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In one of the most tumultuous regions of the world, in which the fate of nations is determined by coalitions, there is only one state which has friendly or non-belligerent relationships with all other states. It has based its relationships with other states on the principles of international relations and has been recognized as a mediator by other states. That country is Oman, a powerful, stabilized, and above all, an independent state, reminiscent of Switzerland.
WHO IS THE NEW SULTAN OF OMAN?
Haitham bin Tariq Al Said is the new 65-year-old sultan of Oman who ascended to the throne on January 11, 2020, after the death of his cousin, Qaboos bin Said. Normally, Sultan Qaboos’s son should have been ascended to the throne, however, because he didn’t have a son, Haitham became Sultan.
Sultan Haitham, who is an Oxford graduate, has been Oman’s Minister of Culture for 18 years and had already served as the secretary of the Foreign Ministry. He was also in charge of Future Vision Oman 2040. His father, Tariq bin Taimur, was the mayor of Muscat and Oman’s Prime Minister. Tariq bin Taimur was one of Sultan Qaboos’s biggest supporters when he ascended to the throne. Since Tariq bin Taimur had lived and was educated in Turkey and Germany, he was familiar with the social laws of the European states. Applying the European laws in his own country, he got recognized as one of the founders of modern Oman.
Haitham bin Tariq has a hand in international affairs. He had different responsibilities in Oman’s Foreign Ministry from 1986 to 2002.
The new Sultan of Oman can generally be considered a modernist and a person who is willing to negotiate with the world.
— Oman Observer 🇴🇲 (@OmanObserver) February 20, 2020
OMAN’S KEY ROLE IN THE REGION
The Middle East, as the heartland of the world, has always been prone to major events such as the Arab Spring, the emergence of terrorist groups, and western states’ interference, particularly the United States of America. Therefore, the powerful states of the region, politically and ideologically on different fronts, caused the formation of political, military, and even economic coalitions. However, one state endeavored to stay away from these conflicts and play the role of an intermediary. That state is Oman.
The Omanis are religiously different from other Muslim states. They are disciples of Ibadism which is neither Sunni nor Shiite. This difference at first isolated Oman from Arabian Peninsula but with Sultan Qaboos’s ascending to the throne in the early 70s, this difference turned out to be one of Oman’s strengths because it prevented the state from the need to interfere in religious conflicts in the region.
On one hand, conflicts between Saudi Arabia and Iran regarding Iran’s influence in the region and conflicts between The United Arab Emirates and Iran on three small but highly important islands (The islands of Abu Musa & Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb) in the south of Iran, had no negative effects on Muscat-Tehran relationships. And on the other hand, military relations between Oman and UAE had no negative effects on Tehran’s and other regional states’ relationships with Oman. Even the tension between Muscat and Abu Dhabi on an espionage crisis caused by UAE, could not negatively influence the relationships between Riyadh and Muscat.
Even in cases such as the murder of Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia’s war against Yemen, Saudi Arabia and UAE’s cutting off relations with Qatar, Oman neither supported Riyadh nor Abu Dhabi and remained neutral. And none of these issues had negative effects on the relationships between Arab Countries and Oman. Therefore, it can be claimed that the regional countries, particularly the Arab countries and Iran, have recognized Oman as a totally independent state.
#EU just triggered the Dispute Mechanism 4 #Iran deal. #IranUsa tensions high after #Sulaimani. The #Gulf is vulnerable. Bad timing to loose #SultanQaboos, most effective mediator w/Tehran. Full plate for #SultanHaitham. My latest for @ecfr @ECFRMENA #Oman https://t.co/81f3wpYrja
— Cinzia Bianco (@Cinzia_Bianco) January 14, 2020
SWITZERLAND OF THE MIDDLE EAST, ANTIQUITY, AND INDEPENDENCE
Oman has been nicknamed Switzerland of the Middle East since the two countries are politically similar. This appellation may appear strange to most people, however there are reasons which make it logical:
Historically, Oman was able to develop more relationships with non-Arab states compared to its other Arab neighbors. One reason for this is because of its geographic position and its historical capability in the shipbuilding industry. Oman is a non-Sunni and a non-Shiite state which helped the country strengthen the spirit of nationalism. They are disciples of Ibadism religion and preach Islam according to their own ways.
When isolated, states are left with two options, they either surrender to superpowers or with strengthening, become a power themselves. Oman chose the latter. Oman’s isolation which originates from its particular religion and geographic position played a role in the country’s independence.
Therefore, Omanis’ independence, diplomatic and political power, economy, and the spirit of peace-seeking are the most important reasons that make Oman the Switzerland of the Middle East.
MEDIATION BETWEEN IRAN AND ISRAEL
Channel 13 of Israeli TV claimed in a report that in 2013 Oman attempted to mediate peace talks between Iran and Israel but Benjamin Netanyahu did not agree with it. Even the head of Mossad gave a green light to the suggestion, however, Netanyahu’s stance ruined the talks.
When Hassan Rouhani became Iran’s president, whose policies were a lot different from those of his predecessor, Oman thought it could negotiate with president Rouhani and act as a mediator between Iran and Israel.
Alongside this issue, other talks started between Iran, the European Union, and the Group 5+1 which after two years led to JCPOA. The ways were secretly paved for these talks during the years before 2013 by Iranian and US negotiators in Oman.
Also in 2018 and after Netanyahu’s visit to Oman, there were whispers about Oman’s attempts to trigger peace talks between Iran and Israel which have never been confirmed.
TV report: Oman sought to broker Israel-Iran talks in 2013; Netanyahu said no https://t.co/N6eL7SXI2c
— The Times of Israel (@TimesofIsrael) February 2, 2020
Oman’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf bin Alawi, visited Tehran six times last year which increased the possibility of Oman’s intermediary role among Iran, Israel, and the US.
WAS IRAN READY FOR THE TALKS? IS AN IRAN-ISRAEL RELATIONSHIP EVEN POSSIBLE?
From Iran’s point of view, Israel is a fake country and does not recognize it. However, Iran’s enmity toward Israel goes back to the period prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution. At that time, the Iranians would back Palestinians but the Shah of Iran would support the Israeli government. Mossad even trained special intelligence forces of Iran’s Shah named SAVAK. Therefore, the enmity toward Israel has been internalized in the Iranians’ memory. And now one of the most important characteristics of the Islamic government is the enmity toward Israel.
Therefore, on one hand, Israel is seriously worried about the influence of Iran in the region, particularly its influence in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. On the other hand, Iran will lose its legitimacy if it reaches a peace agreement with Israel. Therefore, according to these reasons, talks between Iran and Israel is basically impossible.
OMAN’S STANCE ON PALESTINE-ISRAEL CONFLICT AND THE DEAL OF THE CENTURY
As we have pointed out, Oman, unlike other Arab countries, has good relations with Israel. The Palestine issue is the red line of all Muslims of the world and because of this Oman is not able to openly take stances against Palestine even it does not support the legal rights of the Palestinians.
Oman has always tried to overtly support Palestine and covertly support Israel. Oman has manifested such behavior in its stance toward the Deal of the Century.
Donald Trump’s speech in the inauguration of the Deal of the Century was given in the presence of UAE and Bahrain’s ambassadors whose presence cannot be meaningless. Nevertheless, The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIP) which Oman is a member of, rejected the initiative.
Slaves bone licker ⤵
Arab ambassadors participating in the announcement ceremony of the deal of the century
Ambassador Youssef al-Otaiba, Ambassador Abdallah Al-Khalifa and ambassador Hanini Sultan Al-mugheriya of the Sultanate of Oman pic.twitter.com/BPEEWyKR3k
— 🇹🇷 Ayşe (@helya125) January 28, 2020
Oman has not taken a stance against the Deal of the Century, however, after the inauguration of the initiative, published a stamp whose design conjures up to mind the Palestinians’ right of ownership over Quds.
Oman stamp declares Jerusalem the capital of Palestine https://t.co/C88xRYfnjV
— Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) February 11, 2020
Therefore, Oman is either still assessing the Deal of the Century initiative or is planning to support both sides in order to side with the demands of Palestinians and Israelis in the first step and preserve its neutrality in the second step.
RELATIONS WITH SAUDI ARABIA AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
If Saudi Arabia and The United Arab Emirates had the right to choose between Haitham bin Tariq and Asa’ad bin Tariq, they would certainly pick the latter to be the king of Oman, because these two brothers are different from each other in such ways that could change the fate of a country.
Asa’ad bin Tariq is adventurous and a person who has a spirit for militarism and in this point of view is very similar to Mohammad bin Salman and Mohammed bin Zayed and even has been educated in the same academy just like Mohammed bin Zayed, the Royal Military Academy of England, Sandhurst.
However, Haitham bin Tariq follows the policies of Oman’s previous Sultan and additionally is interested in solving issues through diplomacy, unlike Asa’ad bin Tariq. He believes in Oman’s neutrality in the international arena, signifying that Saudi Arabia will have to continue to tolerate a non-allied and powerful neighboring country.
Maybe the only country that has a tense relationship with Oman is the United Arab Emirates. The negative relations between the two states have different reasons:
In 2011, Oman successfully discovered a UAE spy web on its soil. This issue is the most important reason for the tension between the two countries.
Oman remained silent over missile attacks on Saudi Arabia which prompted The United Arab Emirates’ criticism.
The Yemen Crisis and Saudi Arabia’s and UAE’s ruthless attacks on Yemen is also another controversial issue between the two countries.
Oman’s Support for Qatar when it was economically sanctioned by Saudi Arabia and the UAE which made Riyadh and Abu Dhabi angry.
It can generally be interpreted that Oman’s autonomy in decision making and The United Arab Emirates’ attempt to disrupt this autonomy caused the conflict between these two states.
Sultan Haitham’s treatment of Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince, in Sultan Qaboos’ memorial ceremony, once more reminded the world of the two countries’ deep tension. Although, The United Arab Emirates tried to interpret Sultan Haitham’s treatment of Mohammed bin Zayed as a sign of respect for him, however, Sultan Haitham intended to show that just like his predecessor he is resentful over UAE’s actions against Oman’s security and has not yet forgotten those acts.
If a picture spoke a thousand words. pic.twitter.com/cRo7WIKvpV
— Kristian Ulrichsen (@Dr_Ulrichsen) January 12, 2020
RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL, IRAN, AND TURKEY
Oman’s stances on Israel is also different from other Arab states.
Oman was one of three countries that cut their relations with Egypt after the 1979 peace agreement was reached between Israel and Egypt. Sultan Qaboos supported direct negotiations between Palestine and Israel and in 1994, when the tensions between Israel and Arabian states were at the highest point, met with Yitzhak Rabin in Muscat. Shimon Peres also visited Oman in 1996. Also, Israel’s Prime Ministers’ third visit to Oman happened in October 2018 when Benjamin Netanyahu visited Oman one week after Mahmoud Abbas’s visit to Oman during which he met with Sultan Qaboos. All these visits happened when Oman and Israel did not have diplomatic relations.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to Israel from an official diplomatic visit to Oman where he met with Sultan Qaboos bin Said.
PM Netanyahu and his wife were invited to visit by Oman's ruler, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, after lengthy contacts between the two countries. pic.twitter.com/gvnuRNgyTm
— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 26, 2018
Oman has historic relations with Iran, relations which have been preserved during the past century even with regime change in Iran. Mutual strategic goals that exist between the two states, particularly in controlling Strait of Hormuz caused Tehran and Muscat to come to a mutual understanding of each other. Yemen’s security is also another mutual concern of the two states. During the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) which isolated Iran, Oman was one of the few states that preserved its diplomatic relations with Iran. In general, Oman’s policies over Iran were realistic and Iran’s role in the region has not been overlooked by Oman.
Maybe it is possible to consider Turkey a neutral state in the region after Oman which unlike Oman, Turkey has directly confronted Israel. Ankara is on good terms with most of the regional states and in cases where the relations between Turkey and other states were strained, it was not Turkey’s fault such as Jamal Khashoggi’s murder by Saudi Arabia’s intelligence forces in Turkey. It might be for this reason that Oman considers relations with Turkey highly important.
Transparency between Oman’s and Turkey’s policies over Middle Eastern issues has brought the two states to a mutual understanding of each other. Although the diplomatic relations between Ankara and Muscat are not extensive, they have satisfying economic relations. For example, the volume of transactions between these two countries has increased from USD 23.8 million in 2003 to USD 592 million in 2014.
Additionally, it should be kept in mind that Sultan Haitham’s father was born in Turkey, was educated in Turkey, and grew up there. He was fully familiar with the Turkish language and culture. In fact, Sultan Haitham’s grandmother was from Turkey.
As for HM Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Grandmother (Father’s side) her name is Kamila Khanum (b. at Istanbul, Turkey, 1895), a Turkish national of Circassian descent, who returned to Istanbul after her divorce from Sultan Taimur bin Faisal and took the name Madame Kamile İlgiray.
— محمد الرحبي Mohammed Al Rahbi I (@MohammedAlRahbi) January 15, 2020
Undoubtedly, this Turkish ancestry will influence Sultan Haitham’s personal attitude toward Turkey.
SULTAN HAITHAM’S CHALLENGES IN CONTINUING SULTAN QABOOS’ DIRECTION
Sultan Qaboos was responsible for 12 important positions on top of Oman’s government and with his death, we not only see changes on the throne, but there will also be changes in the 11 other important positions at the highest levels of power. Therefore, we will undoubtedly see some changes in Oman’s policies but not likely in its major policies, because even in Sultan Qaboos’ era, one of the most important people in the major decision-making process was Haitham bin Tariq.
"Our only relief-the best with which we can eternalize HM #SultanQaboos's achievements-is to pursue his rightful legacy and derive impetus for the brilliant steps that he treaded in … to preserve the gains that he made and to build upon them".
— The Diplomacy (@Omani_Diplomacy) February 19, 2020
One of Sultan Haitham’s most important challenges is the fulfilment of Future Vision Oman 2040. He, who was directly in charge of this program, is now able to proceed more actively with it. The program, which intends to modernize Oman, had been planned by his father and the previous Sultan of Oman. The program emphasizes that Oman’s economy be divided into five sectors of industry, fishery, mines, tourism, and logistics in order to diversify Oman’s sources of income.
— رؤية عُمان ٢٠٤٠ (@2040_om) February 23, 2020
Oman successfully decreased its inflation rates from % 1.01 in 2014 to % 0.08 in 2019 and the rate of unemployment from 3.85% in 2014 to 3.08% in 2019. However, alongside this success, Oman’s national debt increased from USD 3.99 billion in 2014 to USD 42.31 billion in 2018 and it is predicted that in 2024 it will reach to USD 69.6 billion. Saudi Arabia has the highest national debt, while Kuwait has the lowest as of 2018. However, Oman had the lowest national debt in 2014 and is now in 4th place.
Oman's debt problem in a chart: the once debt-less Muscat hiked govt. spending by 1/3rd following Arab Spring protests, but when oil prices crashed in 2014, expenditure didn't fall with it. The new Sultan faces higher borrowing rates and a looming debt repayment cycle. https://t.co/PFI1i6UmFc
— Waylon Fairbanks (@WaylonFairbanks) January 17, 2020
Now, in the international arena, the important issue is that perhaps Sultan Haitham is willing to continue Sultan Qaboos’ policies. However, the current circumstances in the Middle East will also influence Haitham’s decision. If tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and Israel and Turkey increase further, Oman will not be able to remain a neutral state.
Sultan Haitham is considered one of the important Investors in Oman and his experience in business may bring economic opportunities in Oman. If this happens, Oman would play a more important role in the Middle East by establishing a counter-economic dependency.

domain: geography


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New Delhi [India]: Head Of State Narendra Modi on Sunday paid homage to the papa of the Nation Mahatama Gandhi and also former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth wedding anniversary.
PM Modi likewise shared looks of Shastri’s gallery in the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya in Delhi as well as urged the people to see the gallery.
Admiring Mahatma Gandhi on his 153rd birth anniversary, PM Modi tweeted, “This Gandhi Jayanti is, much more, unique since India marks Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Perhaps always live up to Bapu’s perfects. I likewise prompt you to acquire Khadi and also inventions products as a tribute to Gandhi Ji.”
” Lal Bahadur Shastri Ji is admired all across India for his simplicity as well as decisiveness. His hard management at an extremely essential time in our background will certainly constantly be born in mind. Tributes to him on his Jayanti,” he added.
” Today, on Shastri Ji’s Jayanti I am also sharing some glances from his gallery in the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya in Delhi, which showcases his life trip and also achievements as PM. Do check out the Gallery,” he stated.
Born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar community of Gujarat, Mahatma Gandhi or Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi adopted a non-violent resistance as well as went to the forefront of the freedom resist colonial British guideline.
This resulted in India finally accomplishing its self-reliance in 1947. Fondly known as Bapu, his unwavering belief in ‘Swaraj’ (self-governance) as well as ‘Ahimsa’ (non-violence) won him distinctions throughout the globe.
Globally, Gandhi’s birth wedding anniversary is commemorated as the International Day of Non-Violence. Numerous occasions are kept in India as well as across the world to note the occasion.
Birthed in Uttar Pradesh in 1904, Lal Bahadur Shastri was the 2nd Prime Minister of India and also offered from 1964 to 1966. He died in Tashkent on January 11, 1966, at the age of 61, soon after signing the Tashkent Pact with Pakistan.

domain: news


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A number of mortalities are directly related to unhealthy lifestyles. Governments, the world over are becoming increasingly active in fighting risk factors of the most common causes of death such as: Cardiovascular, Cancer and Diabetes. Other medical problems such as Anxiety/ Depression reduce the quality of life and affect interpersonal relationships.
It is estimated that if individuals adopted the health principles, such as those promoted at the Health Festival, the mortality rates for Cancer and Cardiovascular diseases, for instance,could drop by 60-70% and 70-80% respectively. Longevity could be increased by 6-12 years, with better quality of life. Medical costs would be greatly reduced.
The Health Festival participation age ranges from 23-54. The population of Kenya is approximately 45 million. A third of these live in urban areas.
66 percent of Kenyans are 25-40 years of age which comprises the increasing number of ‘middle-class’ citizens. Study suggests that due to income and high purchasing power; this group is adopting a ‘Western-like’ lifestyle which is leading to rising numbers of lifestyle diseases i.e. Diabetes, Heart problems and Obesity.

domain: medical


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If you are having problems in your relationship or perhaps marriage, then answer is not a. There is absolutely no valid reason to give up over a relationship or marriage. If you need to find out what you can do about it, then you have come to the appropriate place. Here I’m going to be telling you there is absolutely nothing that can be done to fix the problem and if you tend want to quit on your relationship then the answer is a resounding yes.
The reason most people give up their relationships and partnerships is because they believe that they are likely to lose everything that they have functioned so hard to get. Most of them also believe that in the event that they typically do something about it that they can end up going broke. For anyone who is someone who is convinced this then you are going to be extremely disappointed because I am going to let you know that there is a whole lot that you can do to fix any problem that you have in your marriage. The first thing that you need to do is usually to look at your self. Are you making the proper choices? Should you be making the incorrect choices then you have to find out for what reason that is hence and then make a change. If you are not really changing how we do things then you’re going to will begin to feel bad about yourself which is only going to cause you to be feel a whole lot worse.
If you are within a relationship and also you think that it is going to be the end of computer, then you ought to ask yourself the examples below question: Why do I feel bad about personally? This is where you have to really require a close check out yourself. You should know what you want away of your life. So what do you want to obtain? Do you want to locate love until now want to be satisfied with your current your life? You need to ensure that your respond to this concern venezuelan women dating is mostly a resounding yes if you want to look for happiness in the relationship. In the event you answer it is just a negative response then you may ought to find a better answer to this question before you move on.

domain: sociology


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At Vogue, Sally Rooney discusses her hotly anticipated new novel, Beautiful World, Where Are You, and the books that provided a basis for her observational, haunting prose. “When I look at my own reading life, the books that I’ve felt completely swept away by are set among the landed gentry in 19th-century Britain, which I really don’t identify with at all,” Rooney says. “But I care about [those people] very much if they’re in a Jane Austen novel or a George Eliot. I guess what a novel can do is take you to a particular social world and particular relationship dynamics that play out in a way that makes you feel like you’re standing in the doorway, looking in and observing exactly what’s happening.”
“We connect with books in an intellectual way, but the most valuable relationships we have with them are emotional; to say that you merely admire or respect a book is, on some level, to insult it. Feelings are so fundamental to literary life that it can be hard to imagine a way of relating to literature that doesn’t involve loving it. Without all those emotions, what would reading be?” Joshua Rothman on “The History of ‘Loving’ to Read.”
Point: “Repeated surveys show that children spend less time reading than did previous generations. They instead devote many hours of their waking lives to electronic screens of one kind or another.” Counterpoint: “Generation Y, those born between 1979 and 1989, spent the most money on books in 2011, taking over long-held book-buying leadership from baby boomers…with 43 percent of GenY’s purchases going to online channels, they are adding momentum to the industry shift to digital.” Conclusion?
The International Writing Program at the University of Iowa is offering two seven-week online seminars free of charge this summer: Advanced Poetry and Poetry Masterclass. The seminars are intended for emerging and published poets, respectively, and they will be taught by Micah Bateman and Nick Twemlow. Anybody with an internet connection is allowed to apply, and applications are due May 8th.
With college football season officially upon us, I’d like to take some time to recommend some books and articles on the subject of my favorite game. For starters, check out Nick Ripatrazone’s Millions piece about Don DeLillo, sports scandals, and growing up with the game. Next, Taylor Branch’s quintessential ebook on the NCAA’s cartel-like stranglehold on the sport deserves a read from anybody who’s ever participated in or watched college athletics of any kind. (You can get a good idea of the book from his Atlantic piece, too.) And lastly, I recommend checking out John U. Bacon’s latest book, Fourth and Long, which examines how “money, influence and power haunt the league.” (You may recall Bacon’s name from when I reviewed his earlier book on college football last year.)

domain: library


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Columbias Heights is as small community just east of the Mississippi River and south of the major dhighway 694 located only minutes from downtown Minneapolis with easy access to the northern areas of the Twin Cities and a small commute to downtown St. Paul.
Columbia Heights has the in the city living appeal.
Considering moving to the Twin Cities metro just
for all your local real estate information.
Welcome to your new home in a beautiful and quiet neighborhood! 1 1/2 story with 2 story addition. 3 bedrooms on one level. Spacious main floor living room area with new...
Listing courtesy of Fish MLS Realty.
Location! Location! Location! Spacious 4-level Home in the Heart of Columbia Heights! Quiet, Treed Lined Street. Close Proximity to 694 & Public Transportation. A Much Lo...
Listing courtesy of Keller Williams Classic Rlty NW.
Excellent single-level home with 3 bedrooms on the main, stucco & brick exterior, wonderful 20x19 main level family room with wood burning FP, master bedroom has walk-thr...
Listing courtesy of Keller Williams Premier Realty.
The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the Broker Reciprocity Program of the Regional Multiple Listing Service of Minnesota. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other this firm are marked with the Broker Reciprocity logo. Information Deemed Reliable But Not Guaranteed. Property locations as displayed on any map are best approximations only and exact locations should be independently verified.
Listing data © 2017 Regional Multiple Listing Service of Minnesota. All rights reserved. By searching, you agree to the EULA.


Ecuadorian striker Felipe Caicedo scored a 95th-minute equaliser as Lazio denied Juventus victory in Serie A at the Stadio Olimpico. Caicedo turned and fired past Wojciech Szczesny in the 95th minute after great wing-play from Joaquin Correa.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his sixth goal in four league games when he converted Juan Cuadrado’s cross to give Juve the lead in the 15th minute. They remain third, three points behind AC Milan who play Verona at 19:45 GMT.
The result will be a bitter blow for coach Andrea Pirlo and his men, who were rarely troubled by Lazio. Simone Inzaghi’s team had plenty of possession but had failed to test former Arsenal keeper Szczesny up until the goal.
Juve looked far more potent each time they surged forward. Ronaldo was again their standout player in the final third. Aside from the goal, the former Real Madrid player struck the woodwork with a shot, produced a drive that missed the post by a foot and also saw his thumping free-kick punched over the bar by Pepe Reina.
The forward was substituted with 15 minutes of the match remaining after appearing to suffer a knock in a challenge.
Lazio move up to ninth in the Serie A table with 11 points.


Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.
Item location: United States | Ships to: United States
Sold for US $129.00
Bogen CHB-100 Tube Amplifier. 100 watts output. The amp works and sounds good, but the output tubes are not included. It uses four 7868 output tubes, but will run on two output tubes. The rest of the tubes are included. As you can see, the cosmetics are a little rough. With a little modification, these make great guitar amps.
Other Bogen Amplifier


The invitation to a distribution list does not work
If you create an event with a distribution list, the email is sent to the group address and is not sent to the individual guests in the group.
Steps to reproduce:
- create a distribution list
- create an event with an invitation
- add an invitation and enter the name of the list created
- the invitation mail is sent to all members of the list
- the mail is not sent (it is sent to the internal address <firstname.lastname@example.org>)
From the mail server log:
Nov 16 12:01:33 wt5dev postfix/qmgr: 8DEFA58029: from=<email@example.com>, size=8388, nrcpt=1 (queue active) Nov 16 12:01:34 wt5dev postfix/smtp: 8DEFA58029: to=<firstname.lastname@example.org>, relay=
It would be useful if, opening the event in the invitation form, you would be shown the list of individual guests who were present in the distribution list
#1 Updated by Matteo Albinola almost 2 years ago
In this case i think that the real bug is that the attendees lookup includes recipient addresses coming from contacts lists, only true recipients should be listed. Event invitation logic does not support contacts lists concept, choosing a list recipient must be avoided.


5 Most Iconic Medieval Swords For Sale Under $50
Posted by Knives Deal on 10/29/2018
Medieval Era is known and remembered for a lot of things and among those things, the most famous ones are the Medieval swords.
Medieval swords are one of the most visually appealing and breathtaking swords of all times. The time between 5th to 15th century is known as Medieval era which started from the fall of the Roman Empire and ended when the Renaissance period started.
Many renowned kings and knights belonged to the Medieval era and their swords are still kept by people as a historical artifact or simply because of their elegance and grace.
These swords were considered to be a symbol of courage, honor, bravery and grace of a Medieval men and these people believed in the following saying.
“Those who live by the sword, die by the sword.”
So, if in spite of being a part of the modern era, you consider yourself to be a swordsman rather than a gunman, then we have something to pique your interest.
We all know that swords have a long history. Too many types of swords were designed and constructed, each of them differing in design and structure, strength, durability, quality and finesse.
So, let us have a look at some of the most famous and impressive Medieval swords for sale.
Medieval Sword King Solomon Templar Blue With Wall Plaque
The beautiful sword of King Solomon is a true masterpiece and is an epitome of grace and elegance. This one is an exact replica of the original King Solomon’s sword.
The sword stands at 48.5 inches, however its blade is 38 inches long. The blade is made up of stainless steel which is factory sharpened and makes it razor sharp. This sword is a true classic and is beautifully crafted.
The details are very fine which gives the sword a realistic and genuine look. The guard of the sword looks antique because it is gold plated and exhibits different kinds of symbols on it i.e. Star of David, Ark of the Covenant and Menorah making it a perfect historical artifact.
The blade of the sword has detailed laser etchings on it, capable of seeing anything that comes its way because of its sharp edge. This Medieval sword for sale is available in market at very reasonable rates and is a must have for all lovers of history.
Scandinavian Norsemen Raiding Viking Lobed Sword
This historical replica of the Viking sword is the member of the sword family known as “Spatha”. This simple yet classical sword looks so graceful in its black and silver beauty.
The overall length of the sword is 38.75 inches whereas its blade is 29.75 inches long. The blade of this sword is double sided and has a fuller that runs down the centre of it with a safety edge.
It is made up of carbon steel and is oiled and polished to perfection. The hilt of the sword is leather wrapped and features pure metal construction.
The wooden scabbard that comes with it is also leather wrapped and features a leather belt hoop and steel shape which makes it quite easy and safe to carry the sword around.
The beauty of the Viking sword lies it its simplicity and this Medieval sword for sale is available in very affordable prices in the market.
Maximus Roman Gladiator Sword Medieval Gladius
Anyone who has seen the movie “The Gladiator” or anyone who is obsessed with history will know for sure what a Gladiator sword is and why is it so famous.
This impressively designed sword was carried by one of the most intimidating Roman soldiers. This replica is one of the most finest one and is intricately designed to make it just like the original one. The blade of the sword is made up of UN-sharpened stainless steel.
It has a simulated ivory handle and the guard features grained wood construction and brass toned varnish. It also has roman brass figurines and ornaments designed on it, this gold on brown etchings look very stunning and give a very elegant look to the sword.
The Gladiator sword also comes with a brown scabbard made up of hard leather and has a belt as well. This Medieval sword for sale is widely available in stores and having it for yourself will make you the Gladiator you always wanted to be.
42 inch Sir William Wallace Long Two Handed Medieval Claymore Sword
Claymore represents class and history. The sword of Sir William Wallace makes its wielder feel like a Scottish warrior of 13th century.
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Knights Classic Medieval War Broadsword
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This iconic Medieval sword for sale is available in stores at very reasonable rates and is to be wielded by a true knight. Swords have bloody history revolving around them but they also speak of grace, valor and elegance.
Having this piece of history for yourself is easier more than ever as impressive variety of Medieval swords for sale are available in stores which you can buy and add to your collection.


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text: Does SoFi offer government lending loan programs such as FHA, VA, USDA? November 25, 2020 01:00 Updated SoFi does not currently offer FHA, VA or USDA government loan programs. Related articles I want to build a house, does SoFi offer Construction Loans? Will checking the rates and terms that I qualify for affect my credit? Does SoFi refinance homes that are held in LLC's? Does SoFi offer Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARM’s)? Does SoFi offer Texas Cash Out Home Equity Loans?

domain: economics


Scientific and diagnostic equipment containing X-ray tubes are regulated by the State of South Carolina’s Division of Health and Environmental Control.
The University of South Carolina possesses X-ray generating equipment in research laboratories for analytical purposes, and also at sports and public health facilities and the Center for Health and Well Being for human use diagnostic purposes.
All active X-ray tubes must be registered with DHEC.
Any University employee applying X-rays to humans for diagnostic purposes must be approved by DHEC following accreditation by the State of South Carolina Radiation Quality Standards Association (SCQRSA).
All users of analytical types of X-ray equipment in research labs must be trained before operating X-ray equipment. Training can be accessed at the Research Safety Bureau Radiation Safety Training page.
The University’s Radiation Safety Office coordinates all registration activities and DHEC regulatory requirements; all activities involving X-rays are overseen by the University’s Radiation Safety Committee.
Should you need to purchase equipment containing an X-ray tube for any reason, have any questions pertaining to the use of X-rays, need to deactivate equipment containing an X-ray tube, or have general questions regarding X-ray regulations and/or safety, please contact the Radiation Safety Office at 803-777-2841 or 803-777-7530.


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Four new Russian regions — Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), Zaporozhye (spelled the Ukrainian way as Zaporizhzhia) and Kherson regions — will switch to Moscow time, a message posted on the official Telegram channel of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade said.
Russia continues synching its legislation after incorporating four new entities, the ministry also said.
"In the near future, the DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions will become part of the second time zone, where Moscow time is effected,” the message says.
The relevant bill was submitted to the Russian government. The four regions lived in the Kyiv time zone, UTC+2 (one hour before Moscow) and UTC+3 in summer time.
"Currently, it is Moscow time that de facto operates in the new entities, and the new bill will regulate this officially," the ministry added.
On January 26, it was reported that Russia had prepared a draft law on the inclusion of the four new regions in the social insurance system. The government also prepared a draft law providing for a special procedure for establishing the average subsistence minimum.
Subscribe to Pravda.Ru Telegram channel, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, RSS!
The Armed Forces of Ukraine will soon launch a counteroffensive against Bakhmut (the Russian name of the city is Artemovsk), General Alexander Syrsky said


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Learn how to make homemade blueberry jam with this easy recipe. You'll soon realize that to make the best blueberry jam, you only need three ingredients and no pectin, as long as you boil it to the jam setting point!
Ingredients to make the best blueberry jam
To make any jam at home, including blueberry jam, a lot of people are surprised that you don't need any special ingredients. The proof is this homemade blueberry jam only requires three ingredients to make:
- Fresh blueberries, ideally a mixture of wild and farmed blueberries in season
- Granulated sugar, but you can also go wild and try some alternative sugars, like brown sugar, or a combination of granulated sugar and honey or maple syrup.
- Lemon juice, which helps ensure the perfect set, balances out the sugar, and also makes sure the pH of preserves is safe for canning.
Ratio of fruit to sugar
You'll notice that we aren't using pectin in this recipe. Blueberries are quite high in pectin, especially when compared to other fruit used in jams, like rhubarb, which is very low in pectin.
The key to making preserves and jams that set properly without pectin is using the right ratio of fruit to sugar, and to boil the jam for long enough to evaporate the water. That evaporation concentrates the mixture, making it thicker, less fluid and thin.
For blueberry jam, I like to use a ratio of 2 parts fruit to 1 part sugar, by weight, so for 1 kilogram of prepared fruit, I use 500 grams of sugar. If you prefer to talk in percentages, 33 % of the total weight of ingredients is sugar and 67 % is fruit. There's also a quarter cup of lemon juice, and though lemon juice is an essential ingredient in homemade jams, the weight is pretty insignificant compared to the weight of sugar and fruit.
Key steps and techniques
Like with most jam recipes, the basic steps are all the same and you can use the same techniques to make blueberry jam at home:
- Prepare the fruit. You may have to wash or clean the fruit, sorting through it to remove any stems or leaves, but also to remove any fruit that isn't looking good. Berries that are past their prime won't make better jam, contrary to popular belief.
- Macerate the fruit with the sugar and lemon juice. Macerating helps the sugar dissolve, bringing some of the juices out of the fruit. Combined with heat, this step ensures that the pectin is released into the mixture, which will help ensure the perfect set.
- Boil the fruit until the jam setting point. You'll notice in the blueberry jam recipe below, this is done in two stages
- heat the mixture until the sugar dissolves, then remove a portion to blend it until smooth in a blender. Add the smooth purée back to the pot.
- boil the mixture until it reaches the jam setting point, around 102–103 ºC (or 215–217 ºF).
- Transfer to jars and seal, either by boiling the closed jars in boiling water for a full 10 minutes or by inverting the closed jars upside down for 3 minutes. For more information on canning, read this guide to home canning.
Ensuring the perfect set with the jam setting point
Have you ever made jam that is thin and runny, and seemingly lacking in flavour? It's likely you didn't boil the jam long enough to hit the jam setting point, the temperature where the jam has boiled for long enough that a good portion of the water has evaporated and the pectin can do its job of setting the jam texture so it's thick and not so fluid and liquid.
Remember fruit contains a lot of water. Blueberries are made up of over 80 % water, and once you heat the berries, the fruit burst and the water is released into the jam, making a very soupy preserve if you don't boil it for long enough.
With most jam recipes, it's hard to give a cooking time because some jams can take even an hour of boiling to achieve the perfect set. I boiled this batch of blueberry jam for 30 minutes, until it reached 103 ºC (217 ºF). I think I could have actually pushed it further and boiled it for longer, but I liked the taste and texture at this point so I proceeded to can it.
You could also boil a little less, to 102 ºC (215 ºF) but make sure that you let it boil to that jam setting temperature and make sure it stays there for long enough. Recall, this is the same for marmalade, which also has to be boiled to a certain temperature to achieve the marmalade setting point.
Other methods for determining jam set
If you don't want to watch the temperature, there are other ways of determining if your jam will set once it's cooled down:
- Watch the bubbles: you'll notice that the initial bubbles of boiling jam are very easily popped, they appear and disappear very quickly. The mixture is very fluid. When you approach the jam setting point, the bubbles will become more stable and appear like blinking fish eyes on the surface, more stable and less prone to popping so easily.
- Watch the texture: lift your spatula or wooden spoon high up out of the pot of jam and watch the jam fall off. When the jam isn't cooked enough, it will run right off the spatula like water. The more it boils, the more viscous the jam will be and it will drip down off the raised spatula more slowly and some will even gel on the end
- Do a plate test by dolloping a small ½ teaspoon amount on a frozen plate. Return the plate to the freezer for 30 seconds to a minute, then push the edge of the dollop with your fingertip. It should wrinkle. If it doesn't wrinkle and the dollop appears very fluid/liquid, you need to cook the jam more.
- Observe how the jam behaves as its boiling: the more you evaporate off the water and concentrate the mixture of fruit and sugar, the more viscous and thick the jam becomes. It will become very glossy and it will spit at you and even burn your arms with dollops of boiling jam that shoot out of the pot at you.
Special equipment for making jam at home
I highly recommend investing in a canning kit made up of the smaller tools you will need in order to properly seal your jars, including a magnet to transfer the clean lids to the jars to avoid contamination, as well as a headspace measuring tool to make it easier to verify that you are filling the jars correctly, and a non-reactive funnel that will help you fill the jars without spilling and without dirtying the edges (which would ruin the seal!).
The kit should also come with jar lifters which are so helpful when moving the jars in and out of the water bath! You will also need a big pot preferably with a rack, like this one on Amazon, in order to boil the jars of marmalade for 10 minutes.
In order to achieve the perfect texture, it's very important to boil marmalade just enough so that it is thick, but not so much that the peel becomes chewy. A thermometer like a fast-reading Thermapen helps judge how far along you are in the cooking process and works perfectly with this recipe and method. The Thermapen is what I use. For a hands-free setup, a probe thermometer with a longer cable like the ChefAlarm would be better because then you don't have to hold it with your hands, which would be much less dangerous to use than my hand-held setup.
Frequently asked questions
No, you do not have to add pectin when you are making blueberry jam. The keys to achieving the perfect set are using ripe fruit (but not overly ripe) which naturally contain more pectin, the right amount of sugar (the weight of sugar should equal at least half the weight of the fruit for the jam to set), and the right cooking temperature (make sure to boil the jam until the jam setting point).
Once you've transferred your jam to jars, be sure to wait a full 24 hours before judging if your blueberry jam is runny or set. It takes a full 24 hours for the jam to cool down completely and for the pectin to gel properly. At this point, if you find your blueberry jam is runny, it means that you didn't use the right ratio of ingredients and/or didn't boil the jam for long enough and hard enough. The jam has to reach the jam setting point, which is around 102–103 ºC (215–217 ºF) in order to set properly when cooled.
If you find your blueberry jam is runny, you can open the jars and place all the jam back in a big pot to bring it back to a boil and to heat it for longer and until you reach the setting point. If you do this, you will have to clean the jars and go through the canning process again.
What to eat with blueberry jam
Blueberry jam is a little unusual in that most people immediately think of strawberry jam and orange marmalade when they think about homemade preserves. I'm here to tell you that blueberry jam is a real treat and very special because it has such a unique, delicate flavour.
If you've ever wondered what to use blueberry jam for, I highly recommend serving it on toast with cream cheese spread thick . Blueberry jam is also great with blue cheese or even goat cheese (if you are a fan). You can also serve blueberry jam with savoury meats, like pork (which is traditionally served with apple sauce).
You can also spoon it over ice cream, like over this cardamom ice cream!
If you seal the jars properly (by canning them in a boiling water bath for a full 10 minutes or using the inversion method), you can store the closed, sealed jars for a very long time in a cool, dry, dark place . Most professional jam makers will recommend storing up to 1 year.
Once you open a jar of jam, it should be stored in the refrigerator. Always use a clean spoon or knife to dip into the jar and never double dip to avoid contaminating the jam. If you see mold develop, you compost it or throw it out.
- 1.2 kg fresh blueberries washed and picked over to remove any stems
- 600 grams granulated sugar
- 60 mL fresh lemon juice
- Mix the berries with the sugar, lemon juice in a large bowl.
- Cover the mixture and let the berries macerate for at least 30 minutes. Stir every so often to help the sugar dissolve. You can also leave them to macerate in the fridge overnight to make jam the next day.
- Transfer the macerated fruit and all the juices into a big pot and place the pot with the macerated berries on the stove. Heat on medium, uncovered, stirring every so often.
- Once the sugar is completely dissolved, turn off the stove and take the pot off the burner.
- Ladle a third of the jam mixture into a blender jar, cover partly, then blend until smooth. Transfer the blended mixture back to the pot.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring with a wooden spoon to help distribute the heat.
- When the jam comes to a boil, continue cooking it until it hits the jam setting point, around 102-103 °C (215–217 °F).
- Take the pot off the stove. Let stand 2 minutes then stir well to distribute the fruit.
- Divide the jam among the jars, leaving a ¼ inch headspace. Remove air bubbles, wipe the rims clean, then cover with the lids, fingertight. If any of the jars aren't filled full, don't seal them. Instead you can cover them and enjoy them right away, storing in the fridge.
- Seal the closed jars according to the manufacturers recommendations using a water bath canning kit. I used Bernardin jars and I boiled my jam jars for 10 minutes to seal them.
- Remove from the canner. Let sit 24 hours undisturbed before storing them in the pantry.

domain: food


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Hunger relief organizations in the Twin Cities brace for impact of possible government shutdown
Non-profits providing food assistance to Minnesotans are bracing for the impact of a possible government shutdown.
Congress has just over two days to pass key spending bills to avoid a shutdown.
If they don’t, millions of federal workers will stop being paid, and some federal programs will no longer receive funding.
“There’s going to be a whole bunch of people who need a little extra help if this happens,” said Allison O’Toole, CEO of Second Harvest Heartland.
The Brooklyn Park-based non-profit is one of the nation’s largest hunger relief organizations, distributing food to more than a thousand food shelves and food programs across Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
O’Toole said their partners are reporting a 50-70% increase in need from last year, noting that many families are living paycheck to paycheck in the face of ongoing inflation.
“It’s just like an ongoing emergency or crisis situation. You add the shutdown into that and it’s just too much,” O’Toole said.
The White House has said WIC — the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children that provides nutritional aid to low-income pregnant women and children up to age 5 — would also suffer from lack of federal funding.
The Minnesota Department of Health notes that WIC serves 106,000 Minnesotans every month, including nearly 40% of the babies born in Minnesota, and would be able to operate through the first part of October if a federal shutdown occurs.
If a shutdown lasts longer than a few weeks, non-profits believe WIC recipients may end up having to turn to food shelves for help.
Meals on Wheels is also trying to determine the impact of a government shutdown on their food delivery services to seniors and people with disabilities.
Metro Meals on Wheels is about 60% federally funded.
“We would have to think seriously about what to do if a shutdown lasts more than a couple of weeks,” said Metro Meals on Wheels Executive Director Patrick Rowan. “The last thing we’d want to do is cut people off but we would have to seriously consider whether we can allow more people to join the service or if we would have to limit the number of meals per week we’d give to any one individual.”
He said the longer the showdown in the nation’s capitol continues, the bigger the impact on local non-profits. “We’re caught in the middle looking at what we have on hand to be able to continue services.”
“This seems like a political scuffle that’s taking place on the backs of the most vulnerable,” Rowan said.
Thursday, Gov. Tim Walz pledged support, saying:
“I have directed my state agencies to take every step available to communicate with Minnesotans and mitigate the impacts of a federal shutdown.”Gov. Walz
The Governor noted he will be regularly convening his cabinet to share information and explore creative solutions where possible.


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Sagana Farm upgrades farm equipment for goat milk production
Sagana Farm, one of the best specialized farms focused on goat raising is proving yet again to be an industry leader among dairy farms in the country as it posted a photo of one of their machines on the farm’s official Facebook page.
The machine easily converts fresh goat milk to powdered milk compared to the manual process which takes longer as it is more tedious.
The farm boasts of its purebred Nubian breeder goats called The Black Delight, which is considered the best quality breeder stocks to upgrade meat or dairy type goats in the Philippines.
Aside from raising goats for meat, Sagana, which means plentiful in the local dialect, also supplies forage seeds to help livestock farmers provide the best nutrition for their animals. The farm also posts tips and instructional videos on its website for potential breeders, sharing knowledge and information to industry stakeholders. (By: Angel Ong)

domain: agronomy


text:
Market Shake AMA: F&B Tastes, Trends, and Transformations
Our incredible panel of experts shared their insights into a number of topics across the food and beverage industry from questions you had asked.
A few of the key themes explored included:
- Plant-Based Foods
- Ultra-processed foods
- Consumer attitudes & insights
Want more? Read the full interview Raphaëlle had with GourmetPro about how to address the demand for personalised nutrition


Click here to view an unedited copy of the Sharon Warner lawsuit against the University of New Mexico. I provide this to the dankprofessor readership without comment. All of you know where I stand, it is just more of the same old same old in different garb.
Bernard-Henri Levy had a powerful and emotive essay on the Huffington Post. In the dankprofessor’s opinion he gets to the core of the matter re those who are condemning Polanski when he concludes his essay on the following note,
Because it is shameful, finally, that we can’t, when we talk about his life, evoke his childhood in the ghetto, the death of his mother in Auschwitz, the murder of his young spouse, eviscerated along with the young child she was carrying, without the prayers of the new popular justice crying, “Blackmail!’: even for the most abominable serial killer, the prevailing “culture of excuse” jumps to scrutinize the difficult childhood , the broken family, the traumas — but Roman Polanski would be the only person in the world under judicial jurisdiction not to have the right to any kind of attenuating circumstance…
It is the entirety of the affair, in truth, that is shameful.
It is the debate that is nauseating and from which we must abstain.
I hardly know Roman Polanski. But I know that all those who, from close and from afar, join in this lynching will soon wake up, horrified by what they have done, ashamed.
Bravo to Bernard-Henri Levy whose call is really to view the life of Polanski in holistic terms. Almost all avoid or deny that the murder of his mother, the the murder of his wife and about to be baby have any relevance to Polanski’s life after these terrible tragedies. It is so much easier not to look at the horrors that Polanski went thru. To deny that one’s past has anything to do with one’s present is surreal.
As for Levy’s final line that those who “join in this lynching will soon wake up, horrified by what they have done, ashamed.” Such is unlikely. To experience the horror they must become open to Polanski’s horrors; the risk of doing so is that they would then have to deal with their feeling of guilt. Such would end up making them more similar to Polanski who has felt survivor guilt throughout much of his life.
Albuquerque TV station KOB has reported on the lawsuit of Sharon Warner against the administration of the University of New Mexico. To see segment and text of the report click here.
The KOB report has nothing really new to say. The dankprofesor says that Warner’s lawsuit is simply about getting her own way. UNM would not discipline Lisa Chavez and now Warner will attempt to discipline UNM. Warner is a stern disciplinarian; she won’t take no for an answer. I know the type; all too many of these people in the university world. They won’t be satisfied until they obtain an academic position from which they can work their will.
As for Professor Chavez, she was thoroughly investigated by the UNM administration. The investigation revealed that she had not violated UNM rules. Now all she wants is to do her professorial work and to be left alone.
To read all my posts on Warner, Chavez and the University of New Mexico, click here.
Debra Tate, the younger sister of Sharon Tates has called for the release of Polanski from a Swiss jail. Watch her on MSNBC by clicking here. The interview with Debra comes at the end of the segment, and it is definitely worth waiting for. You will also find the text of the interview.
The Boston Globe published an op ed piece on Roman Polanski. Following is my response which was published as a comment-
Graff concludes her essay with a “bring him home”. The ‘him’ of course being Roman Polanski.https://dankprofessor.wordpress.com/2009/10/07/on-roman-polanski/
But if she knew anything about Polanski she would know that Polanski did not and does not have a home except for one period of time. That time being when he was married to Sharon Tate. Whatever home he had then was terminated
when the so-called Manson family killed Sharon Tate, killed Sharon and Roman’s baby to be and killed two dear friends of Roman who he had asked to stay with Sharon while he was in London. So his respite with a domestic life ended. Before that he lived in France and before that in Poland where he witnessed the mass murders of the Holocaust and lost his mother to the Nazi murderers.
Nothing to do with his 1977 illegal sex with a child of 13 you say. Please, welcome to never never land. Terror hurts and is long lasting, nine years is nothing. But all too many want to know nothing about Polanski; they don’t want to know about him so they can engage in a guilt free stoning. Maybe after the stoning if they say oh my God what have I done, maybe then they might feel guilt. But now before the stoning, before justice occurs maybe they might learn a little bit about survival guilt. Yes, this is the sort of guilt that Polanski suffered from-
tortuous guilt, if only I had not gone to London, I should have been able to do something,
I should have been with them. I should have died. To find out about Polanski rent the last film he made prior to the 1977 rape; the film is THE TENANT, made in 76, directed by Polanski,
and starring Polanski, starring him because the film was about surivior guilt and madness; it was about him. See my post on this if you care to understand-
And no I am not a celebrity and not a part of any elite and I am not an apologist for Polanski. All I ask is that people do not embrace revenge under the guise of justice, and that they open their eyes- wide open. Maybe once they hav e done this, they will understand how truly devastating the consequences were of the Manson murders.
Home, Polanski’s only home or escape if you will has been thru his movies which, of course, have been horror movies most of the time and that is what we are dealing with people- horror.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that Sharon Warner former director of the UNM Creative Writing program has filed a lawsuit against the University of New Mexico. “Warner said she has suffered lost wages, lost promotional opportunity and emotional distress” caused in part by the decision of the UNM administration not to discipline her colleague Lisa Chavez for taking part in an off campus S-M phone venue. Professor Warner had previously resigned as Director of the Creative Writing program as a protest against the UNM administration for not disciplining Chavez.
Professor Warner had argued previously that students had been harmed by Chavez’s actions, but she was unable to cite any student suffering from said harm. Now Warner is arguing that she has been harmed by the administration doing nothing in reference to Professor Chavez, she finds such to be emotionally distressing.
The dankprofessor sees her bottom line as being that professors have a right not to be upset or offended by administrative actions. If professors had such a right, professors throughout the country would be filing lawsuits on a daily basis against university administrations. During my thirty plus years as a professor I was upset many times, too numerous to count, by actions of the university administration. Some times I was very disturbed by these actions, some times I had trouble sleeping, but I viewed this as being all part of the game, as being a grownup, as being a professional. My turning around and then suing the university for causing me to be distressed would have represented for me a giant copout, a comedy of the absurd.
Last year in a letter to the faculty of the English Department, UNM President David Schmidley wrote in regards to the Lisa Chavez controversy that “The university is, first and foremost, a place where students, faculty and administrators alike constantly engage in learning. It’s now time for all of us to learn anew the lessons of repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation.”
President Schmidley’s advice is still good advice. But rather than getting any attempt at reconciliation from Sharon Warner instead at some time in the future he will probably get a summons to appear in court.
The New York Times reported the following in regards to the September 1977 Polanski probation report-
The report, submitted by acting probation officer Kenneth F. Fare, and signed by a deputy, Irwin Gold, recommended that Mr. Polanski receive probation without jail time for his conviction on one count of having unlawful sex with a minor. In a summary paragraph, the report said: “Jail is not being recommended at the present time. The present offense appears to have been spontaneous and an exercise of poor judgement by the defendant.” It went on to note that the victim and her parent, as well as an examining psychiatrist, recommended against jail, while a second psychiatrist described the offense as neither “aggressive nor forceful.”
Despite Ms. Geimer’s age and her testimony that she had objected to having sex with Mr. Polanski and asked to leave Jack Nicholson’s house, where the incident occurred, the probation report concluded, “There was some indication that circumstances were provocative, that there was some permissiveness by the mother,” and “that the victim was not only physically mature, but willing.”…
The report paints a sympathetic picture of Mr. Polanski’s background. Compiled when Mr. Polanski was 44, the report began with an account of his fractured childhood. It described his birth to a Polish national father, Riszard Polanski, and a Russian national mother, Bula Katz, and told how his Jewish family was confined behind barbed wire in a Krakow ghetto during the German occupation.
In 1941, the report noted, Mr. Polanski’s mother was taken to Auschwitz, not to return. Later it said, “the defendant’s father cut the wires permitting the defendant to escape” the ghetto, to spend the war with Polish families.
Recapping the defendant’s background, the report said Mr. Polanski was blocked from attending advanced art school after the war “because of his Jewish origins,” lost his religious faith, and twice suffered a fractured skull, once as the result of an assault in Poland, once after a car accident. It noted a first marriage in Poland, and a second to the actress Sharon Tate, who, it said, “was killed by members of the Manson gang in Los Angeles in the well-documented case in 1968.”
Mr. Polanski’s income in 1976 was recorded as being $60,000. His local residence was the Chateau Marmont. He admitted to smoking an occasional marijuana cigarette and to having used cocaine once, but was self-described as only a “social drinker.”
According to the report, Mr. Polanski had no past criminal record, though the district attorney’s office on Aug. 10, 1977, had rejected a complaint alleging grand theft property and misdemeanor assault and battery. The complaint resulted from a visit to the grave of his wife, Sharon Tate, in Culver City, Calif.: Mr. Polanski took the camera from a German photographer who tried to photograph him from some bushes, but the district attorney decided he was simply trying to “protect his right of privacy.”
The report noted all of the assertions Ms. Geimer made in her grand jury testimony, along with the list of original charges, which included rape by drugs and sodomy. It also noted that a test “strongly indicates semen” on the girl’s underclothes, but that vaginal and anal slides were negative, and there was no evidence of physical trauma…
Mr. Polanski, interviewed by the probation officer, said he had not realized that his request to photograph Ms. Geimer without a top was problematic. “Topless photograph is acceptable in Europe. I didn’t realize it was objectionable here,” he said.
According to Mr. Polanski, “the whole thing was very spontaneous. It was not planned,” he told the probation officer. And, said the report, he “expressed great remorse regarding any possible effect the present offense might have upon the victim.”
According to the report, a number of Hollywood luminaries submitted letters endorsing Mr. Polanski’s good character. They included the set designer Richard Sylbert; the producers Howard W. Koch, Dino De Laurentiis and Robert Evans; and the actress Mia Farrow.
One psychiatrist who examined Mr. Polanski, Alvin E. Davis, found he was not mentally ill or disordered, and not “a sexual deviate.” “He is of superior intelligence, has good judgement and strong moral and ethical values,” the report said of Dr. Davis’s conclusions.
“He is not a pedophile,” Dr. Davis is quoted as saying. “The offense occurred as an isolated instance of transient poor judgement and loss of normal inhibitions in circumstances of intimacy and collaboration in creative work, and with some coincidental alcohol and drug intoxication.”
Dr. Davis was also quoted as saying that “incarceration would serve no necessary or useful purpose.” Another psychiatrist, Dr. Ronald Markman, was quoted as saying that Mr. Polanski was “not a mentally disordered sex offender, and therefore, not in need of hospitalization.”
With that information in hand, the probation officer went on to describe a culture clash that occasionally occurred when creators from Europe fled the Nazis and Communism to reside in Los Angeles. “Possibly not since Renaissance Italy has there been such a gathering of creative minds in one locale as there has been in Los Angeles County during the past half century,” said the report. “While enriching the community with their presence, they have brought with them the manners and mores of their native lands which in rare instances have been at variance with those of their adoptive land.”
So, the report concluded, remorse, cultural differences, a certain permissiveness and provocation, and the unlikelihood of a repeat offense conspired to make probation without jail (beyond the 42 days Mr. Polanski served while being evaluated) an appropriate punishment for Mr. Polanski’s actions toward a 13-year-old girl. But Mr. Polanski fled when Judge Laurence J. Rittenband indicated that more jail time and possible deportation were in order.
And, having been apprehended in Switzerland, Mr. Polanski is now up against the manners and mores of an era that often takes a harsher view of sex crimes.
What LA County Probation did is what probation authorities are supposed to do and that is to look at the individual offender and to reach a recommendation based on the specifics of the individual. Of course, what we find at the present time is a position advocated by many that Polanski’s background, and prior traumas are simply irrelevant in terms of how he should be punished. These advocates have what apears to be a robotic view of justice. One looks at the specifics of the criminal behavior, and reaches a verdict based on those specifics; one does not look at background specifics of the offender.
Such represents a dehumanized form of justice. Even the victim is not deemed to play a role in determining the sentence. In the present case, the victim, who is now an adult, her feelings about Mr. Polanski are deemed to be irrelevant.
Of course, what we are too often dealing with in the present case are those who are seeking vengeance. They are not interested in any dispassionate analysis of Mr. Polanski or even Ms. Geimer. They seek to inflame self and others by reviewing the details of Mr. Polanski’s crime not with the goal of understanding but rather with the goal of getting their pound of flesh. They demean and discard persons who believe that Mr. Polanski should not be in jail or go to jail as persons who support rape and rapists and child molesters or our simply uncaring members of a so-called Hollywood elite.
I am not a member of any Hollywood elite. I am not supportive of rape and child molestation. I am supportive of a humanistic criminal justice system. And in regards to Polanski, I am supportive of the LA Probation Department’s recommendations. Unfortunately for Roman Polanski, he would have had a much greater chance of justice in Los Angeles in 1977 than in 2009. Best for him and for us that he is not extradicted to the United States and be subjected to the wrath of the self-righteous.
On Roman Polanski
Barry M. Dank*
There is no question that what Roman Polanski did to a 13 year old girl in 1977 was wrong, and illegal. But it is also wrong to drag Polanski back to the US 31 years after the crime and have him spend an unspecified amount of time in prison. What possible good would come about by Polanski doing time for the crime? Obviously, it would not function to rehabilitate him or change him in some way. The fact that Polanski has had a stellar film career and apparently lived a law abiding life for 32 years after the crime is indicative that the case for changing Polanski is simply irrelevant.
Then there is a case for punishment. Polanski did something illegal and he should be punished. Of course, Polanski has been punished. He did 42 days at the Chino Men’s prison under the legal guise of being psychologically evaluated; his stay at Chino was for the purpose of punishment as viewed by the presiding judge. He has been socially stigmatized as a child rapist and has lived in a self-imposed exile. Just as in the cchild sex situation Polanski’s decision making was screwed up when he decided to flee from a possible 16 month sentence and ended up living for 31 years in a situation in which he could be arrested and extradited back to Los Angeles .
But the 42 days and a 31 year exile as punishment dwells into insignificance as compared to the trauma and punishment he experienced as a child surviving the mass murders of the Holocaust while losing his mother to the Nazi murderers in Poland and to the trauma and punishment he endured when his pregnant wife Sharon Tate and his baby to be and his two friends were barbarized and murdered by the Manson gang.
But many have argued that this insanity Polanski went thru simply had nothing to do with his illegal sex with a 13 year old girl. For example, Ellen Snortland in an open letter to Roman Polanski states: “I assert that the statutory rape in 1977 will plague you until you make some type of sincere public amends. Backing an ‘end violence against women and girls’ film would be an astonishing act of atonement. Consider it. Talk to the lawyers.” Somehow Snortland avoids dealing with the fact that Polanski was intimately familiar with violence against women, that both his mother and wife were murdered, such is simply of no relevance to her.
To argue that his past traumas have relevance to Polanski’s illicit sex with a 13 year old girl in 1977 does not mean that I am excusing Polanski or condoning child abuse of any sort.
What I do argue with is the notion that Polanski’s criminal act should be fragmented off from the rest of his prior life. To advocate that one should not look at Polanski past as it related to his actions in 1977 is a form of know nothingness. Being horrified by what Polanski did in 1977 should not close us off from the horrors experienced by Polanski.
I think it is a safe to assume that very few persons would not be adversely affected by the killings of their mother, their wife and their unborn child, as well as being at the scene of mass murder as a child. In fact, some who have been through such extreme situations become psychologically numbed and live a robotic life. Others may be plagued by depression, feelings of alienation and aloneness and anger.
As a person who has worked with Holocaust survivors and Parents of Murdered Children, I know that almost always survivors go thru periods of tortuous survivor guilt. No matter that they are morally and legally innocent, they all too often experience the burden of feeling- ‘I should have been able to do something’, or as Polanski stated in 1985- “Sharon’s death is the only watershed in my life that really matters. Before she died, I sailed a boundless, untroubled sea of expectations and optimism. Afterward, whenever conscious of enjoying myself, I felt guilty. A psychiatrist I met shortly after her death warned me that it would take me “four years of mourning” to overcome this feeling. It has taken far longer than that”.
Polanski’s filmmaking demonstrates that he was intimately familiar with the nature of survivor guilt. Such was quite apparent in his 1976 film THE TENANT, a film which he both directed and starred. This was the last film he made prior to his involvement in the child rape. I believe that this film can provide a partial understanding of Polanski’s psychological state around the time of the crime.
For this film Polanski insisted that he play the role of the protagonist. The viewer saw Polanski playing the role of a French citizen of Polish background (Trelkovsky) living alone in Paris gradually descend into madness. The Polanski character was plagued with feelings of survival guilt, and a complete ungluing of a sense of self as he gave full vent to his feelings of paranoia. Ultimately he buys a gun, has fantasies of killing others but eventually he commits suicide by jumping out of his apartment window. He ends up killing himself in the same manner that the prior tenant of the apartment had killed herself.
Viewers who understood this film and were aware of Polanski’s history “knew” that Polanski chose not only to direct the film but to play the major role because to a significant degree he was playing himself. Polanski and Trelkovsky both had lived alone in Paris, both were French citizens of Polish background; and both felt alienated and alone in their immediate environments. Both had gone thru experiences that separated them off from others, from others who could not possibly understand them and the horrors they had gone thru.
One of the most jolting scenes in the film is when Trelkovsy is sitting in a park looking quite morose and viewing a child playing. He stands up, walks over to the child and slugs the child in the face and then walks way. This image of Trelkovsky sitting in the park came to visually represent Polanski; it was used as the cover photo for his 1985 autobiography and as the photo for the DVD jacket of the documentary, ROMAN POLANSKI; WANTED AND DESIRED. The usages of this photo by Polanski illustrates the blurring of Polanski’s identity with that of Trelkovsy’s.
On the other hand, some people believe that all we need to know about Polanski is that he is a pedophile, his sexual preference being children and adolescents. However, looking at Polanski’s life then and now one can immediately discern Polanski’s attraction. His present wife, Emmanuelle Seigner is 33 years younger than himself; Samantha Geimer at the time of her victimage was 31 years younger than Polanski. So Polanski’s ongoing sexual preference is for those who are significantly younger than himself. Maybe this preference is a defense mechanism used by some who have experienced catastrophic loss. Such a preference could function to diminish feelings of powerlessness and helplessness in “intimate” relationships; of course, such feelings are illusionary. But for Polanski whose specialty is illusions he could see this as simply being an extension of his role of Director.
Polanski in the 1970s was a man on the fringe; his art saved him for a time but not all the time as evidenced by the rape in 1977. But also during his entire adulthood, Polanski has engaged in extraordinarily creative filmmaking. And his filmmaking may be viewed in part as representing a survivor mission, as a way of his expiating his guilt and his creation of a “monument” to those he loved and to those whose deaths he could not prevent.
In his autobiography Polanski stated: “In moments of unbearable personal tragedy some people find solace in religion. In my case the opposite happened. Any religious faith I had was shattered by Sharon’s murder. It reinforced my faith in the absurd.”
To now drag Polanski back in, to put him into a prison is absurd. Over the last 31 years Roman Polanski has freed himself from his psychological prison as evidenced by his devotion to his wife and 2 children. I fear that Polanski may see his only way out as being the same way out he created in THE TENANT- suicide.
Barry M. Dank is an emeritus professor of sociology at Cal State Long Beach. He lives in Tubac, Arizona.
© Copyright 2009 by Barry M. Dank
The sexual puritans will now have a field day as a result of the revelations that there was an attempt to blackmail David Letterman for having sex with with staffers and his admission that he did have staffer sex.
From the right he will be blasted for being a philanderer and an adulterer. From the left he will be condemned as a sexual harasser who had sex with staffers who could not say no since differential power precludes consent. Of course, the worst is yet to come.
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