plus eligible clients in the new state program for recipients with physical and mental disabilities. I recall that the State HHS suspended BRAVO’s operations after it had spent a lot of money in PR and big donations to MHMR affiliates who were pushing their clients and members to enroll with BRAVO Health. It seems that the costly suspension probably was due to MHMR executives’ failed attempt to take control of an independent nonprofit organization made up of and advocated for many MHMR clients, beginning with bullying the organization’s long-time and well-respected Director and their little Board and suddenly having Guardianship Services related people to take active volunteer roles with the organization and presumably get on the Board and take over control of the organization for MHMR since it appeared that MHMR executives may have deceived their business partner BRAVO Health into believing that the robust nonprofit and its members, assets , and good reputation belonged to them.
BRAVO Health likely received the suspension when the HHS realized that the information it received from BRAVO Health upon which it based its approval for the HMO to “begin operation” include the false information from MHMR executives about the independent nonprofit. Although MHMR made a desperate last ditch move to help the HMO by suddenly breaking its contract with the nonprofit that effectively shut down the nonprofit since naturally MHMR was its biggest contracted revenue source, it was too late for BRAVO Health because by the time the state was satisfied with the representation by MHMR of Tarrant county and declared it “operationally ready” it had lost all its enrollees to other HMOs by default–along with it the millions spent on PR and donations to get influence in amassing the enrollees and expected return on its investment.
Best I can tell no media ever looked into and reported on it , and it’s all been kept a secret as to how MHMR-TC settled the damages suffered by BRAVO Health, if any, and the breach of contract with the little nonprofit organization. I heard the long-tenured CEO quietly made a deal with its Board to take early retirement and was quickly replaced by his ambitious deputy and thus helping ensure that details of the scandal and other secrets are not exposed to the taxpaying public who might not be too happy and even demand some acountability from those given the public trust to help the disabled and needy…avoiding the exposure and reforms that a similar public agency JPS Health received several years ago.
In 1997 the local legal community, social service agencies, and the Tarrant County Probate Courts began to talk about the need for persons to serve as guardians for non-elderly, incapacitated persons. Those younger persons potentially needing guardianship include persons with mental retardation(now respected as a person with intellectually & developmentally disabled) and head injury victims. Senior Citizens Services requested that United Way form a study committee to determine the best way for younger adults who need guardianship to be served. The committee, which was chaired by a member of the AAA/TC, recommended that there be one guardianship program to serve all age groups and that the existing guardianship program should be the program.
A group of probate attorneys and the two Tarrant County Probate Judges, Judge Steve King and Judge Pat Ferchill, formed a Board of Directors and incorporated as Guardianship Services Inc. (GSI). Senior Citizen Services (SCS) agreed to transfer the existing volunteer guardian program to the new agency. Contracts that SCS had for guardianship with the AAA/TC and the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services transferred to GSI. In September of 2000, GSI was made the 47th partner agency of the Metropolitan Tarrant County United Way for funding beginning April 2001, and GSI has received funding through the United Way’s Community Inititiatives Fund. A contract with the Texas Department of MHMR has been secured to provide services for persons with IDD.
According to the Articles of Incorporation the non-profit status of GSI’s purpose is the corporation is organized and operated to administer a program to train and provide volunteers to serve as the court appointed guardians of the person of incapacitated adults who do not have family members who are willing or qualified to serve in such capacities. Notwithstanding any other provsions of the Articles to the contrary, the corporation shall not conduct or carry out any activities not permitted to be conducted or carried on by an organization which is exempt from tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
It has been within our experience by the numerous of people whom have contacted GRADE that the guardians assigned to their loved ones are paid certified guardians working for GSI. We have yet to receive a complaint about one of GSI’s volunteer guardians. The complaints we receive are family members trying to protect their loved ones from GSI’s certified guardians who islolate and confine their loved ones, restrict visitations, family is not allowed to have any knowledge of their elderly or disabled family members medical needs, their financial status, and most importantly are not allowed to protect their loved ones from GSI’s certified guardians. We have also discovered that APS does not act to protect the many elderly and disabled under a GSI guardianship or other guardianship programs. The protections for these populations relies on the only the courts. A process most family members cannot afford to undertake, resulting with no protections to elderly or disabled under third party guardians.
In consideration of Birdy’s comment and the history of the intent of creating GSI and it’s purpose it appears that there is a severe lack of transparency and knowledge to the public of the funding streams and payments being paid to GSI for providing guardianship services. Guardianship services fees are paid to these type of programs by Mediciad funding, SSI or SSDI income of the person under guardianships and for those who have estates, payments of substantial amounts are also being paid for guardianship services fees to GSI and programs. It may be appropriate for those who in fact have no family or friends to act as a guardian. It is not appropriate for the taxpayers or estates to pay for these fees when the courts conveniently disqualify the family members and appoint third party guardians in favor of the courts own guardianship program. This practice is on the rise due to the takeover of the Guardianship Industry in all efforts to exclude family where in most cases there is no cost to be a family guardian, and is most likely the elderly and disabled person’s choice over and above a third party paid guardian or a “non-profit” guardianship program.
According to the Articles of Inc. both Judges are listed as Board of Directors, along with probate attorneys currently practicing in both courts at the inception of GSI. They resigned themselves from members of the Board due to “CONFLICTS OF INTEREST”.
There certainly seems to be deceptions of practices with the intent of providing services to the elderly & disabled and those with mental illness and their families in Tarrant County. Including the lack of oversight, monitoring and transparency from local and state government.
Guess what? The CEO of MHMR Tarrant County Susan Garnett is listed as a Director on the Board of Guardianship Services. Checked the MHMR website today.
I stand corrected.I am now told that the Tarrant County Commissioners Court contributes 3/4 of a million to Guardianship Services Inc. ( the court’s close business ally) annually.
Commissioners Court, if there is not collaboration /financial gain for you here, you need to do a serious investigation . Show your objectivity. Taxpayers are paying for abuse and neglect that both the court and GSI put unsuspecting citizens through.
Way to go, Dorothy! You did it. You’re finally free of them. Now go sue the City so it doesn’t happen again! These judges and attorneys are out of control. They need to be stopped, and they need to be punished. They are nothing more than cheap thugs living off of other people’s money. They need to go to jail for what they have done to you and to others. And the City needs to ensure it never happens again.
and sue the County, and the companies who the judges sit on the Boards for that have anything to do with this corrupt guardianship system. There are conflicts of interest going on, and all involved need to be investigated. These people are preying off anyone and everyone with money. You could be next if this isn’t stopped!
Hi, Would you please connect me with anyone who would like to go after Judge Ferchill & Judge King and Attorney David Bakutis who all have lied and have conspired to take $86,000.00 + and counting… from my inheritance and they are about to continue this fraud and theft in a hearing next week on June 17th, 2014 @ 9:30 am – in Judge Patrick Ferchill’s Courtroom. They are just lying, cheating and stealing from me and disregarding all my factual evidence by allowing a “Summary Judgment” even though I have proof of MY FACTS they are ignoring & they are preventing me from a Jury Trial. They have kicked my and my minor daughter on the street we have no place to live and no money to survive after my mother gave me her home – they just took it from me & any hope of sustenance we could have had. Please contact me right away & refer as many people to me as possible. Thank You. Leah (936) 899-0313
Birdy, consider contacting the GRADE website. http://www.guardsianshipreform.org
Looks like you need to compare notes.
Same thing just happened to a man in Richardson, Texas, here is the link to the story (http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/25042491/judge-rules ). Looks like APS and the Probate Courts are legally exploiting these folks.
” If there is no family member or friend suitable to serve as caregiver, or the caregiver has become too exhausted to continue in this role, Guardianship Services, Inc. becomes involved, either through its Guardianship or Money Management program.”
Against probate code – when judges and guardians in Tarrant County repeatedly oppose giving guardianship to all family members or close friends ( with many different families), it makes sense that there is some motivation, on their part, that brings in dollars or covers up serious neglect or abuse.
When estates such a Ms. Luck’s and many others are grabbed, the proceeds can be put into an 867 management trust. With this type trust, no funds can be spent that the government would otherwise pay for. That indicates that probate attorneys are protecting this money to payroll themselves. This means the taxpayer picks up the bill for the ward ( who could have paid their own way) being put into a medicaid nursing home .
This is not a fiscally conservative move on the part of Republicans. I believe the probate judges in Tarrant County run on a Republican ticket ( although the one with the antique cars, used to be Democrat they say).
It is a wonderful thing when journalism serves the community in this way. I have to say that I read “Grabbing the Purse” only one time and will never forget that story for the rest of my life. It was quite the eye-opener and truly infuriated me.
I wish there was a way to truly return Dorothy to where she was before the probate court grabbed her savings and ran, but I admire her strength in fighting the court system when most would have given up. Kudos to Dorothy and kudos to Jeff Prince.
Whale, it only serves the community that reads the Fort Worth Weekly, or discovers this information on the internet. The population of the world should be educated to this predatory practice, since the same cronies of Texas guardianship abuse are in national and worldwide associations and committees to spread their gospel. And everyone should be aware that life snares await them, their families, and loved ones cleverly disguised as protective devices, and often associated with trusted agencies like United Way, AARP, etc. Since the government has failed to remedy this problem, the pressure needs to come from media. National media. World media. Let’s hope that Jeff Prince has opened the door for that and continues to do so.
Thank you Jeff Prince, for taking such an open minded approach to this closed door disgusting disguise of blatant thievery. Thank you for taking the scenario and laying it out there so that the facts were not misunderstood, so that the victims were given the respect they deserve and for telling a story that the main stream media couldn’t risk telling.
I am so very proud of Dorothy. She was so strong through this, so pleasant and honorable even in the wake of all of this deceit and disgust. Dorothy never made her fight just about her either, Dorothy was just as absorbed in the situations of other victims and the impact these greedy people have had on all their lives.
Jeff Prince’s articles on this “organized crime” needs to spread like wildfire. Send them to your loved ones, friends and acquaintances, leave no one out. Let’s be pro-active and stop these corrupt judges in their tracks. Tarrant County needs/deserves better representation than these greedy thieves; their power and control have molded their brains into thinking “what’s yours is theirs”. We wouldn’t stand for someone breaking into our home and stealing our possessions, and we shouldn’t stand for this nonsense either. Together we ALL need to make some noise.
Again, I praise Jeff Prince for his professional articulation of a delicate situation and Dorothy and all other victims for their endurance and perseverance.
God bless you all!
We had POA that my mother had given us and they wanted to give guardianship because the bank (same as trust!!!) would not honor the POA!!! So I became guardian. After a year, the bank and judge took that from me and gave it to an outsider.and now the bank will not tell the family how my mother’s funds are being spent. The guardian has told me that she would prefer me not to visit my mother and she also said my mother did not need family members visiting her. Something stinks with Judge King and all his cohorts. My parents are not rich. They have saved every penny and lived very frugal and judge King and his banksters think they can take all of their money for themselves.
GRADE Guardianship Reform Advocates – Disabled & Elderly
Join us in our efforts in Austin. We are making progress
Why didn’t someone run against judge King in the recent election?
Initially someone did run against King in 2014. Someone ( different political party) ran against Judge Ferchill in 2010. In spite of all the continued bad press they get …. It is very diffifult to unseat a POWERFUL, WELL CONNECTED Judge.
Most people considering running know the possible pconsequences to their cases if they mount a challenge, lose, and want to continue working in probate courts. They also need a big budget to challenge the strong forces that work to keep the staus quo. Below, see the entrenched connections at the Star Telegram that helped Ferchill after he got a lot of negative attention in the media previously.
Hi, There’s no doubt that your site may be having web browser compatibility
issues. When I take a look at your website in Safari, it looks fine however when opening in IE,
it’s got some overlapping issues. I merely wanted to provide you with a quick heads up!
Aside from that, wonderful site!
It is a shame that Dorothy lost so much of her hard-earned savings, but at least she regained her rights, and that is a rare and amazing feat for the guardianized. It shows what good journalism can do.
Guardianization pretends to be about care and protection, but it really is about drilling the estates of the wealthy to line the pockets of the lawyers and other professionals in the guardianship industry.
Much like Dorothy Luck, my mother was guardianized in a secret hearing that deliberately excluded her own attorney and her family. She did not have the required two doctors declare her incapacitated, nor did she have the required hearing to adjudicate her incapacitated. This kind o thing goes on across the country Her court-appointed attorney forfeited her 7th Amendment right to due process by dealing away those and other rights to thrust the case straight into the drawn out litigation for the appointment of a permanent guardian (while simultaneously placing a company with whom he had a close association in charge of her care). The resulting trial and associated ‘investigations’ cost over $125,000 (the highest invoices came from the court-appointed attorney), even though the family settled to avoid the high cost of a trial (that eventually happened anyway, once we found out what a guardianship was really all about). The trial to get her care back into the family cost another $100,000 dollars, although she was still not freed from the lucrative guardianship. Not one penny of that money went to her care. In two years, they went through two thirds of her life savings and only a small fraction of that money went towards reasonable care.
Guardianships are geared to invite litigation because litigation is the fastest and best way to drum up excessive billings for the guardian and his/her lawyers. No matter what the outcome, the lawyers always win.
Many of the lawyers involved in my mother’s case, including the now-enriched court-appointed attorney, admit that it started out ‘wrong’ (read: laws were broken), but none of them, not even one who is on an ethics committee, will do anything about it. They do not want to jeopardize that income stream!
It’s an awesome paragraph for all the internet users; they will take benefit from it I am sure.
thank you for all this information we are in the mist of going through all this garbage, with my son, ask to join GRADE
We’ve had a small estate before King for 11 months now. As I said it is a small estate, there is no one contesting it and still he refuses to appoint an administrator or executor. Bills are going unpaid, the estate is losing much of what it has in it and I would like to see him kicked off the bench. The pain of losing my son remains alive from our struggles with this crooked court! Any advice from anyone?
What this judge and court are doing defies reasonable judgment and spirit of law. I’m in the middle of it right now and I curse the state and court for what it is doing to me and my family. Now they want more money from us that has already cost us a significant amount for doing what is best for our child and the state. Contact me any time.
If you’re seeing the North Edge, it’s quickest to fly to Las Las vega,
a four-and-a-half-hour drive from the park.

domain: law


Recognize her? Police seek woman who stole Milwaukee heated jackets from Neu’s
MENOMONEE FALLS — Menomonee Falls police need your help identifying a woman who stole four Milwaukee brand heated jackets from Neu’s Hardware on Falls Parkway on Monday afternoon, Nov. 18.
The theft happened just before 1 p.m.
Police described the woman as white, in her 50s, wearing glasses, a scarf, a black jacket, and black pants. She got away in a black four-door Ford Focus with no plates — driven by a man, white.
Anyone with information was asked to please contact Menomonee Falls police at 262-532-8700.
To make an anonymous tip, contact Waukesha County Crime Stoppers by calling 1-888-441-5505, through the website at www.stopcrimewaukesha.com, or through the new P3 phone app that can be downloaded through either the App Store or Google Play.


text:
A WORKSHOP to empower women seeking an alternative to the daily 9-5 grind, after having children, takes place in Northwood next month.
Entitled Women Into Business, the event will feature a discussion on topics including finding your passion and making money from it, time management and practical issues, such as marketing and finance.
The workshop takes place at Hillside Children's Centre, in Northwood Way, next Thursday (10) from 11.30am - 1pm. Babies welcome. Advance booking is essential.
Call administrator Jan Crick on 01895 671 995 or email email@example.com
A PRESTIGIOUS national art exhibition in London will feature stone-carvings produced by a Northwood artist.
Linda Zelin, 70, a member of Pinner Sketch Club, was selected from almost 1,000 entries to display her semi-abstract figures at The Royal Society of British Artists' annual exhibition next month.
The show will take place at the Mall Galleries, near Trafalgar Square, from March 2 - 12.
Mrs Zelin, of Batchworth Lane, said it was the best achievement in 25 years of being an artist.
"Some of the sketch club's members do these exhibitions from time to time but when they told me I would be showing three of my sculptures, I was thrilled," she told the Gazette.
CHURCHES in Northwood and Northwood Hills will unite with thousands of women across the globe for a day of prayer next Friday (March 4).
The annual Women's World Day of Prayer is organised and led by Christian women on the first Friday of March.
Every year, the theme is developed by women from a different country, with Chile leading this year's event.
A service will take place at Emmanuel Church, in Church Road, with other local churches taking part including Holy Trinity, Northwood Methodist, Northwood Hills Evangelical Church (Fairfield), Northwood Hills United Reformed Church and St Edmund's.
It starts at 10.30am and coffee will be served from 10am.
THE Eiffel Tower and Inspector Clouseau were among the memorable fancy dress costumes worn by students in Northwood to celebrate French culture.
St Martin's School, in Moor Park Road, became a sea of red, blue and white as pupils took part in a day of France-themed activities.
The day included a costume parade, singing, listening to and performing music by French composers and taking part in a quiz.
PUPILS from a Northwood school starred in a road safety film to raise awareness of the '21st Century Green Cross Code'.
Year six boys from St Martin's School, in Moor Park Road, were asked to take part in the video, together with CBBC and The One Show presenter, Angelica Bell.
Rushil Pithia, Michael Forsyth, Rahil Patel and Gregory Kraftman illustrated the correct way to cross the road and acted out scenes with mp3 players and mobile phones, to demonstrate the dangers of being distracted.
A 'BOY racer' who killed a former Northwood School pupil in a car crash has been jailed for five years.
Jack King (pictured), 17, who took his GCSEs at the school in Potter Street, Northwood Hills, suffered massive head injuries and died instantly after the accident in Elm Avenue, Eastcote, on May 7 last year.
Mr King, of Cranbourne Drive, Pinner, was the front-seat passenger in a Ford Fiesta driven by friend Alex Jaggs, 19, of Eastcote Road, Ruislip, who lost control and smashed into a tree.
THE fundraising efforts of two cyclists who drowned on a round-the-world tour will be continued by their friends and family.
Karen Puddifoot, 27, of Grove Farm Park, Northwood, and friend Tim Roney, 21, of Sarratt, were killed after the boat they were travelling on capsized in Halong Bay, off the coast of Vietnam, in September 2009.
Karen's brother, Chris, 22, tragically died in a car crash just two months later, as reported in the Gazette.
KIND-hearted pupils at a Northwood primary school have raised vital funds for a poverty-stricken child in northern India.
Children at Hillside Junior School, in Northwood Way, are sponsoring Poonam Lodhi (pictured right), who lives with her family in a slum in Lucknow.
The eight-year-old eats only if her parents have earned money the day before, and often goes to bed hungry.
ALMOST 300 people gathered in Northwood to attend a special service marking 200 years of church school education.
Staff and students from Holy Trinity Primary School, in Rickmansworth Road, were joined by parents, governors, former pupils and congregation members for the ceremony at Holy Trinity Church on Monday (14).
As part of the celebrations, a candle symbolising 'The Light of Christ in Church Schools' will be carried from school to school.
A MOTHER-of-one has blasted 'selfish' parents who occupy valuable parking spaces in her road, while dropping off or picking up their children from school.
Janine Hoole, of Dormans Close, Northwood, describes parking as a 'nightmare' between 8.30am-9am and 3pm-4pm on weekdays, when pupils from Northwood College, in Maxwell Road, are arriving or leaving.

domain: news


text:
As corporations become more global in their scope and international trade continues to expand, economies are becoming more and more integrated through trade, global financial exchange, foreign investment, as well as through the movement of people. This important phenomenon requires a greater understanding of the dynamics of global economics and its characteristics.
In addition, as trade continues to grow worldwide, global institutions addressing issues such as economic development and trade are also becoming increasingly more important. Many global institutions now play a significant role in promoting and supporting global economic development, trade, as well as global financial stability.
Issue 7/8: Winter 2007/Spring 2007
Table of Contents
World Economic History
International Trade & Global Commerce
Foreign Exchange Market
Trends in International Trade
Trade Policy, Treaties, & Law
International Organizations & Economic Development
Economic Trade Data & Statistics
U.S. Government Resources
Encyclopedias & Dictionaries
Hanjin company container ship at port in the Port of Vancouver
Courtesy of Joseph Sams.
This issue of the Business & Economics Research Advisor is intended to serve as a comprehensive guide to international economics and trade resources. It is aimed at various types of researchers in the field of international economics and trade, ranging from scholars, area specialists, analysts, and business professionals, to students and general researchers. The sources provided were carefully selected and include only those that were determined to be authoritative sources and organizations. Classical studies in international trade theory, however, are not the focus of this particular guide.
If you have any further questions, please Ask A Librarian.
Joseph Sams, Lead

domain: library


Say hello to the “polar jet”, the new meteorological technicality that will bring the cold this winter, Here’s a piece of news that every reader will be familiar with: it will be cold in December. Communicated like this, there is nothing new about it. It happens that from time to time meteorological phenomena occur that do deserve special attention. The one that will occupy us for the next few weeks has been called the “polar jet”, and already enjoys a predominant position in all the media of communication. A priori, it is self-explanatory (“jet” + “polar”), but requires more words.
What is it? As explained in Meteored , a basic of meteorology. The “jet streams” are large flows of air that distribute heat and cold throughout the entire planet. There are several, but the one that concerns us today is the polar one, named after the latitudes that it usually frequents, very northern. Currents play a crucial role in balancing the Earth’s climate and weather phenomena. Much of the extreme alterations that we live today are explained, as is analyzed here , by the climatic changes that the Arctic lives.
The descent . What interests us on this occasion of the “polar jet”? Your address, in this case south. As our colleagues from Xataka explained at the time, the currents generate small isolated depressions and troughs that disrupt the meteorological conditions at certain times. When a mass of warm air, for example, is isolated and directed towards the pole, another of very cold air moves in the opposite direction. It is what is going to happen next week, and what will generate isolated and icy airs in the upper layers of the atmosphere …
And squalls and exceptional cold in lower layers. In other words, at street level.
It’s not that weird . What is exceptional about the “polar jet” is not so much its occurrence as its timing. The weather that we are going to enjoy in the last weeks of November will be more like January than the heart of autumn. We will have temperatures below 0ºC and also snowfall at low altitudes, or at least at altitudes outside the mountain. For some time now, the media have translated this phenomenon as DANA : isolated depression at high levels. Or a cold, low air mass surrounded by warmer, higher ones. A “trough” (due to its V shape).
What are we talking about? “Polar jet”, “DANA”, “polar trough”. They seem somewhat convoluted terms to define what is simply “it’s autumn / winter and it’s cold.” As our colleagues from Engadget explained , this is due to an eagerness for technifying meteorological communication in recent years. Every time we know more and better, but more and more the media have / have the need to appeal to the reader through concepts of novel appearance that simply tell very old things:
The public debate around meteorology has become increasingly technical. In part, it makes no sense to deny it, it is due to the press and the tendency of many media to use complex terms in a search for greater public attention. On the other hand, we are experiencing a process analogous to other branches of science journalism, as we have seen with the coronavirus crisis. TO As of Monday, generalized rainfall and a cold environment. According to ECMWF, in the second half of the week, a forceful polar / arctic entry would be possible that would discharge very cold air over Spain. We could have temperatures well below average. Uncertainty … pic.twitter.com/pUuDnOG7c7
– Irene Santa (@IreneSanta_) November 17, 2021 Peter and the wolf . Is this a good idea or a bad idea? One of the first lessons of journalism is that the mundane is not newsworthy. This idea should be rethought. If more and more terms of extraordinary appearance appear in relation to meteorology, it is because … There are more and more extraordinary meteorological phenomena, or at least extreme ones. Was the cold drop of 2019 just a squall ? No: the introduction of the term “DANA” helped to enhance its unique impact. It defined a new type of post-summer storm. A more destructive one.
The same goes for the sudden christening of storms ( from Gloria to Filomena). If today they have a name where they did not before, it is because their virulence is increasingly acute (it is not necessary to remember the chaos caused by the snow in Madrid last January), which is also valid for the rays or, as we all know, the heat. The usefulness of concepts like “polar jet” also comes from there: old, familiar things, but with a distinctive character. More intense. The climate that we have to live.
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Florid comets announce the holiday season with the rich elegance of the Mughal era. In those days the aristocracy wore clothes sewn with threads of gold and precious stones. Dinesh sews the zardozi embroidered flowers and bells with metallic threads and includes red and golden beads. In gold, bronze and red hues, the set of five ornaments are cover in velvet on the underside. Arrives in a golden organza pouch.
- 50% cotton, 50% polyester, plastic and glass beads. Polyester ribbons, poly organza pouch
- 1 oz
- Each: 6.8 inches H x 2 inches W x 0.1 inches D


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Cello and Piano Duo 'PiaCello' share a deep musical connection and have established themselves as a formidable duet. Their performances are filled with impeccable technique, expressive interpretations, and seamless communication on stage.
As solo performers, they have captivated audiences around the world with their dynamic and emotive performances, breathing new life into classical repertoire and exploring exciting contemporary works.
An accomplished cellist and the Assistant Principal Cellist of the prestigious BBC Philharmonic,
Maria Zachariadou is a passionate chamber musician whose work is reflected in her remarkable recordings, including the critically acclaimed album "Baroque Dialogues." Based in Manchester, Maria finds inspiration in the city's vibrant music community, balancing her professional pursuits with her role as a devoted mother and spouse. Her unwavering commitment to artistic excellence continues to shape her career and captivate audiences worldwide.
Ugnius Pauliukonis, an accomplished pianist and educator, recognized for his versatility across various musical genres from Renaissance to contemporary works. Graduating from the Royal Northern College of Music, he has established himself as a successful soloist and chamber musician, captivating audiences in renowned concert halls such as the Bridgewater Hall, Wigmore Hall, and the iconic Elbphilharmonie.
In addition to his performing career, Ugnius is a founding member and managing director of the SONO ensemble, an innovative chamber music group that pushes the boundaries of traditional performances. His dedication to music education is evident through his masterclasses and workshops held internationally.

domain: artistic


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State Rep. W. Curtis Thomas is making sure the Philadelphia Housing Authority’s new leadership confronts the issues facing residents, especially in light of what Thomas believes are the failings of past PHA directors to connect with residents.
Thomas set up three community meetings with PHA Interim Executive Director Kelvin A. Jeremiah. The third meeting took place from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday at the Warnock Community Center, 2862 Germantown Ave. Previous meetings were held at the John F. Street Center and the Althea Gibson Education and Tennis Center.
“It’s unfortunate the last two PHA directors didn’t feel it was important enough to talk directly to residents. They had advisory council structures, which they used to talk to the people, but never talked to them directly,” Thomas said, referring to former directors Carl Greene and Michael P. Kelly. “The purpose of these meetings are to meet the new director and get updated on where PHA is, which is important because the budgeting process resolved the issue of board reorganization — with the board being expanded from five members to nine.
“The mayor will appoint 7 people,” Thomas continued,” who will have to be confirmed by City Council in the next 60 days.”
Thomas, whose district contains an assortment of PHA and other low-income housing, has several ideas on how PHA can improve its standing with residents.
“Even with the board being reestablished, I’m advocating that the receiver, Estelle Richmond, stay in place and resolve all issues surrounding Kelly and Greene. There are all kinds of audits and investigations in regard to finances with PHA, and I think the receivership would have to deal with those issues without a new board worrying about them,” Thomas said. “Also, there should be no elected officials on the board — they have to take the politics out of it. And PHA should not deal with any landlords – either with Section 8 or other housing vouchers – if they have outstanding issues with city.”
Thomas also intimated that since PHA is a creation of the commonwealth, the state needs to be more of a partner to the process. To that end, Thomas praised the recent settlement of a national class-action lawsuit that resulted in Pennsylvania receiving $12.5 million, which has been earmarked specifically to address various housing issues.
“We were able to get the governor and General Assembly to agree to put that money into the Department of Treasury, going to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency to be used for affordable housing, which would include PHA,” Thomas said. “It would deal with rising mortgage foreclosures, housing restoration, emergency rent, and in some cases, deal with new homes.”
Thomas knows that no matter the influx of dollars, PHA’s network of low-rent dwellings will never succeed if residents don’t feel safe leaving their homes.
“My district is probably the worst district in the city when it comes to crime and violence,” Thomas said, noting that crime and lawlessness is particularly high at Harrison Plaza, Spring Garden Apartments and Fairhill Apartments. “Carl Greene thought PHA should not have its own police department, and that residents should look to the Philadelphia Police Department. Greene was only interested in protecting assets and new homes, but you need more than that.
“Especially with Norris Homes,” continued Thomas. “You have Temple Police right there, across the street. At Tenth Street, on the east side of Norris is the Philadelphia Gas Company police force. Then you have the 22nd police district that covers Norris Homes, and then you have SEPTA Police right there, due to the station SEPTA put there. But you don’t have these four law enforcement agencies intersecting with each other for the benefit of the residents.
“Part of my recommendation is to develop interagency agreements to support one another in the protection of all residents, but especially PHA residents.”


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Arrowsmith Antiques & Restoration
French Napoleon III Bronze Gilt & Porcelain Mantel Clock by Vincenti
An extremely fine quality French Napoleon III bronze gilt mantel clock with decorative mouldings, beaded bezel detail, and leaf design throughout stood on scrolling foliate feet adorned with doves, putti and Greek goddess Nike. The clock has inset sevre style porcelain panels with hand painted cherubs and flowers within a gilt and blue border. The clock has a white enamel dial with Roman numerals and a French eight day movement which strikes the hours and half hours on a bell with outside count wheel. The movement back plate is stamped with the makers names: Vincenti The clock movement has been cleaned and serviced and comes with a 12 month guarantee.
Arrowsmith Antiques & Restoration has clarified that the French Napoleon III Bronze Gilt & Porcelain Mantel Clock by Vincenti (LA330034) is genuinely of the period declared with the date/period of manufacture being 1860
In excellent condition
Please contact us about delivery or for an overseas shipping quote


First EV charger formed from low-carbon-footprint plastics
Electric vehicles continue to gain traction as consumers look for more sustainable transportation options. As EV ownership increases, so does the need for owners to purchase EV chargers.
EVBox is a one of the leading providers of flexible and scalable charging solutions for EVs. The company’s customers care about sustainability and protecting the environment, leading EVBox to explore material alternatives that would help reduce CO2 emissions during manufacturing and installation.
We know our customers have a strong interest in sustainability, and we’ve set out to be a pioneer in making our EV charging stations more sustainable. Our use of Makrolon® RE polycarbonate enables us to achieve that by reducing the CO₂ footprint of our products, which supports the overall EV market.
EVBox wanted to produce EV chargers that were more environmentally friendly through use of a more sustainable engineering plastic. However, the material’s properties could not be negatively impacted; it was critical the charger comply with UL certifications.
“Makrolon® RE is the ideal material solution for making EV chargers more sustainable. For the EVBox Livo, a Makrolon® RE grade with more than 80% bio-circular attributed feedstock is used, which complies with UL certifications. Saving fossil resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions is our ongoing goal.”
Covestro introduced Makrolon® RE, a low carbon footprint grade of our proven Makrolon® polycarbonate. The grade meets the technical properties required by the EV charging industry to meet UL certification.
EVBox replaced most of the plastics in its new home-charging EVBox Livo, including 100% of the plastic housing, with Makrolon® RE. This reduces the engineering plastic carbon footprint by more than 80% compared to the standard product. The EVBox Livo charging stations are reducing CO2 emissions and saving fossil raw materials even before the car is plugged in!
- Reduced CO₂ footprint The Makrolon® RE polycarbonate used in these chargers has a very low carbon footprint and can even be climate neutral
- Saves fossil resources Makrolon® RE supports the transition to renewable resources by replacing crude-oil-based feedstocks with attributed bio-circular feedstocks, via mass balance
- Easy to process Makrolon® RE grades have identical high-performance properties to standard Makrolon® grades
- Drop-in solution Switching from conventional Makrolon® to Makrolon® RE can be done immediately and the RE grade is UL co-listed
- Meeting EV charging industry requirements Makrolon® RE grades with 5VA rating and f1 listing are available


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If you're new to theBestArts, the site can be overwhelming. I suggest that you start by browsing the following sections:
Because of major changes by YouTube, the custom programming that drives theBestArts video pages is broken. There are plans to re-write the code,
but the site is currently crippled. I apologize for the inconvenience.
The site Facebook page remains active; visit it at http://www.facebook.com/theBestArts.
What's New on theBestArts: 2015
I've been posting quite a few new pages of videos on the site lately. Here's a partial list of them:
New Pages on theBestArts: 2014
Here are just a few of the new pages added to theBestArts in 2014:
Musical Theatre in Georgia
As many regular visitors know, I produce theBestArts in Atlanta, GA. In 2014, I hope to build a significant
body of content about musical theatre companies, professionals, students and resources in Georgia.
If you're interested in musical theatre in our community, please visit and contribute to the new
Georgia section of theBestArts.
All the best,
We're now featuring monthly sets of videos from
instead of weekly sets.
We'll continue to provide links to the sets of our favorite videos from
theBestArts.com that were featured in the past.
Please check back regularly!
Featured Videos by Month - 2013
Featured Videos by Month - 2012
Once we have time to put it together, we will provide a (mostly) comprehensive index to the singers and songwriters featured throughout 2012
Featured Videos by Month - 2011
Once we have time to put it together, we will provide a (mostly) comprehensive index to the singers and songwriters featured throughout 2011
Featured Videos by Month - 2010
We provide a (mostly) comprehensive index to the singers and songwriters featured throughout 2010
Weekly Highlights Videos
Here are the older "weekly highlights" pages:
Support the artists!
We thank viewers who purchase DVDs, CDs, sheet music and other items by artists that they discover through
our YouTube channels and website. Support the artists!
Our website is free to use for all, and we do not expect payment from visitors. However, maintaining
this website is an expensive proposition and some people have asked if there's a way they can contribute.
If you'd like to send us a few dollars towards the upkeep of the site, you may do so using


The negotiations over North Korea's participation in the Winter Olympics has broken two years of diplomatic stalemate. Where do you stand on the issue of sports diplomacy? Is it effective? Read he arguments and vote in the poll.
The House of Lords is the upper chamber of Parliament, currently composed of 805 individuals, none of whom have been elected. All these people have either been appointed by the monarch, are the current holders of a hereditary peerage or are one of 26 senior Church of England bishops. Although it was established in the 1300s, there have long been calls for the abolition of the House of Lords, which have intensified in recent decades. But what are the arguments in favour of retaining the House of Lords and what are the arguments against?
- Peers don’t have to worry about their own popularity
As the House of Lords is not elected, some argue that this means its members are free to vote for what they think is right, without having to worry about being defeated at the next election. This leads to better decisions being made as peers are able to focus on the long term impact of a policy rather than its impact on their own electoral fortunes.
- Legislation would be of a poorer quality without it
It is often argued that the primary benefit of the House of Lords is how it allows experts in certain fields to use their expertise to critique legislation. However, if they were required to stand for election, they may choose not to, as many of them already have other jobs that mean they don’t have the time to campaign. This would lessen the quality of the legislation, as the experts would be replaced by professional politicians who wouldn’t bring as much knowledge to the debates on bills.
- The House of Lords is undemocratic
The main argument against the existence of the House of Lords is that it is undemocratic. It is an unelected body which, on occasion, forces the elected House of Commons to back down, which critics view as profoundly undemocratic. They say that anyone with a say in the legislative process should be an elected representative, which peers are not.
It is too old fashioned
Many say that the upper chamber, which is admittedly around 700 years old, has no role in modern society. They argue that the existence of a 92 strong contingent of hereditary peers is at odds with meritocracy, as it guarantees a large group of people the ability to vote on the passage of legislation because of their lineage. It is also argued that the house is an unneeded remnant of the days when people were appointed to it as a form of patronage, which is out of touch with modern society.
Reforming the House of Lords?
In the vast debate about the House of Lords, there are also those who believe that it shouldn’t be abolished, but reformed instead. The main suggestion of reform is that the House of Lords should switch from being appointed to being elected, which would effectively ‘democratise’ the chamber. Abolishing hereditary peers is another idea commonly put forward, as well as taking away the right of peers to vote on legislation, and reducing their role to simply scrutinising bills. However, although there have been many alterations to the House of Lords since 1997, the proposals to overhaul it in 2012 were eventually scrapped, as they were too unpopular to get through the House of Commons, showing how difficult it is to actually reform the chamber.
Economics terms are thrown about by those in-the-know all too regularly. Frankly, its baffling for those of us without expert knowledge in the subject, and “put simply” explanations are infrequent to say the least. #LetsTalkPolitics and challenge this. Globalisation is a widely used word in that is often misunderstood or unclear to a large proportion of us. The definition lies in the intersection between Geography and Economics. Globalisation can essentially be seen as the increasing interconnectedness and integration of national economies and the increasing flows of goods, services, labour, ideas and capital between them.
We are in a very globalised world, a world where Transnational and Multinational companies dominate global interactions and borders are flattened to accommodate the exponential growth of nations in tandem with companies. So, what are the underlying causes of Globalisation?
- Growth of Free Trade (Read Previous article on free trade)
- Growth of Multinational (MNC) companies such as Coca Cola
- Development in Technology (communication, transport etc.)
- Development in trading blocs, trans-national relations (Ease in trade)
Globalisation is obviously a large topic to cover with varying different meanings, but what are the impacts both spatially and temporally?
- Increased interconnectedness between nations can mean that countries that previously may not have been affected by global trade cycles may now be (China may affect Taiwan’s trade growth e.g.)
- There is increased global competition; global markets become more competitive as there are more incumbent (existing in market) firms. (This can lead to lower prices to consumers as well as an array of other forms such as greater technological innovation)
- Greater labour mobility, rise in movement and fluidity of labour
- Greater economies of scale (As the firm increases in size it can gain different benefits, e.g. bulk buying economies of scale – a firm of a larger size can purchase more raw materials at a cheaper price)
What are some of the costs?
- Domestic firms can become uncompetitive, local firms can be pushed out or receive little to no business as large trans-national corporations move in
- Certain countries may have a ‘comparative advantage’ over other economies in the production of goods and services – this can create an unbalanced global economy
- There are obvious environmental costs, with the growth of consumerism and production pollution is inevitable
As you can see there are various costs and benefits provided by globalisation. All in all, it is an inevitable process and for sustainability to be achieved, sound management from extra-governmental bodies such as the World Trade Organisation must take place over time.
Since Richard B. Spencer coined the term in 2010, the Alt-Right (or Alternative Right) have provided a steady stream of headlines, and articles.....but what is the Alt-Right, who are they, and what do they stand for?
What is the Alt-Right?
The Alt-Right (or Alternative Right) is a political movement primarily based online, that seeks to move away from mainstream conservatism, and establish a new political wave. The term was coined by Richard B. Spencer in 2010, Spencer is also seen as the leader of the movement.
Many prominent members are associated with the “white identity” movement, which was established to end what members saw as the decline of “white culture”. However, as there is no clear political manifesto for the Alt-Right, its members represent a wide political base.
The Southern Poverty Law Centre, an American anti-hate organisation defines the Alt-Right as “a set of far-right ideologies, groups and individuals whose core belief is that ‘white identity’ is under attack by multicultural forces using ‘political correctness’ and ‘social justice’ to undermine white people and ‘their’ civilisation.”
Who are they?
The Alt-Right has very few well-known members, as the majority of their support is based online. This makes it difficult to identify and quantify the membership base.
However, University of Alabama professor George Hawley stated that the majority of supporters are white millennial age males, who are either in college or with a college degree, secular (perhaps atheist), and "not interested in the conservative movement at all.”
What do they stand for?
As there is no set manifesto for the Alt-Right ideology, what they stand for is a hard question. However, there are some common, and prominent themes through the alt-right.
The preservation of “white culture” is one of the most prominent features of the Alt-Right. Indeed, the alt-right has been compared to white-nationalist groups. However, Professor George Hawley does explain some differences. Hawley states that there is “more of a difference of style and marketing”, whilst also recognising that “most of the leading figures of the alt-right do disavow things like genocide, which some of the more outrageous earlier white nationalists didn’t necessarily do”.
The most prominent, and indeed one of the few avowedly Alt-Right organisations is the National Policy Institute (NPI), currently headed by Richard Spencer.
Founded in 2005 by William Regnery and Samuel T. Francis, in conjunction with Louis R. Andrews. It describes itself as “dedicated to the heritage, identity, and future of people of European descent in the United States, and around the world”.
Although there are no openly, and exclusively Alt-Right media outlets, Breitbart News has been dubbed “the platform for the alt-right.” Breitbart also boasts Milo Yiannopoulos, seen as a leading member of the Alt-Right, as a senior editor.
Due to the Alt-Right’s major online presence, and online proficiency, they have adopted, and appropriated many symbols from across the internet.
Perhaps the most famous of these symbols is Pepe the Frog. Pepe was created in 2005 by Matt Furie, and first appeared in Furie’s comic ‘Boy's Club #1’. The character has since become the mascot of the Alt-Right, something that Furie does not support; stating “"It sucks, but I can't control it more than anyone can control frogs on the Internet”.
Other Alt-Right symbols include: Harambe and the Ancient Egyptian God Kek (worshiped ironically).
This year, 5 candidates are vying for the chance to lead the French nation. The first round of the presidential election will take place on 23rd April 2017. Unless one candidate wins an overwhelming majority vote, which is highly unlikely, the two leading candidates after this first round will face off on May 7th in a second contest.
Who are the candidates?
Marine Le Pen
Marine Le Pen has certainly made a name for herself in global politics. Daughter of Jean-Marie Le Pen, whose nationalistic leadership of the Front National earned him fame but ultimately an eviction from the party, new leader Marine Le Pen moves forward with the aim to soften the racist rhetoric of her father’s politics. However, she has dubbed herself “Madame Frexit” due to her desire to follow Britain out of the EU. Le Pen finished 3rd behind Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy in the 2012 elections, and is leading the pack with 25% of the vote in this year’s first round polls.
Former investment banker Emmanuel Macron served as economy minister under the unpopular presidency of Francois Hollande. Now leading his own, “En Marche!” (On the Move!) campaign, Macron represents a pro-NATO, pro-EU, pro-refugee political ideology in an increasingly nationalistic leaning France. Although Macron trails Le Pen in the polls, it is thought he will triumph over the Front National candidate when the vote really matters.
Hamon leads the French Socialist Party in the upcoming election. He served as Francois Hollande’s education minister in 2014 but later resigned over his conflicting socialist ideals with the then president. He goes into the 2017 election as an underdog and is currently placed 4th in the polls. This poor form could be down to his unusual policies: the robot tax intending to tax employers using automotive workers and the reduction in hours of the French working week.
This far-left candidate, who quit the socialist party in 2013, has policies most resembling Le Pen’s. His anti-globalisation and anti-austerity stance define his campaign and bring him close in thinking to the leader of the FN. Melenchon currently is polling around 10%, so his chances of progressing to the second round seem slim. There has been talk of a Hamon-Melenchon partnership, which would make this combined candidate a serious contender. However, it is thought political ambition and antagonism over the years would deem such a coalition impossible.
Francois Fillon’s centre-right campaign for Les Republicains was going well, that was until news broke that he had kept his wife on the public payroll for work she had not done. Up until about 2 weeks ago, Fillon was the favourite in the presidential race. It was thought his policies, resembling the FN candidate’s in their pro-Russia alliance tendencies whilst maintaining a pro-EU stance, would grant him universal French popularity. However, this latest knock to his reputation sees him dwindling in the polls.


Fans of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag will be getting some story based DLC soon. The DLC entitled Freedom Cry is set to be released on December 17. It will offer four additional hours of new content spread over nine missions, and focuses on Kenway’s first mate Adewale. The DLC takes place 15 years after Adewale has gained his freedom while serving aboard the Jackdaw and has now become a trained Assassin. The DLC is part of the Season Pass, but no individual pricing has been released yet. It will be available for the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Wii U.
Some announcements have been made in regarding the VGX, formerly known as Spike TV’s Video Game Awards...Read More