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Centre for Critical Development Studies
What is International Development Studies?
History of the IDS Program
IDS Programs
African Studies Program
MA Collaborative Specialization
About IDS Co-op
Applying & Admission Requirements
2019-2020 Placements
Previous Placements
IDS Placement Partners
How Co-op Placement Works
Co-op Fees
Co-op FAQ
From students, to students
Additional Subject Posts
Time Management and Stress
Getting Good Grades
(Digital) Tools of the trade
Work & Volunteer Opportunities
Graduate Associates
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship Program
2019-20 Queen Elizabeth Scholars
International Development Conference
Papers & Podcasts
Panels and Talks
CCDS Debate
CCDS Newsletter
» Congratulations to our 2020 IDS Thesis Award Winners!
Congratulations to our 2020 IDS Thesis Award Winners!
The Centre for Critical Development Studies is pleased to award the 2020 Best Thesis Prize to Alyssa Esparaz and Sana Najafi. Read more about their work below.
Bio: Alyssa Esparaz completed her Honours Bachelor of Arts degree with a specialist in International Development Studies and minors in Anthropology and Political Science. Both personally and professionally, Alyssa is interested in the intersection of faith and development, and her thesis focuses on the relationship between Christian evangelicalism and international development. Alyssa is a passionate writer and communicator, and loves using her skills to inspire action and transformation. Throughout her time in university, Alyssa worked in advocacy and communications at Compassion Canada, including during her 12-month co-op placement. Looking ahead, she will be continuing in a communications role with Compassion Canada, and also hopes to further publish and share her research. In the future, she plans to pursue graduate studies in theology.
Thesis Title: Faithful Development? Examining the (Re)formative Tension at the Intersection of Evangelicalism and International Development
Thesis Abstract: The relationship between evangelicalism and international development is simultaneously rich and contentious—both currently and historically. Yet despite evangelicalism's high levels of engagement with international development, this relationship is not often studied. This thesis examines the tensions and contradictions at the intersection of evangelicalism and international development through the lens of historical institutionalism, and considers how these tensions and contradictions might present opportunity for gradual change in the institution of evangelicalism, despite its strong path dependence. Surveys and interviews were conducted with Canadian-based staff of evangelical international development organizations in order to understand their beliefs and approaches to evangelical international development. This thesis argues that points of tension and contradiction within evangelicalism serve as spaces in which key agents have the opportunity to reform and reproduce the institution of evangelicalism. Many of these points of tension exist at the intersection of evangelicalism and international development, making evangelical international development an important space where gradual institutional change can be promoted within the structural constraints of evangelicalism. This thesis concludes there is opportunity for progressive change within evangelicalism in regard to critical development issues such as decolonization, gender equity and racial justice.
Bio: Sana recently completed her Bachelor of Arts as a specialist in International Development Studies and a double minor in Political Science and Anthropology. As part of her degree, she completed an 8-month placement in Nairobi, Kenya at the Aga Khan University where she served as a Communications Intern to the Networks of Quality Assurance & Teaching and Learning. During her time at UTSC, Sana was involved with various student clubs and activities, including Frontier College, International Development Conference and Amnesty International, as well as intramural soccer and basketball. She also worked at various student service offices including Department of Student Life, Centre for Teaching & Learning and Academic Advising & Career Centre. Throughout her degree she appreciated the breadth and intersectionality of the IDS program, and wanted to explore ways to apply these theories into practical strategies. To pursue this interest, she will begin studying at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law in August 2020 in the Juris Doctor program.
Thesis Title: Canadian Students' Global South Placements: Ethical Dimensions and preparation
Thesis Abstract: Amidst a context of rapid internationalization, particularly in the higher-education industry, opportunities for international experience are becoming increasingly promoted and popularized. There is an emphasis to develop "global citizens" who will catalyze change and create meaningful cross-cultural connections. However, understanding the complexities involved when someone from the Global North enters a Global South space requires critical reflection and acknowledgement of power and privilege. This study used in-depth interviews with Canadian students who had long-term placements in the Global South to identify the ethical dilemmas they encountered, and the ways they navigated through them. Through a lens of ethical internationalization, this research aims to identify areas of opportunity and tools for universities and students alike to utilize, to better support reflexivity during their placements. As expectations for the higher education experience continue to change and grow, these findings remain pertinent to ensure solidarity-building and global development. Ultimately this research advocates for improved student preparation which provides well-rounded pre-departure training as well as guided reflections which students can utilize before, during and after their placement to unpack the various challenges and interactions they will face.
The Benefits of an IDS Program
Making the next wave of Canadian students more globally minded


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DPRK 360
Aviation Tours
Aviation Tours (German/Deutsch)
72 and 144 Hour Chinese Visa
Monuments, Statues and Memorials
Kaesong and the DMZ
Myohyangsan
Nampo
Wonsan
Kumgangsan
Hamhung
Paektusan
Chongjin-Chilbo Region
UK Foreign Office
DPRK Fact-file
- Charity
- DPRK 360
- Aviation Tours
- Aviation Tours (German/Deutsch)
- Private Tours
- 72 and 144 Hour Chinese Visa
- Overview
- Pyongyang
- Monuments, Statues and Memorials
- Museums
- Leisure
- Education and Health
- Historical Sites
- Kaesong and the DMZ
- Myohyangsan
- Nampo
- Wonsan
- Kumgangsan
- Hamhung
- Paektusan
- Chongjin-Chilbo Region
- Tour Information
- UK Foreign Office
- DPRK Fact-file
Hamhung is the second city of the DPRK, with a population of around 770,000 people. It is located on the East coast, around 115 kilometres north of Wonsan. It is an industrial city with large scale heavy industry, chemicals and textile production. There are also some excellent stretches of pristine beaches nearby.
Grand Monument of Mount Tonghung
A man-made hill made to elevate the Grand Monument of Kim Il Sung, which was added to recently with a second monument to Kim Jong Il. It provides a great view over the city.
Hamhung Bongung
This is the building which once housed the founder of the Ri Dynasty. Within its peaceful grounds are some ancient trees, which, it is said, will bring luck to whoever hugs them! The local guide is well known for her bawdy tales of yesteryear.
Kumchon Pavilion
Built in 1108, it functioned as a command post during times of war, and a watch tower during peacetime. It was first built in the Koryo dynasty and rebuilt in 1613 during the Ri dynasty.
Majon beach and pleasure grounds
A relaxing spot on the East coast, the Majon pleasure ground offers a wide, sandy beach to relax.
Ryangchon Temple
Situated at Rakchon-ri, this temple was built in the year 753, rebuilt in 1636 and enlarged in 1729. It is well known for its size and history, containing within it many preserved relics including paintings of the period.
Hungnam Fertiliser Complex
Here is a rare chance to see DPRK industry up close. It is possible to take a guided tour of this manufacturing plant where all the processes of production will be explained to you.
2020 Tour Calendar
© Juche Travel Services 2011-2020. All Rights Reserved.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Why You Should Sell Your Home in 2020
The housing market may not be as hot as in previous years, but selling now could be your best bet.
By Devon Thorsby, Editor, Real Estate |Jan. 8, 2020, at 9:49 a.m.
Homeowners looking to sell should consider 2020 a prime opportunity to cash in. (Getty Images)
Few people are predicting that 2020 will be a record-breaking year for home sale prices.
The Guide to Selling Your Home
[RELATED: The Guide to Selling Your Home]
But relatively speaking, 2020 might be the best time to put your house on the market. Especially if you're on the fence about selling this year or next, it may be better to sell in an environment that's more predictable, rather than wait for time to pass and circumstances to change.
Ryan Gorman, president and CEO of Coldwell Banker NRT, predicts that the housing market will be "increasingly healthy" in 2020 – meaning home prices will continue to rise, but at a moderate pace. This means homebuyers are less likely to face affordability issues, and there will be a better balance between supply and demand for housing than in previous years when supply was limited.
If you bought your house in the past few years, still love it and don't want to part with it, go ahead and wait another five years before revisiting the thought of selling. But if you're weighing your options to sell and are considering selling this year or next, don't play the waiting game.
[Read: Buying a House in 2020: What to Know]
Here are four reasons to sell your house in 2020:
New buyers are still entering the market.
Interest rates are expected to remain low.
You have high equity.
There's no telling what 2021 holds.
New Buyers Are Still Entering the Market
If your house is at the higher end of the price range in your market, you should expect less buyer interest than in previous years. If your home is considered in the entry-level or midlevel price range for your city, however, expect to have interested buyers eager to move quickly.
The biggest wave of new homebuyers will continue to be millennials, who are mostly first-time homebuyers. But depending on where you live, you may see the youngest generation of adults breaking into homeownership as well. Members of Generation Z, born between 1996 and 2010, are largely still too young to make up a significant portion of the homebuyer market.
But Gorman says he's already seeing small numbers of Gen Z homebuyers buying in more affordable Midwestern cities, "where home prices have grown, but not as dramatically," such as Des Moines, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska.
[Read: 7 Home Upgrades That Will Attract First-Time Homebuyers]
Interest Rates Are Expected to Remain Low
Interest rates are expected to remain low throughout 2020, which will help new buyers obtain financing for their first home purchase. The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged in December 2019 with the target range of 1.5% to 1.75% and noted its intention to keep rates as-is throughout 2020.
While the Fed's recommendation plays a role in mortgage interest rates, the interest rate lenders offer to homebuyers varies based on the individual and the market. On Jan. 2, the average interest rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage was 3.72%. While some fluctuation is expected throughout the year, Daryl Fairweather, chief economist for national real estate brokerage Redfin, predicts mortgage rates will stabilize at about 3.8% this year, which is still low enough to encourage buyers to enter the market.
"It's basically setting the stage for a continued rise in home sales," says Reese Stewart, a real estate agent with Re/Max Properties SW and president of the Orlando Regional Realtor Association in Florida.
Low interest rates aren't just a helpful nudge for would-be buyers to consider your home for purchase. As you look to your next home purchase, you can likely secure a low interest rate as well.
You Have High Equity
If you've been in your home for more than a couple years, you've been building equity as the property value increases and you make consistent mortgage payments. The more equity you have in your home, the more profit you'll likely see when you sell the property. That, in turn, can be used for a larger down payment on your next house, other expenses or savings.
"Especially for someone who bought post-recession, they're in a good place to sell right now," Stewart says.
Whether you're hoping to step up into a larger home or a more desirable neighborhood, significant equity in your current home can only help, making you a more desirable prospect to both mortgage lenders and home sellers considering offers.
But you'll likely need to sell your current home before closing on a new one. With this in mind, Wendy Gilch founded Selling Later, a real estate marketing platform that allows homeowners to post their property information and photos prior to listing it for sale, noting the planned listing date. This service, launched in Gilch's hometown of Pittsburgh but now available nationwide, can help sellers figure out their timeline over the next few months.
"That dream home down the street is selling in June – maybe that's a good time to put your home on the market," Gilch says.
There's No Telling What 2021 Holds
According to the National Association for Business Economics Outlook Survey for December 2019, none of the 53 professional forecasters surveyed expect a recession in 2020, though GDP growth is expected to slow. On the other hand, 2021 is a different story: Respondents estimate a 66% chance of a recession starting by mid-2021.
There's no need to fear a massive housing crisis like the one that occurred in the last recession, which lasted from December 2007 until June 2009. Home values may dip during a time of economic uncertainty, especially in areas where job loss is significant, and the number of foreclosures may increase during that time. But as long as you can continue making mortgage payments, you'll be fine.
[Read: How to Buy a House Before a Recession]
During a recession, however, you'll be less likely to want to put your home on the market at a reduced price unless it's absolutely necessary. So if you're starting to feel the itch to move, consider selling this year as opposed to next, because economic changes may make a home sale in 2021 less desirable.
Keep in mind, however, that you still have time in 2020 to make necessary updates to your home, prepare for a move and find the right new property. Rather than putting it out of your mind, start preparing now.
"In some markets, (sellers and buyers) have under 50 days to do everything," Gilch says. If you starting planning months in advance, however, you may feel better prepared to ready your home for sale – and you won't feel pressured to make a snap decision.
10 Interior Design Trends for 2020
It may be time to update your decor.
You may not be moving into a new house in 2020, but you can make your home feel new again by taking stock of each room and updating the design. You may want to make your living room more functional by finding a better furniture layout, brighten up a guest bedroom with new paint or go big with a full renovation of your kitchen for a more modern style. To make any design changes a success, however, you'll want to know what styles will become more popular in 2020 and what fads are on their way out. Here are 10 interior design trends to consider in 2020.
Updated on Dec. 6, 2019: This story was published at an earlier date and has been updated with new information.
Zen dens break up floor plans.
Open floor plans may be here to stay, but many homeowners are interested in creating a room that lets you separate yourself from the goings-on in the rest of the house. For some people, open floor plans are "too open," says Tim Bakke, publishing director of online home and design plan company The Plan Collection, based in Scarsdale, New York. "If you have the TV on in the living room, everyone in the kitchen and the dining room is hearing it and seeing it." Bakke says separate, closed-off living spaces called "zen dens," are ideal for reading a book or having a more private conversation, and he thinks they'll gain popularity in the coming year. "It's not splitting up the house, but you have someplace where you can kind of get away from it," Bakke says.
Master suites expand.
As wellness gains emphasis, more homeowners are looking at spaces where they'll most likely benefit. As a result, master bedrooms and bathrooms are getting more love. "Maybe a little bit of square footage is taken away from other parts of the house and put into the master suite," Bakke says. Whether it's to expand the bathroom and add a soaking tub or to make room for a sitting area in the bedroom, homeowners are considering their bedrooms as a space where they can spend more time beyond sleeping and getting ready for the day.
Inside and outside continue to blend.
Outdoor living has been gaining popularity over the last few years, and designers continue to see blurring the line between outdoor and indoor as a desire among homeowners. Gena Kirk, vice president of design for homebuilding company KB Home, based in Los Angeles, describes successful interpretations of the trend as "extending the great room into the backyard," which not only makes entertaining easier, but also allows you to relax on comfortable seating on the patio when the weather is nice. For homes that experience colder seasons, a fire pit, outdoor fireplace or outdoor heaters allow for snuggling under a blanket while still enjoying the outdoor living space when the weather is chilly.
Organic elements are here to stay.
Indoor plants have made a resurgence in recent years because they add life to a space. Meanwhile organic elements are expanding into furniture and decor as designers incorporate more natural wood tables, natural fiber rugs, coral, dried flowers and branches into decor. While these items are no longer living, they offer a connection to nature and the outdoors. Keep an eye out for sisal, jute or seagrass rugs, which can be found at major retailers like Home Depot, Ikea and Wayfair. While it's easy to find faux coral tabletop decor, you need to read product descriptions carefully to find real coral for purchase.
Wallpaper and texture provide depth.
Rather than sticking to traditional eggshell wall finishes and basic cotton throw pillows, design experts are looking to patterns and textures to make rooms feel more dynamic and personal. Interior designers particularly encourage wallpaper in a half bathroom, where you can have a bit more fun without overwhelming the space. Wallpaper is making a comeback in other parts of the house as well. Barbara Kavovit, CEO and founder of Evergreen Construction in New York City, says wallpapering a room makes a great do-it-yourself project, requiring little skill – just the patience to do it right. You can also experiment with texture on walls, whether it means creating a faux stucco look with plaster and paint or incorporating upholstered panels or reclaimed wood.
Velvet becomes a staple.
Velvet is becoming a preferred furniture fabric over microfiber or leather, since it offers a soft texture that looks luxurious in bright, bold colors. Expect to see more bedding accessories and throw pillows in velvet, which can provide additional texture in a bedroom or living room. This trend isn't just for winter, either – if it's the right color and paired with other textures and materials, velvet works in a room year-round. Light pink or mustard velvet pairs well with just about any color.
Blue is the color to incorporate.
Both Pantone and paint company Sherwin Williams have announced that their colors of the year for 2020 are dark shades of blue: "classic blue" for Pantone and "naval" for Sherwin Williams. Dark and navy blues can serve as neutral colors for a room and pair well with lighter colors, bold jewel tones and even metallics for an art deco look. Lighter blues and greens are also popping up more in furniture, decor and paint palettes, which can make for a soft look or a bold statement in different combinations. As a wall color, navy creates a darker setting, leaving room to play around with lighter neutrals and pops of color in the decor. It can also be used as an accent in a lighter room.
Say goodbye to gray.
If you've been watching HGTV renovation shows or have toured homes at just about any point over the last decade, you know that gray has been the go-to neutral for walls, furniture and even home exteriors. But over the last couple of years, other neutrals have been threatening gray's domination of the color market. "Those very cool grays – they're dying. They've been dying. Everything's starting to warm up," Kirk says. Interior designers are seeing a return to shades of brown and beige, as well as navy, to offer a warmer palette. Don't be afraid of looking outdated if you use gray in your color scheme for a room, but if your entire house is painted in the same gray shade, it's time to add some variation.
Computer rooms are out; charging stations are in.
If you're still dedicating part of your kitchen to house the family desktop computer or it has its own designated room, rethink that space. With everyone using laptops, tablets and smart phones to browse the internet, do homework and pay bills, there's no need to take up space with a bulky desktop that no one's using. A family computer room can be converted into the "zen den" your house has been missing, a guest bedroom or another space your family would use more. But there's still something you can do for the family electronics: "Phone, tablets – all those things need to be charged," Bakke says. He recommends creating a charging station with enough outlets to plug in multiple devices, located in a common drop zone where people enter and exit the house like the mud room.
Minimalism moves over.
People still like clean lines, but these days designers are seeing more homeowners embrace eclectic decor styles, with modern vases and bowls as well as imperfect antiques that add variety. While a simplistic, uncluttered look is still popular, designers and homeowners now look to "incorporate focal points with an older piece," says Jim DiGiacomo, board member for Olde Good Things, an architectural salvage store based in New York City. Flea markets and antique stores are prime shopping targets. The opportunity to find one-of-a-kind pieces has expanded online as well, as eBay, Etsy and more specialized stores like Olde Good Things offer extensive online inventories, allowing you to find vintage prints, vases and even architectural gems like mantels, doors and ceiling tiles to incorporate in a room remodel or new home design.
Interior design trends to keep an eye out for in 2020 include:
Zen dens break up open floor plans.
See more Real Estate slideshows:
Don't Call the Handyman: 9 Quick Fixes You Can Do Yourself
19 Essential Tools a DIYer Should Have
9 Childproofing Musts for Your House
Updated on Jan. 8, 2020: This story was published at an earlier date and has been updated with new information.
Tags: real estate, housing market, home prices, housing, existing home sales, pending home sales, new home sales, mortgages, interest rates
Devon Thorsby is the Real Estate editor at U.S. News & World Report, where she writes consumer-focused articles about the homebuying and selling process, home improvement, tenant rights and the state of the housing market.
She has appeared in media interviews across the U.S. including National Public Radio, WTOP (Washington, D.C.) and KOH (Reno, Nevada) and various print publications, as well as having served on panels discussing real estate development, city planning policy and homebuilding.
Previously, she served as a researcher of commercial real estate transactions and information, and is currently a member of the National Association of Real Estate Editors. Thorsby studied Political Science at the University of Michigan, where she also served as a news reporter and editor for the student newspaper The Michigan Daily. Follow her on Twitter or write to her at dthorsby@usnews.com.
Devon Thorsby | Jan. 15, 2020
No other state offers such a variety of places to live and job opportunities, but expect to pay more.
Which Home Is the Best Layout for You?
Before you buy or build a home, consider how the footprint and floor plan fit with your lifestyle.
What to Know Before Renovating a Garage
Deanna Haas | Jan. 6, 2020
A garage renovation can add value to your home – here's what you should keep in mind before starting the project.
Best Interior Design Instagram Accounts
Devon Thorsby | Jan. 3, 2020
These interior design Instagram accounts offer advice, inspiration and resources to elevate your home design.
Is an Open House Necessary?
Wendy Arriz | Jan. 3, 2020
The traditional open house format is still popular, but whether it's effective in helping sell your home may depend on the type of property.
Hygge Decor Ideas for Your Home
Devon Thorsby | Dec. 27, 2019
Achieve the cozy feeling that embodies Danish hygge in your home design.
What to Know About Moving to Dallas
Before you decide to move to Dallas, explore all your options in this expansive metro area.
Options When You Can't Pay Your Mortgage
Lisa Larson | Dec. 24, 2019
Financial difficulty can leave you unable to pay your mortgage, but that doesn't always mean you're facing foreclosure.
What to Know Before Moving to Colorado
Get your hiking boots – and your wallet – ready for a new life in Colorado.
What Is the Cost of Living in Boston?
Dima Williams | Dec. 20, 2019
Here is what it takes to afford to buy, rent and live in the capital of Massachusetts.
Best Places to Live With Climate Change
See which metro areas are more resilient to changing climate conditions.
Housing Market Expectations in 2020
Low mortgage rates will help homebuyers afford property, while sellers won't see much reason to move.
Best and Worst Design Trends of the '10s
Robin Kencel | Dec. 13, 2019
Take a look at the 2010s fads that have transformed into staples, and others that are best left in the past.
What Is the Cost of Living in Seattle?
Here's a breakdown of what you need to be able to afford living in and around Seattle.
Is a Condo, Townhouse or Co-Op Best?
Steven Gottlieb | Dec. 11, 2019
Different forms of ownership have pros and cons, depending on how you plan to use the property.
Design Trends to Look Out for in 2020
Devon Thorsby | Dec. 6, 2019
Which design trends are on their way in, and which ones should you ditch in 2020?
What to Know About Moving to Nashville
Examine the details that can help you decide if you should move to Nashville, and what to expect when you get there.
Issues to Spot in a Final Walk-Through
Deanna Haas | Nov. 25, 2019
Both buyers and sellers should be aware of the issues that can arise during a final home walk-through.
Should You Buy a House With Cash?
Devon Thorsby | Nov. 22, 2019
Before you go all-in with your money, consider these caveats to paying for a home with cash.
How to Stay Safe While Selling Your Home
Dima Williams | Nov. 22, 2019
From defensive landscaping to forming an LLC, here's how to guard your property and identity while selling your house.


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Pope L.'s "Flint Water Project" at What Pipeline @ Hyperallergic
DETROIT — In 2014 the city of Flint, Michigan decided (while under emergency financial management) to enact a cost-saving measure that temporarily switched the municipal water source from Lake Huron to the Flint River. The pH of this new water interacted toxically with Flint's aging infrastructure, resulting in the mass lead-poisoning of a large cross-section of an already embattled citizenry. Despite numerous complaints raised by consumers immediately following the switch, Flint city authorities continued to reassure residents that the water was safe to drink well into the following year, when it came to light that in fact the water contained lead levels that were, in some cases, dozens or hundreds of times higher than the Environmental Protection Agency's safety threshold. Flint officials have also been implicated in fatal outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease due to the contaminated water.
Fast-forward to 2017. Though issues with the water source and wider system have ostensibly been corrected, there are lingering concerns about the damage continuing as a result of the destabilized chemistry in the pipes of residential homes, not to mention the damaged trust of a citizenry that is reluctant to believe any official word from the city at this point, and the catastrophic implications of a generation of Flint children impacted by lead poisoning and listeria, while research about other complications is ongoing. Still, public attention paid to Flint waned amid so many other disasters — who can keep up?
Enter Chicago-based social practice artist Pope.L, who came to Detroit by invitation of experimental gallery What Pipeline to perform an intervention of his choosing. He chose to use his platform and cachet as an artist to highlight the ongoing concerns of Flint residents with the Flint Water Project.
October 17, 2017 Sarah Sharp Writing art as social intervention, Flint water crisis, Flint Water Project, Pope L., What Pipeline


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The British Film
Network Releasing
Memoirs of a Survivor
Julie Christie stars in an award-winning adaptation of Doris Lessing's famous dystopian novel. This complex, haunting science-fiction feature – screened in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival in 1981 – is presented in a brand-new transfer from the original film elements in its as-exhibited theatrical aspect ratio.
Set in Britain at an unspecified point in the near-future, Memoirs of a Survivor tells the story of 'D', a housewife trying to carry on after a cataclysmic war that has left society in a state of collapse. Rubbish is piled high in the streets among near-derelict buildings covered with graffiti; the electricity supply is variable, and water is now collected from a van. 'D' spends her time examining her relations with authority, with the marauding gangs of brutalised children who roam the streets, and with Emily, the traumatised, orphaned teenager who is delivered into her care.
[] Original Theatrical Trailer
[] Image Gallery
[] Promotional Material PDFs
David Gladwell
Christopher Tsangarides
1.85:1 / 2.35:1 / Colour
Mono / English
2 / PAL
111 mins approx
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Share this Story: Man jeered as cop rescues tot from locked, sweltering car
Man jeered as cop rescues tot from locked, sweltering car
DALE CARRUTHERS • QMI Agency
Jun 01, 2014 • June 1, 2014 • 1 minute read
LONDON, ONT.
Angry onlookers hurled catcalls at a man as he was arrested and accused of leaving a toddler inside a sweltering car in the parking lot of a mall.
An ugly scene started after police arrived at White Oaks Mall when someone reported a baby alone in a locked vehicle about 4 p.m. Saturday, said witness Bob Neilly, 57.
He was part a small crowd that gathered around a parked car, in which a boy was locked with the windows rolled up.
Neilly said a police cruiser with sirens and flashing lights raced into the parking lot and a quick-thinking officer smashed the passenger window with his baton then unlocked the doors.
A second officer plucked the 14-month-old from the back seat on the driver's side.
"The kid looked very pale. He was just soaking wet with sweat, like his hair was all matted down," Neilly said. "He looked a little despondent."
Soon afterwards, four people -- a man, an older woman and two children -- approached the car, Neilly said. Police spoke to the man briefly, then handcuffed and arrested him.
That's when the jeering began, Neilly said, the crowd shouting that the man should be ashamed and shouldn't have children.
"It was quite heated," Neilly said.
An ambulance arrived soon after that and paramedics drove the toddler to hospital for treatment. Police said his condition wasn't life-threatening.
Investigators wouldn't say how long the child was left in the car.
Environment Canada records show the outside temperature at the time was 24 degrees; however, on a sunny day, the temperature inside a closed car would have been several degrees higher, even after only a few minutes.
A London man is charged with endangering a child. Investigators didn't say whether the man is the boy's father.
dale.carruthers@sunmedia.ca
Twitter.com/DaleatLFPress
Man jeered as cop rescues tot from locked, sweltering car Back to video


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SWOCdrag
Video: Cyclist grabs tow from lorry on dual carriageway
Footage was shot in Wolverhampton earlier this week
Wed, Apr 10, 2019 19:36
Footage has emerged of a cyclist getting a tow from a truck on the A41 dual carriageway in Wolverhampton – and apparently, it's not the first time he has done it.
According to the London Economic, the footage was shot on Monday afternoon, and at times the presence of tram tracks also create an additional danger for the rider.
The cyclist was filmed by Garry Faulkner, who was passenger in a vehicle travelling behind the cyclist and the sewage truck he was hitching a lift from.
He said: "He pulled directly in front of the van I was in at the lights and we thought it looked strange.
"We then saw him grab a handle on the back of the truck and off they went. "He was travelling around 35 mph for about a mile-ish.
"It was very dangerous, especially as he was riding along the city tram lines. "His wheel nearly drops in the tram line towards the end of the video.
"He was laughing as he saw us filming and seems quite a cheeky character.
"Apparently he's been seen doing it before on that road," he added.
Back in 2014, we published footage of a cyclist using his own pedal power to draft a lorry at 40 mph in Manchester.
Just a week later featured the Brazilian daredevil Evandro Portelo who attached a GoPro to the back of a moving lorry then, together with a friend, pedalled up to a speed of 77 mph.
Holding onto a moving motor vehicle while cycling is not only inadvisable, but can also be considered as a criminal offence.
Last week we reported of how cyclist Colin Jones submitted footage of a road rage incident but ended up being found guilty of careless cycling and fined because his video showed him holding onto a moving car as he remonstrated with the driver.
dual carriageway
lorry
dubwise 0 sec ago
"The ugly...
eburtthebike 2 min 36 sec ago
And, just to prove the point, here's a BBC article where they did a commuter race, and nobody here will be surprised that the bicycle won. But...
BadgerBeaver 9 min 49 sec ago
Not surprising frankly, and not unjustified. ...
Hmm... fine for the UK....
dst 25 min 40 sec ago
hawkinspeter 28 min ago
chrisonatrike 1 hour 15 min ago


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Sixmania.com
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UIL Division I
UIL Division II
Posted on December 20, 2017 by Cowboy Parks
Strawn Steamrolls Balmorhea in Division II Championship
Photo by Pat Carrigan
Article by Garrett Ross
Arlington, Texas- The last time a Vance Jones coached team met a Dewaine Lee coached team in the state championship, it was Vance's team that came out on top, but this time the tide had turned. Dewaine's Strawn Greyhounds raced past Vance's Balmorhea Bears 78-42, to capture the school's third state championship.
The Bears only needed two plays from scrimmage, before they took the lead. Kyle Garcia broke loose on a 63 yard touchdown run and Balmorhea went up 8-0. Strawn was quick to respond after just three plays, when Carlos Villanueva eluded the Bears defense for a 35 yard touchdown run.
History would be made on the ensuing PAT, as K-Lani Nava drilled the PAT to tie the game at 8-8. Nava became the first female football player in UIL history to play in a State Championship. K-Lani Nava contributed 18 of the Greyhounds 78 points, in her record setting performance.
Kyle Garcia added two more touchdowns before halftime for Balmorhea on runs from 3 and 28 yards out. Tanner Hodgkins was the Greyhounds workhorse, as he scored three rushing touchdowns in the first half.
Hodgkins first touchdown of the game was from 4 yards out, but the junior displayed his breakaway speed on the next two, which were from 50 and 49 yards out. The Greyhounds tacked on one more score before the clock expired for intermission, on a 30 yard pitch and catch from Carlos Villanueva to Gavin Duncan.
Balmorhea could only muster up one touchdown in the third quarter, while Strawn erupted for three touchdowns. The Greyhounds hit the Bears with a trifecta of offensive weapons, which made it tough on the Balmorhea defense. Carlos Villanueva and Julian Fraga found the end zone with their legs, while Villanueva hit Hodgkins on a 37 yard air strike.
Kyle Garcia carried the Bears in the fourth quarter with a pair of touchdown runs from 5 and 34 yards out, but Balmorhea's defense was unable to slow down the Greyhounds offense, who countered with two more touchdowns of their own.
The Greyhounds return the bulk of their playmakers for the 2018 season and Strawn will remain in Division 2 after realignment. The Greyhounds will definitely be a force to be reckoned with next year and should enter the season as favorites to repeat.
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CDC advisers recommend Pfizer's COVID vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11
by: Nexstar Media Wire, The Associated Press
Posted: Nov 2, 2021 / 04:39 PM CDT / Updated: Nov 2, 2021 / 04:39 PM CDT
FILE – This October 2021, photo provided by Pfizer shows kid-size doses of its COVID-19 vaccine in Puurs, Belgium. (Pfizer via AP, File)
(AP) – An influential advisory panel on Tuesday recommended kid-size doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11, putting the U.S. on the brink of a major expansion of vaccinations. A final decision was expected within hours.
The Food and Drug Administration already has OK'd the kid-size doses — just a third of the amount given to teens and adults — as safe and effective for the younger age group. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention formally recommends who should receive FDA-cleared vaccines — and its advisers unanimously decided Pfizer's shots should be opened to 28 million youngsters.
If the CDC's director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, signs off as expected, it will mark the first opportunity for Americans under 12 to get the powerful protection of any COVID-19 vaccine.
"Today is a monumental day in the course of this pandemic," Walensky told the advisory panel as it began its deliberations earlier Tuesday.
Delta plus variant found in 8 states, including Massachusetts
She said while the risk of severe disease and death is lower in young children than adults, it is real — and that COVID-19 has had a profound social, mental health and educational impact on youngsters, including widening disparities in learning.
"There are children in the second grade who have never experienced a normal school year," Walensky said. "Pediatric vaccination has the power to help us change all of that."
Pediatricians in parts of the country are ready to start getting shots into little arms as soon as they get the final OK, as Pfizer already has begun shipping millions of doses to states, doctors' offices and pharmacies.
Many pediatricians and parents have clamored for protection for youngsters so they can resume normal childhood activities without risking their own health — or fear bringing the virus home to a more vulnerable family member.
White House press secretary Psaki says she has COVID-19
And several panelists who've cared for hospitalized youngsters said they want parents with questions to know the shots are safe and far better than gambling their child will escape a coronavirus infection.
"I have vaccinated my kids," said CDC adviser Dr. Helen Keipp Talbot of Vanderbilt University, saying she wouldn't recommend something for other families unless she was comfortable with it for her own. "We have seen the devastation of this disease."
In the U.S., there have been more than 8,300 hospitalizations of kids ages 5 to 11, about a third requiring intensive care, according to government data. The CDC has recorded at least 94 deaths in that age group, with additional reports under investigation.
And while the U.S. has seen a recent downturn in COVID-19 cases, experts are worried about another uptick with holiday travel and as winter sends more activity indoors where it's easier for the coronavirus to spread.
Pfizer's kid shots contain a third of the vaccine dose that's already been used to vaccinate millions of people 12 and older. The 5- to 11-year-olds will receive two shots, three weeks apart, the same schedule as everyone else — but a smaller amount in each shot, using a smaller needle.
A study of 2,268 youngsters found the kid-size vaccine is nearly 91% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 — based on 16 diagnoses among kids given dummy shots compared to just three who got the real vaccination.
CDC officials calculated that for every 500,000 kids this age vaccinated, between 18,000 and 58,000 COVID-19 cases would be prevented, and prevent anywhere from 80 to 226 hospitalizations.
The FDA examined more children, a total of 3,100 who were vaccinated, in concluding the shots are safe. The younger children experienced similar or fewer reactions — such as sore arms, fever or achiness — than teens or young adults get after larger doses.
That study wasn't large enough to detect any extremely rare side effects, such as the heart inflammation that occasionally occurs after the second full-strength dose, mostly in young men and teen boys. Regulators ultimately decided the benefits from vaccination outweigh the potential that younger kids getting a smaller dose also might experience that rare risk.
Some of CDC's advisers said for some parents, deciding to get their children vaccinated may hinge on that small but scary risk.
"The risk of some sort of bad heart involvement is much higher if you get COVID than if you get this vaccine," Dr. Matthew Oster, a pediatric cardiologist at Emory University, told the panel. "COVID is much riskier to the heart."
Last week, FDA's advisers struggled with whether every young child needed a vaccine. Youngsters hospitalized with COVID-19 are more likely to have high-risk conditions such as obesity or diabetes — but otherwise healthy children can get seriously ill, too, and the CDC's advisers ultimately recommended the shots for all of them.


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A Fantastic Woman (original title Una Mujer Fantástica) (Chile, 2017). Directed by Sebastián Lelio. Screenplay by Sebastián Lelio and Gonzalo Maza. Starring Daniela Vega, Francisco Reyes, Luis Gnecco. In Spanish with English subtitles.
I've been around long enough to remember when the only transwomen in movies were either serial killers, victims of severe beatings or the butt of man-in-a-dress jokes. It's hard to imagine that level of transphobia returning to the screen, but as Marina's experience in A Fantastic Woman shows, there are still a few people who don't like us much.
Marina is a singer and a transwoman in a loving relationship with an older man. One night she wakes to find him sitting on the edge of the bed in some distress. Before her panic filled drive to the hospital, he manages to injure himself further by falling down a flight of stairs. Once at the hospital, she receives news that Orlando has died on the operating tale. She is stunned with grief and a simultaneous awareness of the delicate position she is in. She phones his brother Gabo first, knowing he's the most sympathetic member of Orlando's family. He knowingly asks if she's phoned anyone else and when she says no, he tells her not to worry, that he'll take care of it. Under duress and not knowing what to do, she flees the hospital but is brought back by the police under suspicion she may have been involved in her lover's demise. Thus begin her confrontations with the police and Orlando's family.
Marina moves from a position of respect for the family to open defiance after they repeatedly abuse her and resolutely refuse to allow her to grieve with them. The film is about grief as much as it is about Marina's experience as a transwoman. No one in the family takes the love she and Orlando had for each other seriously. It's this need to affirm her right to grieve that propels Marina and is the true emotional centre of the film. Her right to dignity is simply the visible byproduct of this journey.
The police first suggest she's a prostitute and then send a do-gooder detective from the Sexual Offenses Unit who torments Marina with a physical examination because she callously chooses not to believe that she was not physically abused. (The striking physical similarity betwen Orlando's abusive ex-wife and the supposedly helpful police detective suggest they are not that different.) The family refuses to believe their brother, father, and ex-husband fell in love with a transwoman and behave abominably.
There is so much texture to this film. It's a movie that bears watching again, if only for the craftsmanship that went into it. The scene in which Marina finds herself in front of workmen moving a large plate glass mirror slips seamlessly into surrealism as she sees the world flowing around her in distorted shapes and movement. This mirror image is common throughout the film. In a thoughtful scene late in the movie. Marina sits nude on her bed with a round mirror over her crotch. What she has down there has been the subject of intense curiosity and scrutiny by the cisgender people who have harassed her. What the director Lelio has done with this scene is brilliant. We do not know what is under the mirror and Marina sees only herself there. What is underneath does not matter.
The pan shots of Marina moving through her landscapes are similarly well thought out and wonderfully composed. Virtually all of them reflect her inner feelings. The scene in which she is leaning at a 45 degree angle and is brought to a standstill by a furious wind is so effective it was used in the movie's trailer. There are others too which are less dramatic, and which I first took to be literal, but which are also symbolic. After her attempt to visit Orlando's funeral goes horribly wrong, her walk through a derelict urban landscape of broken down, graffiti marked fences, rubble strewn empty lots and derelict buildings reflects her own inner devastation.
Trans people will immediately recognize the liminal world in which Marina lives. She moves from spaces of acceptance to spaces of hostility. A cleaning woman calls her ma'am and apologizes for not being able to help her. A barista stares at her coldly while Marina orders coffee. It is the exhausting world we live in that simple human interactions cisgender people take for granted become fraught with uncertainty and even peril.
Her need to discover what was in Orlando's sauna locker forces her through a highly gendered space in which she undresses in the women's side and then must make her way through hallways and rooms while transforming herself into a presentable male in order to access the men's locker room. It becomes a kind of harrowing reverse transition, the emotional impact of which surely only trans people can fully understand.
Daniela Vega is excellent in the role of Marina. Since Vega is virtually in every scene and was largely an inexperienced actress, director Lelio has acknowledged it was a risk granting her the lead role. However her performance and her authenticity gave him the freedom to create what he calls a "trans-genre film about a transgender woman."
If I had one quibble, it was the use early in the movie of Aretha Franklin's (You Make Me Feel) Like a Natural Woman. It seemed too clumsy and obvious for a film that is otherwise so rich and subtle.
A Fantastic Woman has been nominated for an Oscar for best foreign language film.


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Linda Ikeji TV
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Date Added January 13, 2020
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Watch the most recent and popular Korean dramas, movies, and a variety of programs.


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Meet Carlo Scissura, the New Head of the New York Building Congress
By Terence Cullen February 8, 2017 10:30 am
Carlo Scissura. Photo: Liam Sharp/for Commercial Observer
It's a damp Friday morning, and Carlo Scissura is at his desk in NoMad.
At this point, he has barely two weeks on the job as the new president and chief executive officer of the New York Building Congress—having held the same positions at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. But on his mind, and nearly everyone else's, is the inauguration of Donald Trump, which is minutes away from starting.
A TV to Scissura's right plays NY1's live coverage of the event. In case he missed a second of it, there is also a feed of the event displayed on The New York Times homepage on a computer to his left.
For a career Democratic operative like Scissura, this would probably be the point of a nightmare when one awakes, drenched in sweat and gasping for air. But for the New York City construction industry's newest advocate, he chooses to see it as big moment for his organization, which counts more than 400 companies representing 250,000 professionals as members.
"It's an exciting time, obviously, to be running a citywide organization with all the changes," Scissura, 46, told Commercial Observer last month. "We're watching the inauguration of a New Yorker who talks about infrastructure, so that's exciting. I want the Building Congress to lead the infrastructure discussion. We will plan to be in Washington to meet with the people who are going to be making the decisions on nationwide infrastructure planning."
Indeed, Scissura plans to continue the Building Congress' push for more public works investment in the region, along with several other policy issues it has advocated for during the current building boom. The son of Brooklyn, who spent more than four years as the chief of staff to former Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, said he wants to take a stronger citywide approach to the Building Congress as more Manhattan-based developers look to build in his home borough as well as the neighboring Queens.
His ascension to the job follows an almost yearlong search to replace Richard Anderson, who led the Building Congress since 1994 before stepping down in December 2016. Scissura, the single father of a 22-month-old daughter who lives in Dyker Heights, has big shoes to fill in succeeding someone widely credited with reviving the 96-year-old trade group. But Anderson and others who know Scissura well say his background in politics, his training as an attorney and his tact for advocacy made him the best person to address the needs of the Building Congress in 2017.
"He was a powerful voice for Brooklyn—a constant cheerleader," said Timothy King, the managing partner of Downtown Brooklyn-based CPEX Real Estate and a board member of the chamber. "He's someone people look up to and listen to. I have no doubt that he'll be a strong advocate, an ally and an asset to the Building Congress."
Now that he's in the job, Scissura has big plans for how to take the organization to the next level (but, he said, he's being pragmatic about it). The construction industry is indeed at a peak, with about $42.1 billion in spending projected for 2017, according to research Scissura's organization is known for regularly churning out. Since a great deal of that has spread to the outer boroughs, he said the Building Congress will launch a "Five Borough Initiative" that helps explore development opportunities.
"There's just a lot in the boroughs that I don't think we've touched yet," he said. "And we should be the leading organization creating these opportunities for my members, so they can build and create jobs and do everything they do."
And membership is his other priority, as it's the bread and butter (and a major revenue source at a minimum $1,650 per membership) of what makes the Building Congress what it is. In his first few weeks on the job, the organization has added 22 new members such as brokerage Douglas Elliman, accounting firm Ernst & Young and infrastructure builder Meridiam. If he can get 50 to 75 new members between January and December, it will have been a good first year, he said. (He keeps 12 whiteboards on a wall of his office opposite his desk—one each to list all the new members signed in a given month over the next year.)
"The thing I look at all day long is not a window, is not a TV, it's members," he said. "I believe clearly we are a membership organization. I work for all my members and I want to see who the new members are."
His last four-plus years at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce are evidence of his ability to grow membership. Scissura said when he got to the business group in September 2012 there were 720 members; in December 2016, when he left, there were 2,250.
"He's able to keep a lot of balls in the air at the same time," said Anderson, now an independent consultant whose clients include the Building Congress. "That's a very important characteristic for someone to run a diverse membership association."
As the televised procession continues on to the inaugural platform, Scissura calls to a colleague passing by his office to ask a question. He and a few associates confirm that Iris Weinshall, the chief operating officer of the New York Public Library and former New York City Department of Transportation commissioner, is on TV. Weinshall, also the wife of fellow Brooklynite and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, is at the time standing near to outgoing First Lady Michelle Obama.
Richard Anderson spent 22 years leading the Building Congress before stepping down in December 2016. Photo: Kaitlyn Flanagan/Commercial Observer
If anyone might know who she is, it's Scissura. His career up until this point has been about knowing who people in government are, to cultivate relationships with them and to make a given case should the need arise.
His real emergence to the political scene—when he really got to know the business community—was in 2008, when he took over as Markowitz's chief of staff in the twilight of his second term. What should have been a maybe one-year stint before Markowitz left office turned into more than four working with Markowitz (otherwise term-limited city politicians were allowed to seek a third term in 2009). He described Markowitz—"Mr. Brooklyn," as Scissura calls him—as "the hardest-working person I've ever worked for."
"Marty would literally cold call corporations and send letters and say, 'Move your offices to Brooklyn,' " Scissura said. "He came in every day with an idea, a vision and a hope to make Brooklyn a better place."
During their time working together, Markowitz led a campaign to get Apple to open a store in Brooklyn. The borough president went as far as making a video message, holding an iPad, to make his case to the technology giant. There is now one in Williamsburg, and another is slated to open in Downtown Brooklyn.
Markowitz, now a vice president at tourism booster NYC & Company, credited Scissura with helping make his borough presidency a real force in the city—especially for an office that no longer has the clout it used to. Scissura acted as a liaison between Markowitz's office and the Bloomberg administration, was dedicated when it came to land use issues and helped boost companies coming to Brooklyn, his former boss recalled.
"He was able to really make our office in Brooklyn, I would like to think, among the most effective ever," Markowitz said. "A lot of that had to do with Carlo's ability to get things done, and, like I said, navigate personalities."
Scissura at one point wanted to follow Markowitz's administration with one of his own. He mulled a borough presidency run in 2013 but opted not to move ahead with it before the campaign really picked up steam. By September 2012, he wound up at the chamber, where he would launch a slew of programs that included the "Brooklyn Made" certification for products manufactured in the borough.
A graduate of Pace University (both undergrad and law school), Scissura is considered by his colleagues to be adept at knowing the way city government—and the power around it—functions and moves along. That's something they consider crucial to his growth of the business group and was a key reason why he got his current job at the Building Congress.
"He did for the chamber what he'll do for the congress," Markowitz said. "And that is make it front and center. That's what he'll give the organization: real presence in the halls of Washington, the state and the city as well as among its own members. Members are your constituents and Carlo will never lose sight of that—that's for sure."
Anderson said he first met Scissura when the latter was Markowitz's chief of staff, but the two became involved in each other's organizations when Scissura went to the chamber. Then, in January 2016, Anderson announced he was leaving the Building Congress after 22 years of building it up—growing membership, becoming a source of research and holding events on construction policy.
Scissura said he wasn't in the market for a new job—in fact he had just launched a few forward-looking programs at the chamber, some of which would last five years. But he spoke to a few people at the Building Congress, and by midsummer felt that he was ready to lead a citywide organization.
When the Building Congress' board selected him, Scissura was at lunch in Washington, D.C., with the chamber's lobbyists. He got a call from the person leading the search, he said, but was told they were not ready to announce his hiring. Naturally, word got around fast. Scissura got another call 15 to 20 minutes later that a reporter from this publication and another from Crain's New York Business were on to the story.
He recalled having spent the next two and a half hours on a New York City-bound Amtrak train calling as many people as he could. Among them was John Banks, the president of the Real Estate Board of New York, whom he'd known for several years. Banks already had heard that Scissura had gotten the job. Nothing stays secret for long in the New York City real estate world.
Banks told CO he got to know Scissura about seven years ago when the two were on a commission to review the city charter—basically the constitution for the five boroughs. He said he was impressed with Scissura's knowledge of the government and his ability to navigate it.
"He's got a great command of general New York City government issues," said Banks, who was vice chairman of the commission. "He brought a practical side of day-to-day governmental operations. His input was invaluable."
Of course, replacing a longtime leader like Anderson is a hard thing to do. Banks noted that he was in a similar position in July 2015 when he took over REBNY from longtime leader Stephen Spinola. Scissura, however, would be up to the task, he said.
"Dick Anderson is a hard act to follow," Banks said. "Carlo was the absolute perfect guy" to replace him.
His first day leading the Building Congress was spent in Albany. The task at hand was letting people know that he was no longer just the Brooklyn guy but the city guy.
"I was running around the Capitol for the whole day," Scissura said. "It was really about letting them understand it's not just Brooklyn anymore; I'm looking out for the five boroughs."
A top priority for Scissura is continued membership growth at the Building Congress. Photo: Liam Sharp/for Commercial Observer
The formal proceedings of the inauguration are just starting up. Timothy Cardinal Dolan, the archbishop of New York, is delivering a benediction. Big Apple power players have descended on Washington, particularly the inaugural platform. Along with Dolan, there is Trump himself, his son-in-law and former CO publisher, Jared Kushner, along with his soon-to-be nemesis Schumer.
While these New Yorkers run the nation's capital in the next few years, there are still matters back home that Scissura and his new corporate constituents have to deal with.
For starters, the City Council is considering a 21-bill package to curb the growing number of construction fatalities. Debate over some of the measures—particularly one that would mandate apprenticeship programs for workers—has sparked a tug-of-war between the unions and REBNY, Mayor Bill de Blasio and nonunion groups.
Scissura said he and Building Congress members are reviewing the bills, what their impact might be and the financial ramifications. The Building Congress would begin meeting with Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and other members over the next few weeks. Last week, he urged the speaker to form a task force comprised of the various stakeholders to reach an agreement on some of the more controversial issues surrounding the package.
There's also the matter of design-build, in which a developer typically partners with an architecture firm to jointly bid on a project. Advocates of the program believe it saves time and money—removing costly steps of a designer bidding, followed by the selection of a developer who could then run into issues with the design. New York City agencies are not allowed to use the process right now, and authorization to do so depends on approval by state lawmakers in Albany.
"He can bring new energy, new context and new relationships with public officials," Anderson said. "One of the things that we urged him to do was work with the New York City state legislative delegation—that he knows—to encourage them to support design-build."
De Blasio, who last month lauded Scissura at the Building Congress' first luncheon of his presidency, told a packed room of the trade group's members that they needed to do their part to get design-build in New York City.
"There is a lot of reach in this room, there is a lot of fire power in this room," de Blasio told the sold-out crowd. "We need all your voices to be heard in Albany in these next months because getting design-build authority is going to allow us to create a better city for all."
Going forward, Scissura said he hopes to take the Building Congress to a new level when it comes to policy. Instead of just testifying on a rezoning or another construction issue, he wants the organization to play a more proactive role. That means starting the discussion to figure out and then execute on the next big Hudson Yards-caliber or major infrastructure project in the city.
"What is the forward-thinking that is not going to start tomorrow, that will maybe start in 10 years?" he said. "How else are we going to tie the boroughs together? The Building Congress really needs to lead the discussion on that and bring stakeholders together."
Keywords: Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Carlo Scissura, Donald Trump, Hudson Yards, Jared Kushner, John Banks, Marty Markowitz, New York Building Congress, nyc & company, Real Estate Board of New York, Richard Anderson, Steven Spinola, Timothy Cardinal Dolan


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Media Release: North-east fire safety protection company wins prestigious award
A NORTH-east specialist oil and gas industry fire safety protection company is celebrating after winning a top business award.
Blaze Manufacturing Solutions, which is headquartered in Laurencekirk, and has offices in Kemnay, Aberdeenshire, a regional project office in Great Yarmouth and southern sales office in Milton Keynes, has won the Business Success Over Three Years accolade in this year's Grampian Awards for Business Excellence.
The competition, which is organised by Enterprise North East Trust (Enterprise) and main sponsor RBS Ahead for Business, aims to encourage enterprise by rewarding entrepreneurial companies and individuals that are capable of leading the future prosperity of Grampian.
Blaze is a family-owned business, which was launched in 2006 by Howard and Ann Johnson, and has rapidly established itself as a leading provider of fire safety protection and loss prevention solutions.
The company started with just two people and today employs 30-full time members of staff and 100 contractors.
Blaze works with major oil and gas operators to design and supply fire protection systems and loss prevention services, and also manage new build contracts.
The specialist firm has continued to secure contracts with major names in the industry and has already won contracts worth a combined value of £15 million this year
Blaze managing director, Howard Johnson, said: "Blaze had a strong start in 2014 and winning this award recognises the hard work and dedication of all our of staff in helping to grow the company, putting Blaze in a perfect position for continued success throughout the year."
MEDIA RELEASE issued by Frasermedia. You too can post your story ideas for journalists (aka press or media releases), on allmediascotland.com. Email info@allmediascotland.com for more information.
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Frasermedia Ltd · Business and economics ·


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Peter Weber flies back to Kelley Flanagan just days after leaving
Tue Apr 14, 2020 at 10:36am ET
By Mary Jane
Peter Weber reveals he is still in quarantine even though he left to work. Pic credit: ABC
The Bachelor star Peter Weber is back in Chicago just days after leaving Kelley Flanagan's apartment in the city having spent a few weeks there in quarantine.
He surprised everyone when he showed up at her apartment, where the pair have been spending time in lockdown with Dustin Kendrick, another Bachelorette alum, and his dog Sophie.
After Peter ditched Chicago this weekend, it appeared he was gone for good. However, he's now revealed he's back and that he plans to stay there. So, what's the deal?
Peter Weber is back with Kelley Flanagan
Peter took to his Instagram Stories to explain why he left Kelley behind — and it turns out it was because he had to work.
"Air service is considered an essential service so I still have to work," Peter revealed in a Q&A he on Instagram, but he added that he would be returning to the city whenever he has time off.
"I'm quarantining with [Kelley] and [Dustin] in Chi-town when I'm not working!"
Peter reveals he is in quarantine with Kelley when he's not working. Pic credit: @pilot_pete/Instagram
Just three hours after he posted that photo, he revealed via Instagram that he was indeed back with Kelley in her apartment.
Peter and Kelley are back in quarantine together. Pic credit: @pilot_pete/Instagram
The two posted an Instagram Stories without Dustin Kendrick, revealing they were supporting Jason Tartick's charity efforts where he was raising money by eating extremely hot chicken wings.
Peter Weber has said he would be lucky to date Kelley Flanagan
Even though Peter and Kelley haven't confirmed a romantic connection, Peter has revealed that he's open to a relationship.
As Monsters & Critics has previously reported, Peter said that he would be extremely lucky if he had the chance to date Kelley. At the time, he denied that they were dating, but added that he loved spending time with her.
During a recent interview on the Off The Vine podcast with Bachelorette alum Kaitlyn Bristowe, Peter gave nothing but praise for Kelley's company during this time.
"We have just been enjoying each other's time and company, I love being around her," he said. "She's been so amazing, so patient with me. It's exactly … what I needed in this kind of situation, and I'm so grateful for her."
Peter has already revealed that the two aren't sharing a bed during the quarantine. He added at the time that Kelley has three bedrooms, which means they all have their own bed to sleep in.
Plus, Kelley has also joked about suing Peter for not choosing her on The Bachelor, hinting that she wasn't happy about the outcome either. Maybe this time in quarantine will result in a relationship between the two of them.
The Bachelor is currently on hiatus.
More: Bachelor, Bachelorette, The Bachelor, The Bachelorette


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Hooked on Entertainment • Hooked on Singers
Joey Commentucci – A Man Gifted with a Voice Similar to that of Frank Sinatra
Joey Commentucci, prevalently known as Joey C, was born and raised within the Philadelphia region. He is skilled with a voice said to be comparable to that of Straight to the point Sinatra. For the primary decade of his life, Joey Commentucci has persuaded everybody within the world was Italian. Developing up in a neighborhood regarded the "Little Italy" of North Philadelphia, the culture leaked into essentially each viewpoint of his day by day schedule. All of his school peers shared the same legacy, and when he was home, his mother continuously found planning a new feast for supper.
Joey Commentucci
Unnecessary to say, those Italian roots too affected the melodic tastes of the Commentucci family. Each end of the week, the radio dial was set to the relieving sounds of Ol' Blue Eyes "Life" and "Summer Wind" "I've Got the World on a String," and more. "I tuned in to it in my car, 8-track tapes, cassette tapes, CDs," said Commentucci. "Whereas everybody else was tuning in to The Beatles and Elvis Presley, I was tuning in to Sinatra. Sinatra was one of the leading storytellers when he performed a melody. He took you on a journey with him."
The youthful Sinatra fan would casually sing along to melodies like "Fly Me to the Moon" and "My Way." It was a normal response to hearing a favorite track, but his guardians rapidly realized the vocal divine beings had talented their child with something uncommon. Commentucci has a great voice and really sounds like his idol. Gradually but unquestionably, Commentucci sharpened his imaginative abilities, performing Sinatra hits at little nearby settings beneath the title "Joey C" whereas keeping up a hair salon in Roxborough.
Nowadays, Commentucci is 72 and flourishing. With his pitch dark hair, fresh suits and unflinching vitality (which he credits his mom's domestic cooked dinners for), Joey C is still spreading his love of Sinatra to fans all over from Parx Casino to the Dominican Republic. Commentucci is best known for his Sinatra tribute appears, at Tiffany's Diner on Roosevelt Boulevard. His mission is to keep the music he fell in love with as a child. Amid each execution, he pours his heart and soul into songs like "Strangers within the Night," "My Kind of Town," "New York, Modern York," "Luck Be a Lady," "That's Life" and "Summer Wind" "I've Got the World on a String" and more. All through the evening, Commentucci too provides tidbits on Sinatra's life and the occasions that propelled each tune.
Over a long time, Commentucci has engaged many neighborhood restaurants, featuring appearances at La Cena Eatery in Bensalem and De Lorenzo's in Yardley. On a regular basis, he travels to Riviera Maya, Cancun and Punta Cana, where he performs at different resorts. From birthday parties to corporate events, charitable occasions and even senior homes.
Sai Write
Prior this summer, Commentucci briefly transitioned from the highlight of the arrange to the domain of YouTube when he showed up as a visitor on Sound Way of life with Eraldo. Wearing his signature blue suit and ruddy tie, Joey C was met by have and individual coach Eraldo Maglara and Kathy Wakile of The Genuine Housewives of Modern Shirt around his wellness administration, which includes fundamental cardio works out at the exercise center each day.
Each month or so, Joey C is additionally welcomed to perform on The Patti Lattanzi, Billy Carlucci & the Gang Show, which show on Thursdays at 7 p.m. on the Modern Jersey-based Cruisin' 92.1. For Commentucci, singing the hits of Sinatra, whether it's at an eatery or on the radio, never gets ancient. It's this enthusiasm for the music that proceeds to draw swarms after so numerous a long time, and present more youthful eras, counting his children and grandchildren, to the famous craftsman.
Lower Bucks Times
His tunes really resonated in my heart and when I perform, I reasonable get lost inside the music and the gather of onlookers. The group of onlookers is reacting to what I'm doing. It's the most excellent feeling within the world for me," he said. "This may be a cherish for me. It's something I appreciate doing from the foot of my heart. Singing is like breathing to me."
Right now, Joey C is within the handle of planning a Christmas appear, which is slated to incorporate occasion hits made celebrated by Sinatra, Dignitary Martin, Elvis Presley, Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, Nat King Cole and Bon Jovi. Whereas he plans to keep singing at neighborhood eateries and night clubs, he dreams of one day performing at casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas.
Mail: joeycsinatra@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Joeycsinatra
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7yEy507TF5K0_nnmj0DMCQ
Website: https://joeycsinatra.com/
Frank Sinatra Impersonator Joey C Sinatra Joey Commentucci
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Home Truck Gear Tornado relief efforts in South hampered by coronavirus
Tornado relief efforts in South hampered by coronavirus
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Recovery efforts for people who have lost homes to deadly tornadoes in the South this week have been significantly hampered by the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
Workers have been providing all the help they can – but from a distance. Because of the pandemic, volunteers can offer no sympathetic hugs nor can politicians give handshakes.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, center, talks with residents as he visits a storm-damaged area Tuesday, April 14, 2020, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
(AP)
Within hours of the tornado onslaught, which began Sunday and killed more than 30 people, church groups were out in damaged communities, and Southern Baptist volunteers were told to avoid holding hands with people as they prayed, said Sam Porter, director of disaster relief for the nearly 15 million-member denomination.
About 550 people in four states were staying in hotel rooms funded by the Red Cross since mass shelters were not an option.
People are being fed catered meals delivered to the hotels instead of through a large kitchen, he said, and workers are wearing masks, gloves and other gear when dealing with people affected by the storms. Other agencies are making similar provisions.
"How ironic is it that the very thing that may unify people and unify communities is the condition in which we have to remain 6 feet apart," said Brad Kieserman, a vice president of the organization.
The storms claimed lives in at least six states. The National Weather Service said preliminary assessments found evidence of at least 27 twisters. The strongest confirmed so far was an EF-4 tornado that devastated southeastern Mississippi with winds as strong as 170 mph.
Hundreds of homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed across the region, and heavy rains caused flooding in some areas. Nashville broke a 71-year record by receiving 2.23 inches of rain in a day, the weather service said. A day later, on Tuesday morning, the city saw snow flurries.
Damage occurred up the East Coast, with a flurry of tornado warnings issued in Delaware after storms left the Southeast.
With the economy already faltering because of business shutdowns and job losses linked to the pandemic, the storms hit the state's nearly $3 billion poultry industry. At least 90 poultry houses were damaged or destroyed, many near the city of Collins, the Mississippi State University Extension Service said.
"Although some houses were between flocks and empty, many of these houses had chickens in them," poultry specialist Tom Tabler said in a statement. "Some would have been chicks just a few days old, while others would have been flocks nearly ready for harvest."
MISSISSIPPI PASTOR SUES POLICE AFTER CONGREGANTS WERE TICKETED AT DRIVE-IN SERVICE: 'DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE'
In Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves, who toured damaged areas, said the pandemic was compounding a bad situation.
"The fact that the coronaviruses exist is complicating the recovery from the tornado, while the tornadoes are complicating our efforts to make sure that we do everything in our power to stop the spread of the virus," Reeves said during a stop in Soso. "It is it is exceptionally complicated, and it's tough on all of us."
About 40 miles away in Prentiss, around 15 people wearing masks helped clean up amid the rubble of James Hill Church, which took a direct hit from a tornado.
A twister left shingles, insulation and other debris strewn across Chattanooga, Tennessee. Almost every official on a tour of storm damage wore a protective mask, and some wore gloves. Bill Lee and Mayor Andy Berke offered elbow bumps while talking to affected residents.
A person in a passing pickup truck yelled out to Lee as he visited with people cleaning around their home: "We need money! We need that stimulus check now!"
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Iraqi powerful cleric calls for massive protests against US troops
Daniel Anjola, January 15, 2020 January 15, 2020 , 0
Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr
Iraq's influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr escalated his rhetoric Tuesday against the U.S. influence in Iraq, calling civilians to participate in a "million-person" march for the removal of American troops in the country.
"O Soldiers of God and the nation, rush to a united and peaceful demonstration of millions, denouncing the American presence and its violations," al-Sadr said in a tweet to Iraqis.
Al-Sadr, whose political list won the most seats in the Iraqi 2018 legislative elections, has used his popularity in the past to draw thousands of zealous supporters to the streets, including the October 2019 protests over government corruption. He has since 2003 ardently opposed the U.S. presence in Iraq and for years used the now disbanded Mahdy Army to target U.S. troops.
The cleric in his recent plea for rally expressed his frustration over the violation of Iraq's sovereignty by "the occupying forces," saying he was confident that Iraqi protesters "will not bow down to global arrogance."
READ ALSO: US condemns new missile attack on Iraqi base
Global Arrogance
The term "global arrogance" is often used by Iran's officials to refer to the United States and its Western and Israeli allies.
Al-Sadr's call for protests comes as Iran's state-sponsored AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA) Tuesday reported an "important gathering" between him and "the commanders of Iraqi resistance" late Monday in Iran.
The meeting, attended by leaders of Hezbollah Battalion, the Movement of the Noble Ones, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, was "in the virtue of more coordination of Islamic resistance forces" and "in order to put an end to the American invaders' presence in Iraq," ABNA reported, referring to three Shiite militant groups designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S.
Another meeting between al-Sadr's political wing Saairun and Fatih coalition in the Iranian city of Qom Saturday agreed to choose Hadi al-Aameri as the head of "the Islamic Resistance in Iraq" following the U.S. killing of Iraqi Shiite leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis along with IRGC's Qassem Soleimani, ABNA reported.
Relations between the United States and Iran faced a series of escalations in recent weeks after the U.S. accused Iranian proxy militias of targeting U.S. facilities in Iraq, including a rocket attack in Kirkuk province that killed an American contractor in late December and prompted American strikes on Kataeb Hezbollah facilities in Iraq and Syria.
The tensions reached a new level high after the U.S. embassy was sieged by pro-Iran protesters on Dec. 31, followed by a U.S. airstrike on January 3 that killed Iran's top commander Soleimani along with several others. Iran on Jan. 8 responded by firing a barrage of ballistic missiles on at least two Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops.
In Iraq, where the Shiite-dominated government has condemned the U.S. airstrike as a violation of its sovereignty, the parliament last week passed a resolution that asked for the removal of American troops and other foreign forces. U.S. President Donald Trump, in return, has threatened to hit Iraq with severe sanctions.
Sherko Mirways, a Kurdish lawmaker and head of Iraqi parliament's Foreign Relations Committee, told VOA that Iraq was entering "a dark tunnel," warning that Iraq's leadership needs to take Trump's threats seriously.
"We need to work together to deescalate the situation now and have a serious debate later about Iraq's political direction and balanced relation with the world," Mirways said.
The lawmaker said that Iraq was falling victim to the U.S.-Iran rivalry, adding that the country needed to work with both sides based on mutual interests.
(VOA News)
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Metal Sucks Here's the Metallica/Kanye/Jay-Z Mash-up of Your... Deftones 'Ohms Pale Ale' Beer on the Way
Viral Vomit
Here's the Metallica/Kanye/Jay-Z Mash-up of Your Dreams
January 25th, 2021 at 10:20am
Every day here at MetalSucks, we get hundreds of e-mails asking the same exact question: "WHEN OH WHEN IS SOMEONE GOING TO FINALLY MASH-UP METALLICA'S 'RIDE THE LIGHTNING' WITH JAY-Z AND KANYE WEST'S 'N****S IN PARIS'?!?!"*.
Well, rest easy, dear friends: YouTube's William Maranci has FINALLY made your dreams come true. You can check out the mash-up below and then go wait to die, because life will never get better than this**.
Assuming you dig it, here are some other fun mash-ups from Maranci:
Listen: Metallica's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" But It's "All I Want for Christmas is You" by Mariah Carey
Linkin Park: "Faint" But It's "Just Dance" by Lady Gaga
Mash-Up: Rammstein's "Du Hast" But It's "My Love" by Justin Timberlake
Mash-Up: Slipknot's "Psychosocial" but It's "Who Let the Dogs Out" by Baha Men
Mash-Up: Meshuggah's "Bleed" but It's "Like a Virgin" by Madonna
Here's the Slipknot/ Maroon 5 Mash-Up of Your Nightmares
This Is the Slipknot/ Eminem Mash-Up of Corey Taylor's Dreams
Happy Halloween! Here's a Mash-Up of "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails and the Ghostbusters Song
The Lion Korn: The Circle of Leash
Finally: Metallica's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" Mashed Up with Kanye West's "Black Skinhead"
Here's a Mashup of Deftones and Britney Spears
This Is the Tool and Taylor Swift Mash-Up of Your Dreams
*MetalSucks has never actually received any such e-mail.
**Please do not sit around waiting to die, life will almost certainly get better than this.
Tags: jay-z, kanye west, metallica, william maranci
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Ethiopia's Peaceful Revolution
in World — by Thomas C Mountain —	July 19, 2018
Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, foreground left is welcomed by Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed upon his arrival at Addis Ababa International Airport
The uniquely African Empire of Ethiopia has seen itself launched into a peaceful revolution that promises to transform one of the planets poorest countries into a modern peoples democracy.
Being that I have spent my entire life living by the principle of "political power grows from the barrel of a gun", or as Marx said, "Force is the midwife of change" to see a peaceful revolution next door in Ethiopia is almost to much to grasp hold of. I first thought this was a "soft coup" by the Americans, but this is much more than that. American aquiesence was necessary, but the new government lead by Dr. Abiy Ahmed has started what can only be called a revolution.
Prime Minister Abiy, elected such by a parliament 100% appointed by the former regime is young, charismatic and has put forward a program of change that is remarkably similar to what Eritrea's President Issias Aferworki has been saying for the past 25 years and more. Calling on all Ethiopians the good Doctor, past soldier, intelligence officer and for the past 8 years a politician, is urging his country men and women to learn from socialist Eritrea next door.
He has suggested the Ethiopian diaspora emulate the Eritreans and start donating $1 a day to their homeland. National service and national education training centers such as Eritrea's Sawa are being discussed. And of course, if Ethiopia is really to begin to break with its history of debt bondage and beggary, the Ethiopian diaspora, like the Eritreans, will have to start paying an income tax on their foreign earnings of 2%. Eritrea, 4 million population, gathers $300
million a year or more from its diaspora so Ethiopia should be able to make a serious dent in its budget deficit by introducing the 2% income tax.
P.M. Abiy's task is a giant one, for Ethiopia is a big country with many different ethnic groups and like Eritrea next door roughly half muslim and half christian. A divide and rule policy of instigating ethnic based conflict by the previous regime has left the country burnt and bleeding, with almost a million people internally displaced. On top of this almost perennial droughts and famines have wracked the land, brought on by western industrialization induced climate change.
Ethiopia should be a thriving country with a well off citizenry for it has rich lands, lots of water, minerals and even energy. The problem has been its leaders this past century starting with Haile Sellasie, "Emperor". His claim to power was based on his grandfathers use of Italian supplied firearms to conquer and loot their neighbors, mostly the Oromo, of whom the new PM derives from. Once in power having completely subjugated the Oromo, amongst others, Haile Sellasie turned
his eyes toward the coast and the dream of having his own port on the Red Sea. This meant annexing the Italian colony of Eritrea with its much more advanced economy and of course, the ports of Assab in the south and Massawa in the north.
The violent subjugation of Eritrea is central to the modern history of Ethiopia and todays Ethiopians see the recent development of peaceful relations as god's blessing.
The Eritreans fought a 30 year independence war which helped trigger the overthrow of Haile Sellasie, and eventually would see the Eritrean rebel army defeat Haile Sellasie's replacement Colonel Haile Mengistu Mariam's army and drive him into exile in ZImbabwe.
The Eritreans left their erstwhile allies the Tigrayan rebel army i control of Ethiopia and returned to their main task of establishing their newly independent country. When two years later the Eritreans formerly declared their independence and joined the UN the Tigrayan dominated government did its best to sabotage international recognition for with independence came loss of control of its main port of Assab. Never mind Eritrea gave Ethiopia rent free use of Assab, the prestige lost in losing Eritrea to independence drove the new Ethiopian government controlled by the ethnic minority Tigrayan regime to reignite Ethiopian national chauvinism and eventually, just seven years after Eritrean independence, a new war of conquest was launched in 1998.
After three years of particularly bloody warfare, probably the last major land war in history, and 123,000 Ethiopian dead alongside 19,000 Eritrean martyrs (these are the official government figures) with 1.4 million Eritreans internally displaced by the Ethiopian invasion (40% of Eritrea's population) has left both countries peoples indelibly scarred. Following the defeat of the Ethiopian invasion the Tigrayan regime began what came to be known as No War No Peace on Eritrea's
border, every few years sending division strength military incursions into Eritrea forcing Eritrea to maintain a large army of national service military on active duty in its trenches along the border.
The main player in all of this, and something almost entirely excluded from mention by the MSM, has been Pax Americana, with the Clintonites and their kissing cousin Barack Obama dominating the list of criminals who instigated and supported these past 25 years of conflict in the Horn of Africa.
Today's revolution in Ethiopia has ended all this and with a young, dynamic leader, only 42 years old and sounding like a younger version of Eritrea's Issias Aferworki, speaking the language of peace and love, communal and national harmony and cooperation, is still having to deal with violent outbreaks ie attacks on former regime leaders businesses and properties, communal violence in the south, and continued resistance by former regime supporters still occupying administrative post in Oromia and Afar.
Dr. Abiy is promising a future, and outlining inspiring plans on how to achieve it beginning with peace with his neighbors and the end to communal strife in Ethiopia. He speaks directly to the hearts and minds of all Ethiopians in a way almost religious, addressing the importance of loving oneself and ones neighbors instead of relying on the gun to define society. Now I am not a romantic or religious but his words strike a cord with all people of good heart and gives one
hope that here in one of the most strife torn, famine wracked places on the planet there is hope.
Of course it takes unity and hard work, something Dr. Abiy uses Eritrea and Eritreans as role models for the Ethiopian people, going so far as to only half jokingly declare himself Eritrea's unofficial foreign minister the better to fight the lies being spread about our country.
Eritrean President Issias Aferworki has visited Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa and sealed the deal so to speak, demonstrating to the Ethiopian people his and our entire country's sincere desire for peace and friendship between both of us, all to similar and all too different.
As Dr. Abiy continues his path of independence and close relations with Eritrea expect to see a growing wave of criticism, maybe even demonization, once his "honeymoon" period with the western media goes stale and the anti socialist zealots in the west raise a hue and cry alleging "lack of democratic process" and alleged "human rights abuses".
Towards the end of his speech at the unity music concert in Addis Ababa on Sunday, July 15, Dr. Abiy, in addressing the problems facing the country told his listeners, almost entirely under 30, not to worry, "Issias is leading us" as in Eritrean President Issias Aferwerki.
It hasn't taken long for the cat to get out of the bag so to speak and the influence of "wedi Afom" as Dr. Abiy calls Issias, is now a matter of public record. Maybe we should be calling Ethiopia's peaceful revolution a "Soft Coup" by Eritrea.
Thomas C. Mountain is an independent journalist in Eritrea, living and reporting from here since 2006. See thomascmountain on Facebook or best contact him at thomascmountain at g mail dot com