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November 1, 2019 12:00AM EDT
ISIS Suspect Transfers to Iraq Replete with Risks
Published in: Just Security
Belkis Wille
Associate Director, Crisis and Conflict Division
belkiswille
Men, suspected of being affiliated with the Islamic State, gather in a prison cell in the northeastern Syrian city of Hasakeh on October 26, 2019. © Fadel Senna/AFP/Getty Images
The death of the Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi comes two years after ISIS lost most of its Iraq territory and less than a year after the last major battles against ISIS in Syria. While al-Baghdadi's death means that his victims will never get to see him answer for the crimes he is accused of in a court of law, thousands of ISIS suspects remain detained in prisons in Iraq and Syria. These detainees, despite their often-prolonged arbitrary detention, have yet to be criminally investigated for the specific crimes they may have committed and prosecuted.
In northeast Syria, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) hold about 12,000 men and boys suspected of ISIS affiliation, according to the SDF, including 2,000 to 4,000 foreigners from almost 50 different countries, in overcrowded prisons. The group also holds about 100,000 Syrian and foreign women and children who are family members of ISIS suspects — some of them perhaps ISIS members themselves – in squalid camps. The Kurdish-led coalition has repeatedly appealed to countries to repatriate their nationals. When most countries balked, Kurdish authorities earlier this year called for an international tribunal to bring ISIS suspects in their custody to trial. The proposal raised a number of legal, political, and practical difficulties, and was never taken up in earnest.
Despite various international meetings to consider the most feasible justice options following the appeal for a tribunal, discussions have seemingly been put on pause since Turkey began its military operations in northeast Syria on October 9. Behind the scenes, however, some European States, including Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, appear to be fast-tracking negotiations with authorities in Baghdad that would see Kurdish-led forces transfer thousands of foreign ISIS suspects from northeast Syria to Iraq to face prosecution there for their links to the group. Iraq has already prosecuted a small number of foreign ISIS suspects who were captured there, and smaller numbers of foreigners already transferred from northeast Syria to Iraq in 2018 and early 2019.
Adding a level of complexity is the current political situation in Iraq, where thousands of protesters across central and south Iraq are calling for the prime minister and his cabinet to resign. Indeed, there is no guarantee that any deal brokered with Iraq's current administration will be respected by a future one.
European courts are more capable of holding credible trials that meet international standards than Iraq's courts. But those governments have no desire to make the deeply unpopular decision of repatriating ISIS suspects and their families, highlighting security concerns, the difficulty in confirming identities and obtaining evidence for successful criminal prosecutions. Officials in five Western European capitals told me in early October that none of them are considering bringing home their nationals that are ISIS suspects. As one put it candidly, "It would be political suicide."
Most European countries say they are only willing to consider repatriating children. Western European countries, as well as Australia and Canada, have mostly focused on bringing home only small numbers of orphans, fearing that if they bring home children of living parents, their own courts might compel them to repatriate their mothers.
While it's understandable that Western governments are mindful of the potential security risks associated with repatriating ISIS suspects and their family members, many countries, particularly in Central Asia, have brought home their nationals from northeast Syria and Iraq by the planeload. Kazakhstan alone has airlifted 524 citizens from northeast Syria, most of them children but also men and women, for rehabilitation and, in some cases, prosecution. Clearly, the treatment of these returnees should be closely monitored to ensure they are not abused.
These airlifts undercut arguments of some Western European governments that repatriations are logistically impossible. And all of the dozens of Western European detainees Human Rights Watch interviewed in camps in northeast Syria said they wanted to go home even if it meant serving prison time for links to ISIS.
The reality is that the thousands of foreigners pose a grave security concern by being held in profoundly degrading and, in many cases, inhumane conditions in an increasingly unstable region. Just since the beginning of Turkey's assault, over 100 ISIS suspects and several hundred of their family members have reportedly escaped amid Turkish air raids and the SDF's diversion of forces from prisons and camps to fight Turkish forces. Some ISIS escapees could regroup and plan attacks, and dire conditions in prisons and camps risk further radicalization.
Our research has documented that Iraq's ISIS proceedings are inherently unfair and replete with due process violations, with suspects, including Western nationals, facing a real risk of torture in custody. Iraqi authorities are charging all ISIS suspects under Iraq's counterterrorism law that authorizes death sentences and life in prison solely for ISIS membership. Many trials proceed solely based on a confession. Because the law does not require the prosecution to charge suspects with specific violent crimes, it does not need to involve victims and witnesses in the proceedings. So, Iraqi proceedings, in addition to being unjust, deprive ISIS victims of a meaningful day in court.
Despite these well-documented concerns, reports have emerged that some foreign ISIS suspects might have already been transferred to Iraq in the leadup to the Turkish military offensive.
Diplomats close to the discussion told me that European officials have outlined three preconditions to greenlight transfers to Iraq. First, they insist on removing the death penalty, an absolute red line for States that are party to the European Convention on Human Rights. For some States, this means Iraq could not sentence the nationals of these States to death; for others, I am told, an assurance that a death sentence would not be carried out is enough.
Their other preconditions are that proceedings meet international fair trial standards, and that they can maintain regular consular access to their nationals. The Iraqis have made their own demands on the Europeans, including payment for the proceedings, and, a senior Iraqi judge with knowledge of the discussions told me, a commitment that the states would not criticize the proceedings once underway.
Every Iraqi government official I have spoken to about the death penalty has said that suspending the death penalty is not an option. Human Rights Watch opposes the death penalty in all countries and under all circumstances, as a practice unique in its cruelty and finality. In Iraq, where the trials of ISIS suspects fail to meet even the most basic markers of due process, its application is particularly troubling. However, many Iraqis would find it galling if foreign ISIS suspects, including those reportedly most responsible for orchestrating ISIS's horrific killings and sexual slavery, were exempted from the death sentence — in contrast to the Mosul doctor who, because he continued to work once ISIS took the city and provided treatment to all patients including ISIS members, has been sentenced to death.
The much more difficult hurdles to overcome are ensuring ISIS suspects get fair proceedings with access to a proper defense and the ability to challenge the legality of their detention. There must be a presumption of innocence, a real examination of evidence, victim participation, and no risk of torture at the hands of interrogators trying to extract a confession. To be clear, many of these legal protections are embedded in Iraqi law but are not respected in practice. International standards also require special treatment of children, with a priority on their rehabilitation and community reintegration.
The trials of 11 French suspects in Iraq in May highlighted these concerns not only for foreign suspects but for Iraqis as well. In our 2017 report on criminal proceedings against ISIS suspects in Iraq, we included six pages of recommendations that would go a certain way toward improving proceedings. They include trial monitoring, mechanisms to prevent torture, and setting up broadcast and transport networks to facilitate victims' access to the courts. As far as I can tell, none of the States with nationals at risk of transfer to Iraq chose to support Iraq in carrying out those or similar recommendations over the last two years.
It is hard to imagine, in the current race against time, how European States could support the establishment of necessary programs and monitoring systems to address the multitude of gaps in Iraq's judicial proceedings. But as long as they are adamant that they want to transfer their nationals to Iraq, they have no other choice.
In an alarming twist, in mid-October, several European government officials told me that a new alternative had emerged for several European States: leaving their nationals in northeast Syria, to ultimately be picked up by Syrian authorities who may retake control over the territory where they are being held. Of all the options on the table, this is one of the worst. As Human Rights Watch has documented, the prisons controlled by the Syrian government are notorious for mass deaths and torture. Syrian authorities have arbitrarily arrested, tortured and disappeared tens of thousands, many whose fate remains unknown.
While the ideal solution would be to ensure that the systems that currently hold all ISIS suspects, respect the basic tenets of humanity regardless of nationality, in the short term and given the urgency of the situation, countries that uphold rule of law should swiftly do all they can to bring their own citizens home. Once back, suspects and family members can be investigated and, if appropriate, monitored or prosecuted in line with international human rights standards.
Middle East/North Africa
Detention Centers
September 4, 2019 News Release
Iraq: Camps Expel Over 2,000 People Seen As ISIS-Linked
July 23, 2019 Report
Syria: Dire Conditions for ISIS Suspects' Families
June 29, 2020 Report
"Bring Me Back to Canada"
Plight of Canadians Held in Northeast Syria for Alleged ISIS Links


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(1) Pronounced "Air-RA-ka ROW-thor-OWN-du"
(2) Pronounced "Ma-OTT"
About Eraka Rouzorondu...
Eraka Rouzorondu (1) is a nationally acclaimed educator, poet, producer, director, performance artist and author. For nearly 30 years Eraka has addressed audiences of 5 to 5,000 for clients such as the Smithsonian Institution, organizations such as the Association of Black Psychologists, and corporations such as Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics. She has lectured at colleges and universities from Penn State to UCLA and has keynoted at several national conventions.
Eraka is CEO of Ma'at Enterprises (2), a comprehensive empowerment conglomerate with four subsidiaries: Progressive Human, Being for personal empowerment; E3 Professional Solutions for professional empowerment; ASCENSION PRODUCTIONS for cultural empowerment; and Vibrations Rising for spiritual empowerment. Each subsidiary applies the core principles of Eraka's work to fulfill its mission – principles rooted in Egyptian philosophy, informed by history's greatest thinkers, interpreted for modern-day relevance, and delivered with Eraka's unique and dynamic presentation style.
Eraka's first book was a poetry volume entitled "Path to Power: The Making of a New Afrikan," re-released as a second edition in 2015. Her poetry and prose have won the Geraldine Krusei Award for Excellence from the New York chapter of the National League of American Pen Women, and the Young Artist of Excellence Award from the national body of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Eraka's latest publications include "Answers: A Philosophical Foundation for an Empowered Life," which is a "how-to" personal empowerment manual; and "When Loving God is Not Enough," a workbook for expanding one's spiritual empowerment beyond their chosen religious faith.
Eraka hails from Queens, New York, where she was an inaugural middle-school student in the Queens Association for Exceptionally Gifted Children. A theatre graduate of the New York High School of the Performing Arts, Eraka enrolled at Howard University on a National Competitive Scholarship, where she majored in Communications, bore the crowns of Miss New York and Miss School of Communications, and pledged Alpha Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. After graduating, Eraka held several executive-level positions with institutions of higher education and with national and Washington, DC-area non-profits.
Eraka founded her first empowerment organization, ASCENSION PRODUCTIONS, in 1986, and has never looked back. She has consistently served her organizational, corporate and individual clients with courage, commitment and integrity, and now expands that service exponentially through Ma'at Enterprises.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Wheel of Fortune Is Coming to Faneuil Hall in Search of Contestants
The Wheelmobile will host auditions for local letter-guessing extraordinaries.
By Madeline Bilis·	 9/23/2016, 10:46 a.m.
Keep your weekends full of the coolest things to do around Boston with our weekly Weekender newsletter.
Photo courtesy of Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Attention all Wheel watchers: it's time to take your puzzle-solving skills from the couch to the Wheelmobile.
Wheel of Fortune's 36-foot Winnebago is rolling into Boston in search of its next batch of contestants. The bright yellow RV that tours the country will make a stop in Faneuil Hall on October 8 and 9. There, fans can fill out an application, enter to play a round of Wheel of Fortune on stage, and win prizes. Lucky players will be evaluated as a potential contestant for the television show.
According to a release, the majority of contestants who appear on Wheel of Fortune attend Wheelmobile events in their hometowns—more than one million Wheel watchers have checked in at the famed game show on wheels. Since the Wheelmobile hit the road in 1999, it's logged more than 350,000 miles, traveling to more than 300 cities across the nation.
During the weekend Faneuil Hall visit, contestant searches will be held at noontime, 1:30 p.m., and 3 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Everyone who shows up will be able to submit an application, but players who'd like to compete on stage and audition for the show will be chosen in a random draw.
Unfortunately, neither Pat Sajak nor Vanna White will be around to direct any wheel spinning or letter revealing.
The Wheelmobile will be parked between Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market on Saturday, October 8 and Sunday, October 9. See faneuilhallmarketplace.com for more information.
The Best Holiday Light Displays in Boston and Beyond
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10 Boston-Area Holiday Craft Fairs for All of Your Gift Giving Needs
Places to Volunteer in Boston
Everything You've Read About The Winklevoss Twins Is Wrong
Your Guide to the Most Romantic Valentine's Day in Boston
First Look: Imagine van Gogh at the SoWa Power Station
Two Immersive Van Gogh Exhibitions Are Coming to Boston
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Pistol-9mm
Single-Stack Carry Pistols from Springfield, Smith, & SIG Sauer
January 2020 - Gun Tests Magazine - Subscribers Only
We put four smaller 9mm pistols through rigorous side-by-side testing and grading. What would our shooters find out about the XDE and Hellcat pistols, the Shield M2.0, and the much-ballyhooed P365XL?
Competition-Ready 9mms from Springfield, Walther, and Arex
November 2019 - Gun Tests Magazine
All three handguns offer great accuracy, good triggers, and manageable recoil. Choosing between them will be the customer's task because each one has positives suitable for different games.
Slim-Line 9mm Contest: Ruger, Beretta, and Bond Arms
October 2019 - Gun Tests Magazine - Subscribers Only
The brand-new Bond Arms Bullpup handgun design takes on two veterans of the carry wars, the APX Carry from Beretta and a spiffed-up LC9s from Ruger. We found two really good compact choices.
VALUE GUIDE: 9MM HANDGUN RANKINGS
June 2019 - Gun Tests Magazine - Subscribers Only
VALUE GUIDE: RECENT 9MM HANDGUN RANKINGS
GUN NAME
Springfield XD(M) 4.5 XDMT9459FDEHCE TB 9mm, $505
Our Pick as a personal-defense, home-
defense, and tactical pistol.
Glock G34 Gen5 MOS PA3430103MOS 9mm, $710
The Gen5 guns are the best yet, with superior accuracy and features over earlier Glocks.
CZ-USA CZ P0-9 91620
9mm Luger, $402
Best Buy. CZ has managed to pack a lot of value into the P0-9. 19-round magazine. …
9mm Slimline Pistol Shootout: New Glocks & Mossberg Vie
June 2019 - Gun Tests Magazine
The growth of the concealable 9mm Luger handgun market continues to grow apace, with seemingly dozens of new models being introduced every year from makers all over the world. This suggests a vital and interested market because manufacturers wouldn't be building guns for people who wouldn't buy them. That includes Gun Tests readers, of course, who are always on the lookout for a better mousetrap. Here, we look at three new models from two manufacturers, Glock and Mossberg. Yep, you read that right. The well-known shotgun and rifle maker is dipping a toe into the sidearm market as well — and why not? Perhaps Mossberg has studied the pistol market long and hard and found holes in the function and form of the existing selections. Our range testing would find out.
Big 9mm Shootout: Glock, CZ, FN, and Springfield Compete
April 2019 - Gun Tests Magazine - Subscribers Only
Handguns are designed to give the user a certain amount of useful power in a portable configuration. For home defense, the limits on "portable" are less restrictive than those for concealed carry under covering garments. Weight is a big issue for carry, but length competes with mass as the dimension that causes the biggest pain in the back. But for performance, length is helpful when it allows for a longer barrel that will make for greater velocity and energy, and up top, a longer slight radius on the slide generally improves accuracy. Also, a longer front end tends to dampen sight movement during recoil, important when chambering a more powerful cartridge such as the 357 SIG. As such, a certain class of handguns — long barrel/long slide models — answer a lot of needs for home-defense shooters, and for the right people, could even be carried. In this report, we looked hard at four 9mm Luger pistols that are among the longest offerings in their respective stables, they were:
the CZ-USA CZ P0-9 91620 at 8.1 inches in overall length;
the FNH FNS-9L Longslide 66725 at 8.25 inches OAL;
the Glock G34 Gen5 MOS PA3430103MOS at 8.74 inches OAL;
and the Springfield XD(M) 4.5 XD(M)T9459FDEHCE Threaded Barrel, whose 5.3-inch-long barrel contributes to its 8.3-inch OAL.
The CZ P0-9 is a longer version of the CZ P0-7, yet in this group, the barrel is the shortest of the test at 4.54 inches, or 0.79 inch longer than the CZ P0-7's. This pistol also features an elongated grip that holds 19 rounds in the magazine versus 15 for the P0-7. An important difference between this pistol and the smaller P0-7 is that the P0-9 is supplied with interchangeable backstraps. To put it in scale, the well-known CZ 75 B is also 8.1 inches long, but the 75 B is 0.4 inches shorter than the P0-9 and holds three fewer rounds in its magazines. Interestingly, the pistol retails for an average $100 less than the smaller P0-7. This product from Ceská zbrojovka Uhersk Brod is a polymer-framed pistol, but unlike the others tested, the P0-9 is hammer fired. We expected the CZ pistol to handle differently from the striker-fired guns, and it did.
FN America pitches the FNS-9 Longslide as a competition gun (as does Glock for its G34), saying the Longslide has been "tested in every type of major shooting event, from high-speed IPSC/USPSA and grueling 3-gun matches to precision bull's-eye and actions events like the NRA Bianchi Cup." Okay, none of that scares us if we're looking for a dependable, easy-to-shoot self-defense handgun.
The Glock G34 Gen5 is likewise designated as a competition pistol, but it's not Glock's largest 9mm by quite a bit. The G17L Long Slide gets that honor with a 6.02-inch-long barrel and an OAL of 9.53 inches.
Oddly, Springfield's XD(M) 4.5 TB (now discontinued in the two-tone color scheme) is longer than what the company designates as a competition handgun, the 5.25-inch-barrel XD(M)95259BHCE Competition Series 9mm. Despite its nomenclature, the threaded-barrel XD(M) version we test here has a 5.3-inch-long barrel to accommodate the threads and is 0.05 inch longer overall than the 5.25 Model, according to company specs.
Here's what we found out about these longer-than-average handguns.
9mm Striker Gun Shoot-out: Beretta, Glock, and SIG Sauer
To replace the Beretta M9A1 (M9) and later variants in military service, the U.S. Army tested several handguns and chose the SIG P320, which is designated as the M17 in military service. The Glock 19X was also a participant in the military trials. While not chosen by the military, the full-size-grip short-slide Glock has enjoyed commercial success. The new Glock 45 is a direct result of Glock's experience in the military trials and also a result of criticism of the 19X. A third handgun, Beretta's APX, was also not adopted, and like the M17, is a modular design. We elected to test these three striker-fired polymer handguns head to head to determine which might be the best choice for concealed carry and personal defense for civilians. To add some historical texture, we also shot these firearms side by side with a full-size Beretta 92, or the M9 in its military appellation. The Beretta won't carry as easily as the APX and Glock, but it's comparable to the P320-M17 in size. If we're looking at them as home-defense guns, then size is less of an issue.
As we collected data and choose firearms for inclusion in these shoot-outs, we met old-line shooters and even young shooters who feel that the polymer-frame striker-fired market is crowded, and these handguns are much the same. Nothing could be further from the truth. Beretta, CZ, HK, SIG, Smith & Wesson, and Glock offer different features and different fits and feel for their products. Those who have not tested the pistols extensively and who have not taken time to compare features may feel these pistols are cut from the same cloth, but by assuming that, those shooters abrogate a lot of responsibility in choosing the handgun that suits them best.
9mm Slim Line Compact Pistol Shoot-out: Five Go Head To Head
Close in importance to the most basic needs - food, water, and shelter - is the ability to protect yourself from threats. Concealable, compact, and powerful handguns give us peace of mind in a dangerous world. There is no doubt there are more effective cartridges than the 9mm Luger, but the 9mm is far more powerful than any 32 ACP or 380 Auto cartridge, and it holds more rounds than a compact 38 Special revolver. The 9mm is a powerful cartridge with good performance that will get the job done, given adequate shot placement. A compact handgun with good sights, a decent trigger, and ergonomic controls is a stalwart companion in difficult times. So we tested a quintet side by side to get an idea about what we would buy, then relay those impressions to Gun Tests readers. The pistols tested are unique in many ways, but they share a few common features. Takedown, trigger action, and slide-lock designs differ. Each may fit your needs more than the others, but there are a couple at the top of the heap. Our test handguns chambered in 9mm Luger were the following.
Problems with SIG's P320
September 2018 - Gun Tests Magazine
We recently published a news item that updates our readers on legal troubles the SIG Sauer P320 is encountering. Most recently, the Loudoun Times-Mirror website is reporting that a Loudoun County (Virginia) deputy has filed a lawsuit against SIG Sauer alleging that her fully-holstered P320 duty weapon discharged and sent a bullet into her leg. According to the newspaper's account, the incident occurred this year on Feb. 7, "… when 37-year-old Loudoun County Deputy Marcie Vadnais went to the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy to attend a general instructor course." The Times-Mirror further reported, "In accordance with academy policy, Deputy Vadnais began removing her firearm from her belt when she arrived." According to the lawsuit, as she fed the belt through the holster's first tooth, her SIG Sauer P320 somehow "fired one nine millimeter bullet, which hit her in the upper right thigh."
Log on to Gun-Tests.com to read complete reviews of these products in the designated months. Highly-ranked products from older reviews are often available used at substantial discounts.
Personal-Defense 9mm Handgun Shoot Out: Smith's M2.0 Wins
The most popular concealed-carry and home-defense handgun in America is likely the 9mm self loader. There are service grade and service-size pistols, compacts, and subcompacts available in this chambering, which has gained popularity because of improved bullet function. In this installment, we are firing purpose-designed compact handguns that are derived from service-size handguns. When the Glock 19X was introduced, with its Glock 17 grip and Glock 19 slide, our shooters knew it would be a hot new gun to test, but we did not quite know what to match against it. The editor dubbed it a Commander-size Glock 9mm, so we found a 9mm 1911 Commander to brace against it — the Ruger SR1911 Commander. The SR1911 Commander is, after all, a full-size Government Model pistol with the slide shortened three-quarters of an inch. The Glock 19X is a Glock 17 with a short slide and full-size grip. Bingo.
European compacts generally have both the slide and the butt shortened. One example is the SIG P225A, a short version of the SIG P220 9mm handgun. Today, SIG offers an updated and revamped P225-A1. We added this double-action-first-shot pistol as a counterpoint to the double-action-only and single-action pistols tested. Next, we added a true compact with both a short slide and short frame, the Smith & Wesson M&P9 Compact M2.0. It seemed fitting to match the M2.0 M&P9 against the Glock 19X Gen5 gun.
Service-Sized 9mm Handguns Shoot It Out for Carry Honors
February 2018 - Gun Tests Magazine - Subscribers Only
We recently tested a quartet of 9mm-chambered full-size firearms suitable for daily carry: the Lipsey's Glock 17RTF2 Vickers FDE based on the Glock 17, a Beretta 92FS with Wilson Combat upgrades, an Arex Rex Zero 1 Standard, and a CZ-USA CZ P-10 C. Each one could be thrown into any mix of handguns and do well. But there are specific differences that will make one pistol or another preferable for an individual, and that is what this shoot out is all about.
Full-size 9mm handguns have an impressive reserve of ammunition, they handle recoil well, and offer real power with +P loads. For home defense, a 14- to 18-shot 9mm handgun is effective, perhaps the best all-round home-defense handgun for a trained shooter. In this test, each pistol is an example of a popular carry gun as well, with many shooters concealing a Glock 17 or even a Beretta 92FS for daily carry. Here, all had faultless reliability, which is a prerequisite for a defense firearm in our testing. We also learned the Lipsey's/Vickers Glock gave excellent results on the combat course, and the Wilson Combat-upgraded Beretta aced the field in accuracy. We trust these pistols, but only one was the best performer overall for our shooters. For certain preferences and duties, each has advantages, which we note in detail below.
All handguns tested for personal defense must be proven on the firing range. We tested two examples of upgraded service pistols. A special-run RTF texture Glock 17 from distributor Lipsey's has a Vickers Tactical package added to it, with components suggested by or supplied by well-known trainer Larry Vickers. Likewise, we tested a Beretta 92FS updated with Wilson Combat parts. The results for both are better range performance, especially when performing rapid magazine changes because each package features a magazine guide and magazine base pads.
We matched the Glock and Beretta against the new CZ P-10 C, a polymer-frame striker-fired pistol, and the Arex Rex Zero 1 Standard, which is considered by some to be an improvement over the SIG P226 9mm handgun. We had a mix of two double-action-only polymer-frame striker-fired pistols, a double-action-first-shot pistol with a decocker, and a selective-double-action pistol with decocker.
In the end, the Glock's highly advanced sights provided excellent results on the combat course. Perhaps the RTF frame was another plus. The Beretta 92 provided exceptional accuracy, which we felt was due to the improved trigger action. The CZ is an affordable and reliable handgun, and the Rex Zero is a good example of European craftsmanship. All in, it was hard to isolate a winner among these top-flight handguns with good performance. We think that most shooters will find the Glock 17 to be the best overall handgun for personal defense and home defense. Just the same, the CZ P-10 C is a good buy. Those seeking top-flight accuracy will find the Beretta to be a good fit. The Rex Zero has a quirk we did not like regarding reach to the magazine release, but the Arex is a good performer for some shooters, outperforming the Beretta in combat shooting. As usual, the devil is in the details, so here we go.
Size 9mm Striker-Fires From Ruger, S&W, Springfield
December 2017 - Gun Tests Magazine - Subscribers Only
We live in a polymer-frame, striker-fire, double-stack world. At first glance, most of these types of pistols seem to offer the same features, so what separates these pistols aside from price point and manufacturer? A lot, we found out. We chose three recently introduced 9mm models for testing. The first was the Ruger American Pro Duty, which is Ruger's new full-size striker-fire pistol with a modular grip. The second was the next evolution of the Springfield Armory XD series, the XD MOD.2 4-Inch Service, which wears SA's GripZone texture in the grip. We previously tested the compact XD MOD.2 3.3-inch models in both 9mm and 45 ACP and gave them an A rating. The third 9mm striker fire was the new M&P9 M2.0 from Smith & Wesson. We tested S&W's first generation of M&P9 models and found they rated from A to B+, depending on the model. All three pistols are striker-firers, use a polymer receiver/frame, are chambered in 9mm, have double-stack magazines, and are full-size pistols.
For range testing, we used a combination of hollow-point and full-metal-jacket bullets in different bullet weights. Our four test loads consisted of Hornady American Gunner, loaded with a 115-grain XTP bullet, a SIG Sauer 115-grain full-metal-jacket (FMJ) bullet, Liberty Ammunition Civil Defense's 50-grain hollow-point bullet, and Aguila's 124-grain FMJ load. We tested accuracy at 25 yards using a rest, then moved the target to 15 yards for speed shooting and reload manipulations. We were paying close attention to accuracy, ease of use, reliability and consistency. As the brass cooled, here's what we learned.
Micro 9mm Pistols From Kimber, Springfield Armory, and SIG
We've received emails specifically requesting we review the Kimber Micro 9 and SIG P938. Readers wrote that they "like the idea of guns made out of actual metal that operate in a very similar manner to a M1911." So we obliged and assembled a pair of 1911 micro-9mm pistols, a Kimber Micro 9 Desert Tan (LG) with laser grip and a SIG Emperor Scorpion P938. We also added to the mix a new polymer-frame 9mm with a DA/SA trigger, the Springfield Armory XD-E. It is not a 1911 platform at all, but the XD-E is a pistol in the same size class as the Kimber and SIG. All are chambered in 9mm Luger, have barrels that measure from 3- to 3.3-inches in length, employ single-stack magazines, and are designed for concealed carry.
For speed testing, we performed the Bill Drill at 7 yards firing a magazine as fast as we could while still keeping hits in an 8-inch circle. The intent with this drill is to improve speed without eroding accuracy. It also helps us run the pistol dry, check for slide lock back, perform numerous magazine changes, and repeatedly use the slide release as well as test rapid sight alignment and trigger press. We start at the low ready position. All three pistols performed reliably and consistently.
The micro 1911s look similar to a 1911 pistol, but the operating systems are quite different. The Kimber and SIG 1911s are scaled down for conceal carry and have 1911 design elements such as the controls, single-action triggers, and grip angle to create a true back-up-sized 1911. If you are familiar with a 1911, then the transition to one of these micro 1911s will be seamless. The thumb safety, slide release, and magazine release are just like those in the 1911 design. These mini 9mm pistols disassemble with ease, so maintenance is not a chore. We found we liked the mini 1911s in 9mm, and the vote was evenly split between the SIG and Kimber.
The XD-E is an entirely new beast that one tester said looks like a DA/SA trigger mechanism placed in an XD-S receiver mated to a MOD.2 slide. Maybe that's how it got drawn on a cocktail napkin? Who knows. Our team thought the XD-E needed a few tweaks, though it proved to be a capable shooter. Here are the details on all three.
Compact 9mms from Glock, Honor Defense, S&W, Walther
September 2017 - Gun Tests Magazine - Subscribers Only
Our retailer friends tell us that the most popular carry gun in America is the compact 9mm self-loading pistol with a single-column magazine. These handguns are handy, concealable, and powerful enough for personal defense. They deliver acceptable ballistics without harsh recoil and are affordable. Most are based on service-size handguns. The engineering in downsizing the pistols has been faultless in many, but not all, renditions, so everyone wants to know if Compact Pistol "A" is as reliable for practical use as any full-size pistol. And if Compact Pistol "A" is that reliable, it makes it easier to narrow down the many choices to the best choice for you. We get a lot of questions about such handguns, and this lineup includes four handguns readers have asked us to test.
The Smith & Wesson and the Glock are based on service guns, while the Honor Defense Honor Guard and Walther PPS are purpose-designed compacts with no service-sized big brother.
When we first tested the Glock 43 Subcompact Slimline G43 two years ago (August 2015), it earned a B+ in our evaluation when it was paired with the Walther CCP head to head. In that evaluation, we noticed that the slide was narrow and nicely beveled. Glock did not simply stick a Glock 19 slide on a slim frame. The locked-breech operating system and trigger action are preserved. Anyone owning a Glock of any size or frame will be able to use this handgun in the same manner because the action is identical to all other Glock pistols. The sights were standard Glock, with a white outline rear and white dot forward, the same as the test gun this round. They proved adequate for combat firing and were reasonably good for accuracy work at 15 yards. We also noted then that there is a shelf under the slide on the frame that protects the slide lock from a finger contacting the slide lock during recoil. It is common for the support-hand thumb to bump the slide lock and lock the slide to the rear when firing a hard-kicking compact. The shelf seems to eliminate this problem, then and now. Also, the Glock frame does not incorporate a light rail for a combat light.
In both guns, the Glocks featured a spring-within-a-spring guide rod that we feel does an excellent job of containing recoil. Once on target, however, the Glock was handicapped by a 6.75-pound trigger pull. This time around, the G43's pull was more than a pound lighter. Two years ago, we also noted that due to its polygonal rifling, you should rule out lead-bullet handloads.
In November 2016, we looked at a specialized version of the gun, a Glock G43 Limited Edition ProGlo TALO Edition UI4350501. TALO is a wholesale buying cooperative that creates special edition firearms, which have to be ordered from a local dealer. On this Glock 43, the pistol's slide was standard save for the sights, which were made by AmeriGlo and featured a brilliant orange post around a white-insert tritium front. The rear sight featured a U-notch for rapid target engagement, and the rear face of the rear sight was serrated to reduce glare. Even with these upgrades, we gave the Glock a B grade.
Our only time to have tested an S&W M&P9 Shield 9mm Luger was in the March 2013 issue, so this update is overdue for a handgun that so many people seem to like. Four years ago, we called it a pleasant, compact, slim, nicely made handgun. Then, as now, we said it was easy enough to get it into a pocket of reasonable dimensions. There was nothing sticking out of the Shield to get caught on clothing. The magazines were easy to get out and back into the gun. They had a somewhat staggered design that made them more compact for their capacity. The gun was matte black with semi-slick pebbly inserts on front and rear of the grip straps.
The Shield had an external safety on its left side. The sights were excellent, dovetailed into the slide, and tritium is an option. The rear was secured with a screw so you could adjust the windage. The front was held solely by friction in the dovetail. The trigger pull was heavy and consistent at about 7.5 pounds, and the trigger rebound was short.
Takedown required locking the slide back and applying manly force to the takedown lever to rotate it 90 degrees. Then the slide could be let down to its normal position, the trigger pulled, and the slide comes off the front. Removing the captive double recoil spring was extremely easy. There's no danger of parts flying across the room, or losing an eye when you put it all back together. We noted a significant fillet on the hook of the S&W's extractor. It also had a slight pocket to help catch the incoming rounds as they feed from mag to chamber. The striker-locking safety plunger inside the slide is cammed upward by the trigger arm, which actively forces the plunger out of the way.
Surplus 9mm Pistols From Star and Beretta: Worth the Cash?
August 2017 - Gun Tests Magazine - Subscribers Only
The idea of what constitutes a "surplus firearm" has different meanings depending where you are in the world. Surplus firearms in the U.S. means extra on hand or dated equipment. In other countries, it could mean one step away from scrap metal. We try to avoid the latter, but we are always on the lookout for a diamond in the rough, and thought we'd look at a few surplus 9mm Luger and 9mm Kurz (380 Auto) pistols. We wanted to look at these pistols through the lens of an inexpensive pistol that would be suited as a sand pit plinker, but in a pinch, it perhaps could be called on to defend the ranch. The problem with older surplus pistols is the lack or scarcity of spare parts, including magazines. By definition, all surplus weapons have been used, and some used more than others.
We chose four pistols that are fairly common and easy to find online to go bargain hunting: Two are Berettas, a Model 92S and Model 85F, made in Italy by P. Beretta S.P.A., and two are Star pistols, made in Spain by Star Bonifacio Echeverria, S.A., a Model Super B and Model B. The Star Model Super B looks like it is ready for the scrap yard and the older Model B looked well used, but as we found out, both still had some teeth. The Beretta 92S is a second-generation 92, which evolved into the 92FS. The 92S is a lot more of a European gun than the 92FS, which definitely has US influence. The Beretta 85F is a smaller version of the 92FS and is the most modern of the pistols tested.
In past issues we have tested some old-school combat pistols and found them lacking, which makes sense. A horse worked a century and a half ago; but now we (can) drive Hummers. Accordingly, we had to make some accommodations for these guns' age. Since these are older pistols, we did not test with proofing loads or +P+ loads. These pistols were not designed for that type of high-pressure ammunition, and we had no desire to taste Italian or Spanish steel. Not that we are implying these are substandard pistols. These pistols are safe when used with ammunition originally intended for them. What we did want to find out was if different bullets types would impact performance. For instance, the Star pistols were manufactured before hollow-point bullets were popular, and we figured they might choke on hollow-point ammunition. We also wanted to see if different bullet weights would cause a stovepipe jam or failure to eject. We used off-the-shelf 9mm Luger ammo consisting of Hornady American Gunner with 115-grain XTP jacketed hollow points ($47/75 rounds), Aguila 124-grain FMJs ($17/50), and SIG Sauer 115-grain FMJ ($18/50). We found all three ammo types cycled flawlessly through the pistols with no issues. In the Beretta 85F, we fired 91-grain FMJs from Tula, 90-grain Speer Gold Dot hollow points, and Hornady Critical Defense 90-grain XTPs, which feature a hollow-point bullet with a polymer insert to facilitate expansion.
For accuracy testing, we placed the pistols on a bench rest to fire at targets set at 25 yards. In speed-firing exercises, we shot at targets at 7 yards, performing both Bill Drills and Mozambique Drills. The object with the Bill Drill is to fire as fast and as accurately as possible to hit an 8-inch zone. The Mozambique requires two fast shots to center of mass and a one to the head. All must be within their zones to be successful. This is what we found out when we exercised these old pistols.
The Return of Remington's R51 Semi-Auto: How Does It Fare?
August 2017 - Gun Tests Magazine
We recently tested four single-stack 9mm Luger defense-oriented handguns, among the most popular carry guns in America. Three were single-action pistols and one was a double-action-only model. The spread in expense was pronounced, from less than $200 to more than $700. As always, when we're evaluating carry pistols, handling and accuracy mean a lot, but reliability is the bottom line, and we start with a pistol that has had a mark beside its name for being unreliable. In the lineup was a pistol taking its second bite at the apple, Remington's R51 96430 9mm Luger, which has undergone a recall and revamp and is now back on dealer shelves. Pitted against it were a SIG Sauer P938 Engraved Rosewood Micro-Compact 938-9-ESR, a Taurus 709 Slim 1-709031FS, and a Kel-Tec PF-9.
All of these handguns have a history with us. Most recently, the R51 did well in its initial test in our pages, but was recalled shortly thereafter. In the August 2014 issue, we said, "The Remington R51 was a handy, comfortable pistol of just the right size for its power. Felt recoil with the hottest ammo was amazingly light, and muzzle flip was almost non-existent. It had an odd takedown procedure that was easily mastered. The gun had enough accuracy for its intended purpose. It worked well, was not too expensive, had a great trigger and great sights, and we really liked the concept.
"Though our FFL advised us that other shooters were having function problems with the R51, our test gun simply did not exhibit those problems. Because we only report what happens in our tests and base our grades on our own experiences, we could not fault the R51 for issues other people were having.
"However, after publication of the August print issue, we learned that the R51 had been recalled by Remington. We adjusted the grade on the R51 to an F and returned our test gun to the factory under the recall program."
Then, late last year, Remington Arms Company announced that the R51 had returned to the market with enhancements that included updated slide internals, precision-engineered extractor, locking snag-free sights, tuned recoil spring, hard-chromed barrel bushing, a single-action trigger, and two semi-flush 7+1 round magazines. At the time of the re-release, Remington said the pistol had been extensively tested. The company again touted the R51's features and benefits, including a lightweight aluminum frame with rounded edges for comfortable conceal carry, a grip safety, low bore axis for reduced recoil/muzzle flip, a concealed carry trigger that was a light, crisp single action, low slide racking-force for ease of manipulation, an ambidextrous magazine release, locking drift-adjustable sights, and optimized grip angle. Our test gun, a full replacement of the original, has a suggested retail price of $448.
The last time we looked at the Kel-Tec PF-9 9mm was in April 2011. Of the PF-9, we said, "All business-like flat black, the blued Kel-Tec PF-9 is slim and easily concealable. It was a bit too big for most trouser pockets, but would fit most overcoat pockets. The fixed sights gave an excellent picture that we thought could be improved by widening the rear notch. There were three white dots. The rear sight was adjustable for windage, and by shimming for elevation. An Allen screw secured it. Both the front and rear sights were polymer, as was the trigger and, of course, most of the frame.
"The integral grips had a coarse checkerboard pattern that provided excellent traction, and the front and rear grip straps had vertical serrations. The magazine release was a steel button that was not easy to hit accidentally, but let the mag come out easily when intentionally pressed. The gun could be fired with the magazine removed.
"In our testing we came to love the trigger of the Kel-Tec. We had no trouble whatsoever with short-stroking the trigger in rapid shooting. In fact, the recoil seemed to blow the gun backwards and our trigger finger forward. We were unaware of the trigger needing to be carefully allowed to go all the way forward. We essentially had no problems at all with the Kel-Tec PF-9. We had one failure for the slide to lock back on empty with the first magazine-full through it, but that never happened again. We think this is one mighty fine 9mm handgun, but it is not for the recoil-sensitive person."
About a year later (March 2012) we test-fired the Taurus 709B Slim No. 1-709031. Back then, we said of the handgun, "We never suffered a failure to ignite or any other type of malfunction, so all shots in our tests were performed using the single-action trigger. From the 10-yard bench, only two groups measured 2 inches wide or larger. Overall average size for all groups fired in our tests computed to about 1.5 inches.
American-Made 9mms: Ruger, Springfield, and Honor Defense
July 2017 - Gun Tests Magazine - Subscribers Only
When it comes to 9mm carry pistols, there are several characteristics that immediately come to mind. Polymer frame, striker fired, wide grips, and high capacity. Recently we found three, or should we say three and a half pistols, that didn't quite fit that description.
The first was Ruger's $579 American Compact model 8633 that featured thumb-operated safeties on both sides.
Next were products from Honor Defense, one of the newer makers on the market. The $499 Honor Guard HG9CLE is a single-stack double-action-only pistol. The LE suffix stands for law enforcement. This gun was a variation on the original Honor Defense pistol, but it lacks a Picatinny accessory rail to favor inside-the-waistband carry for undercover work. Our 3.8-inch-long-barreled Compact LE pistol arrived with a second top end ($250, sold separately) that housed a 3.2-inch-long barrel. The shared receiver boasted unique grip contours, and both top ends utilized the same guide rod and recoil spring.
Third was the $1220 Springfield Armory 1911 EMP 4-inch Conceal Carry Contour pistol, which arrived with three 9-round magazines. The EMP operates with a single-action trigger, and this might have been our first test wherein a single-stack 1911 pistol packed more rounds than its polymer-framed competitors. Its descriptive name referred to the gun's backstrap, which has been sliced diagonally, making the rear of the grip about ¾ of an inch shorter than if it were continued in a straight line to the heel of the magazine well. This made the pistol more concealable, specifically when holstered with a butt forward (or muzzle back) cant.
Our test sessions began and ended on the reactive targets located on Steel Alley at American Shooting Centers in Houston. Accuracy data was collected from a distance of 15 yards with the guns supported by a Caldwell Matrix rest. Our choice of test ammunition consisted of Browning's new 147-grain BXP X-point jacketed hollowpoints and three different rounds from Black Hills Ammunition of Rapid City, South Dakota. They were the 115-grain JHP EXPs that were designed for maximum performance in guns not rated for +P ammunition, a 124-grain JHP +P choice, and a new subsonic round, the 125-grain non-expanding HoneyBadger ammunition. We tracked the velocity of each combination using an Oehler 35P (printing) chronograph.
All three guns were recent releases, so we really didn't know what to expect. As always our goal was to reveal reliability and accuracy as well as handling characteristics. Would we find versatility or would the accuracy of each gun be limited to a single bullet weight? Our job was to deliver to point of aim every time we pulled the trigger. Would any of these guns make that job easier than the others? Here is what we learned.
Compact 9mms: Canik, CZ-USA, and Arex
May 2017 - Gun Tests Magazine
In this issue, we test four compact handguns chambered for the 9mm Luger cartridge, the most popular defensive cartridge, according to sales figures compiled by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The 9mm offers real power in a compact high-pressure cartridge. The handguns that chamber the cartridge are often very reliable, and modern loads have a lot going for them. A service-size pistol is too large for many people to carry concealed and are unwieldy in home-defense situations for others as well. As a result, the ideal 9mm handgun would seem to be a compact version of the service pistol. These are service handguns with a shorter grip and slide that makes the piece easier to carry and for many of us, easier to handle under pressure. But the short slide radius may make precision shooting more difficult.
Some prefer a decocker on their double-action-first-shot handguns, but there is a smaller, but dedicated, group that prefers the selective-double-action type and others perhaps would like to have both. These shooters do not care for the Glock or a double-action-only system and often choose a CZ or SIG-type handgun. We fired off a variety of compact 9mm handguns and came to a conclusion, based on the opinion of our testers, as to which handgun is the best suited for most shooters, with the emphasis on the beginning, but still competent, shooter. Some of the choices are subjective, but the objective components — accuracy and reliability — are most important. If a compact 9mm fits your needs for self defense, one of these handguns will be a good choice, and one will be the best choice, we believe.


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How Native Americans Came to Fight Southwestern Fires
The practice began with the 1933 creation of the Civilian Conservation Corps, and, specifically, its Indian Division.
Hot Shot members from Zuni, NM, continue their fight with smoldering forest fires in Los Alamos
via Wikimedia Commons
The recent rash of wildfires across California has reminded us how vulnerable the driest parts of the country are in the face of climate change. As growing fire disasters strike the west, many of those coming to the rescue are members of the Apache, Hopi, Zuni, and other Native nations. In a 2000 paper, the historian Andrew H. Fisher explained the longstanding involvement of Native Americans in southwestern firefighting.
Before the 1930s, Fisher writes, federal agencies generally focused on recruiting white men for firefighting work. Even the Office of Indian Affairs typically attempted to bring in Anglos, people from logging camps and small towns, to fight fires on reservations. But that changed with the 1933 creation of the Civilian Conservation Corps, and, specifically, its Indian Division. Over the course of a decade, more than 85,000 Native people served in the division, building lookout towers and trails, and helping with firefighting.
Between experience in the Corps and service in World War II, many Native men gained an expertise in working in disciplined groups dealing with dangerous situations. That led to the 1948 creation of the Southwest Forest Fighter program (SWFF), which had an initial core group made up of 24 Mescalero Apaches, most of them war veterans, known as the "Red Hats."
Fisher writes that the Red Hats soon developed a reputation for their skill. The crew quickly expanded and was joined by parallel organizations of Hopi, Zuni, Zia, and other Native firefighters. By 1953, Native southwestern firefighters were answering calls to California, the Pacific Northwest, and Michigan.
For federal agencies, part of the appeal of on-call Native firefighters was—and continues to be—that they're only paid for the assignments they work, and they only need to be called in for emergency situations when fires get particularly bad. For the firefighters, the erratic work makes it impossible to know how much work they'll get each year.
But firefighting work also has its economic appeal. That's partly because employment prospects can be limited on and near reservations, and overtime for firefighting assignments can add up quickly. In addition, many Southwestern Native peoples prefer not to do wage work full time. Farmers, herders, and artisans often take on firefighting as a sidelight that helps them cobble together a budget.
"Fire money even allows people to take time off to participate in tribal ceremonies and other cultural activities, including such traditional pursuits as hunting and gathering," Fisher writes. In addition, there are noneconomic rewards for firefighting, including the opportunity to travel, the sense of purpose, and the excitement and comradery of intense, dangerous missions. To some, it's a way of affirming Native culture as well.
"We are adapted to it," Carlos Yazzie, a Navajo firefighter, said. "It goes back to our traditions of gathering wood and living off the land." As serious fires become a more significant issue across the west, that kind of commitment to firefighting will no doubt become increasingly valuable.
Native AmericanswildfiresThe Journal of Arizona History
WORKING IN THE INDIAN WAY: The Southwest Forest Firefighter Program and Native American Wage Labor
By: Andrew H. Fisher
The Journal of Arizona History, Vol. 41, No. 2 (Summer 2000), pp. 121-148
Scientists Turn to Spotted Owls to Understand Wildfire Patterns
To better understand how the warming climate affects wildfires, Scientists are turning to Spotted Owls that evolved to deal with such disasters.
The African American Patriot, who died in the Boston Massacre, was erased from visual history. Black abolitionists revived his memory.
The Linguistic Anatomy of a Political Firestorm
The prime minister of Australia has a background in marketing, but with the bush fire crisis, his manipulation of language is only getting him so far.
Iran in the Trump Era
President Trump's decision to order the assassination of Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani has backfired in spectacular fashion. Why?
The indigenous Mexica (Aztec) people were overwhelmed by a superior technological force ruthlessly used against them.


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Sasha Maslov for the Wall Street Journal
Artist Shannon Yee prepares Steven Yung, a pediatric critical care doctor at Mount Sinai Hospital, to listen to a recording, part of an art piece that recreates what she experienced as a brain trauma patient.Photo: Sasha Maslov for the Wall Street Journal
Sumathi Reddy
Dressed as a nurse, Shannon Yee welcomes eight of us as we enter a room in the rehabilitation department of Mount Sinai Hospital.
She passes around paperwork and secures a hospital bracelet on each of us. Among our ranks: a pediatric doctor, a physical therapist, a nurse, and an occupational therapist.
She guides each person to a low-lying cot, covered in white sheets like a hospital bed.
"For the next hour you're going to be lying down," she explains, in an "immersive artwork experiencing the first 18 months of my [brain injury]."
Ms. Yee brought her immersive art project to Mount Sinai in New York so hospital staff could experience what it is like to be in the ICU.Photo: Sasha Maslov for the Wall Street Journal
"I would like you to take your shoes off, lie down, pull the blankets up around you and that's it," she says. "I will do the rest."
She comes around and places a sleep mask and headphones on each. There is silence. And then, loud noise.
For 48 minutes we are immersed in the world of Ms. Yee's experience with a rare brain infection that left her critically ill and in the hospital for nine weeks. The experience is meant to give people a sense of what it's like to have a brain injury and be immobilized in an ICU, and the difficult path of rehabilitation.
In what Ms. Yee describes as an audio-based artwork, the voices of doctors and nurses and her partner come in and out from far and near as her own thoughts cycle through. An explosion signals one of two craniotomy surgeries she had. We listen to the sounds of her getting washed by a nurse removing staples from her head, being incessantly picked and prodded with needles, and learning to walk again. By the end, she is home on the road to recovery.
"One, two, three. Take your time removing the eye mask and headphones," she says gently, tapping each person's shoulder.
Hospital staff at Mount Sinai took part in Ms. Yee's project recently.Photo: Sasha Maslov for the Wall Street Journal
A bit foggy and disoriented we reassemble to talk five minutes later.
"Reassembled, Slightly Askew," was borne out of Ms. Yee's experience of getting a sinus infection that caused a subdural empyema, or infection under the skull, at the age of 30. A playwright and producer, she experienced a coma, temporary paralysis of her left side, and extensive rehabilitation.
The 39-year-old now lives in Belfast, Ireland, with her partner and 15-month-old baby. For five years, she and a team of four others researched and produced the artwork. It has been on tour since 2015 in the United Kingdom, Ireland and most recently Canada.
Robert McConnell, who was Ms. Yee's neurosurgeon at Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, says her condition was rare. They see maybe two to three such cases a year, in a population of 1.9 million, he says.
Lisa Spielman, a consulting statistician for the Brain Injury Research Center in Mount Sinai's rehabilitation unit, wore an eye mask and headphones as part of Ms. Yee's work last week.Photo: Sasha Maslov for the Wall Street Journal
Dr. McConnell was consulted on the artwork, as were Ms Yee's head injury nurse and neuropsychologist. All the voices were recorded by actors.
"Often when we see unconscious people or people who are emerging from reduced consciousness it can be very hard to have a perspective of how they're feeling, or even the impact of minor things you say to them," Dr. McConnell says.
The Mount Sinai exhibition is the first in a hospital and in the United States. For two weeks, 160 employees, most from the rehabilitation department, have filtered into the room to experience what many of their patients do.
Ms. Yee hopes to bring the production to other hospitals. Mount Sinai staff are filling out surveys to assess the project's effectiveness to determine if the hospital will bring it back on a larger scale to reach other departments. She received funding from the Wellcome Trust, the big U.K. charity among others. Grants from Mount Sinai funded bringing the work to the hospital.
To achieve the unusual sound effects Ms. Yee worked in a sonic lab at Queen's University Belfast. "It has speakers everywhere so you can send sound 360 degrees and then record it and manipulate it and capture it," Ms. Yee says. The effect is a cacophony of sounds that can sound far away or near, above or below.
Participants lie for almost an hour in Ms. Yee's piece, which she calls 'Reassembled, Slightly Askew.'Photo: Sasha Maslov for the Wall Street Journal
Some participants said they were struck by how much Ms. Yee absorbed when unconscious, when medical staff assumed she couldn't hear what they were saying.
"We have to keep personalizing the patient," says Steven Yung, a pediatric critical care doctor at Sinai, who experienced the artwork last week. "Even though we have such good medicines and such good therapies to keep them completely asleep, there's a lot happening," he says. "And we're taught that and know that but to experience that is completely different."
Dr. Yung says the artwork made him even more aware of how loud intensive care units can be. "I think we really need to work on what is constructive sound, what is therapeutic sound and what is not," he says.
Jaimie Porter, an occupational therapist who works on the brain injury rehabilitation unit, says she was struck by how repetitive some of the questions were. "You do kind of ask the same types of things and there's a reason for it," she says. "It's evaluative and you want to see progress, and to be able to point that out to the patient is really impactful. But maybe acknowledging that more or maybe even changing it up a little bit so it's not so rote."
Andrea Johnston, a senior occupational therapist, has helped facilitate some of the discussions of the artwork after each session. One day last week, she grew emotional talking about how the project has changed how she does her job.
"I now have a visceral memory that I will carry with me," she said in the discussion which she facilitated. "I will try to remember every time I pass that threshold into a patient's room. I really, I feel it in me, I feel differently in the unit."
Write to Sumathi Reddy at sumathi.reddy@wsj.com
Corrections & Amplifications
Shannon Yee brought her immersive art project to Mount Sinai An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified her in two photo captions as Ms. Lee. (Oct. 10, 2017)
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Shankly's arrival
Liverpool's chairman TV Williams issued the following statement on 1st of December 1959:
"Mr Bill Shankly, manager of Huddersfield Town was last night appointed manager of Liverpool Football Club in succession to Mr Phil Taylor, who resigned on November 17. He has accepted the position, but has agreed to stay on at Leeds Road for another month before coming to Anfield in the early days of the New Year, unless circumstances permit an earlier release."
Few could imagine what impact this man would have but the Daily Post reporter knew there was something special on the way:
"The new manager's confidence and firm resolve are infectious. Nobody can be in his company for more than a few minutes and not realise that here is rare driving force who will not spare himself no pains to get the job he has in view. The players will find him fair, friendly, and always willing to help and advise, but in return he will demand a high price - the last possible ounce of effort each player is able to give."
Circumstances did permit an earlier arrival to Liverpool than in the New Year and on the 14th of December Shankly arrived for good. Shankly declared his vision for the club: "I am very pleased to and proud to have been chosen as manager of Liverpool FC, a club of such potential. It is my opinion that Liverpool have a crowd of followers which rank with the greatest in the game. They deserve success and I hope, in my own small way, I am able to do something towards to help them achieve it. I make no promises except that from the moment I take over I shall put everything into the job I so willingly undertake."
The press loved his demeanour and the Liverpool Echo was under his spell: "Quite a character this new Liverpool manager is, Bill Shankly whose face might just as well find a place in any Stadium album as in the hall of fame as a Preston and Scottish international half-back not so many seasons ago. The thing that most impacts you about him is his burning zeal for good class football and for supreme fitness. As he says: 'Anyone who isn'a fit canna play fitba and he's not much use for anything else.' This man if my reading of him is correct is a disciplinarian, a go-getter, a hard-hitter and someone who has enough confidence in himself to come here and say 'Never mind about a contract, give me the team and leave the rest to me.'"
Bill Shankly
We've got all the results from official games, appearance stats, goal stats and basically every conceivable statistic from 1892 to the present, every single line-up and substitutions!
Season -- Select season --
Option Appearances Games Goalscorers Squad Squad picture Statistics League table Transfers


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Learning Center > Beer Reviews > REVIEW: Omission Pale Ale
REVIEW: Omission Pale Ale
Nick Carr on May 12, 2014 0 Comments
Brewery: Widmer Brother's Brewing
Style: American Pale Ale
Hops: Cascade, Citra
Malts: Pale, Carapils, Dark Munich, Caramel 10
Appearance: Spun Honey With Sudsy White Foam
Aroma: Light, Pleasant, Delicate Hops, Whispers of Caramel
Flavor: Balanced with Malt up Front, Hops in the Back
Availability: Year-round
Pairs With: Shellfish, Pizza, Lamb Chops, Cheddar Cheese
Gluten intolerance has become more and more of an issue in our society. In fact, it is likely that most people are intolerant at some level. Most go unrecognized as such because the symptoms are not severe enough to really be noticed. For a few years now the brewing community has worked to bring beer that is gluten free to those that do have severe reactions to gluten. In most cases it has been an effort to brew with gluten free grain, such as sorghum. In all but the rarest case the resulting beer leaves a lot to be desired.
My girlfriend doesn't respond well to gluten and my own research has prompted me to keep my gluten intake to a minimum also, even though I can't definitively point to symptoms. Obviously, for me, that minimum doesn't include beer, but for her it does. So, I have had the opportunity to try quite a few gluten free beers. Most rate pretty low in all areas of enjoyment and leave much to be desired.
Widmer Brother's brewing approached the problem differently. Instead of brewing beer with a gluten free grain, their Omission series (which includes a Lager, an IPA, and the Pale Ale I am reviewing) is brewed with regular malt. The difference comes at fermentation. When the beer goes to the fermenter an enzyme developed by DSM called Brewers Clarex™ goes in with it. This enzyme incidentally is also available to the homebrewer as Clarity Ferm from White Labs (I bought some, but have not had a chance to brew with it yet).
"Ponder not the something removed, but the something left, and find flavors fortunes expressed."
Brewers Clarex™ clarifies beer by breaking down proteins including the gluten protein chains. By doing this it detoxifies the gluten, breaking it into small pieces the body may no longer recognize as gluten. This enzyme, combined with stricter sanitation and packaging standards to ensure no recontamination; plus the testing of every batch by two independent labs has led to this new option for the gluten sensitive.
So I'm excited to try it and am hopeful that it can live up to the hype. How bout we try a beer now?
Omission Pale Ale pours a pleasing color reminiscent of spun honey. Two fingers of thick sudsy white foam reach out for the top of the glass, and almost make good an escape, before losing momentum. It holds there for a few minutes, perhaps cursing the "almost" of the attempt, and then slowly falls in upon itself, tracking glass walls back down, to sit as a much thinner layer.
The aroma is light and pleasant. The fresh but delicate scent of hops mixed into a backing malt aroma of cereal, honey, and whispers of caramel sweetness.
Mouthfeel is medium leaning toward thin. Malt at the front of the taste; caramel and a low note of honey. Hops come dancing out from behind the malt at the back of the palate. Balanced well, not too forward or overwhelming. Some sweet hints shyly make a reappearance on the swallow before being replaced by the drying of hops in the aftertaste. Nice, balanced, with enough character to feel like your drinking something worthwhile.
Probably the highest praise I can give this beer is that it tastes like a well-crafted Pale Ale. None of the over-the-top cereal character found in many beers brewed with sorghum. I certainly wouldn't know there was anything different about it. Is the gluten reduced to a point that a serious celiac suffer wouldn't have a problem with it? That's still under debate.
When tested this beer shows only 5 ppm (parts per million), well below the international gluten free standard of 20 ppm, but because gluten was present at one stage of the process Widmer Brother's can't actually label it as gluten free… so it a "gluten reduced" or "gluten removed" product. It may not be a good choice for everyone… my research has found many people claiming they still have a reaction to it.
Which is possible, many people with celiac disease even react to certain foods, that even though they are a non-gluten food, their own body has somehow built a connection between that food and gluten, causing their body to react as if gluten is present. So, caution is warranted. Everyone needs to make their own decision in the end, but it is another option that might be worth looking into for those suffering from celiac sensitivity. All I can say is… It's a good beer.
New DogTown Pale from Lagunitas Brewing Company
Rebel IPA from Samuel Adams Brewing Company
Götterdämmerung IPA from Stone Brewing Co.
BridgePort India Pale Ale from BridgePort Brewing Co.
Filed Under: Beer Reviews Tagged With: APA, beer review, gluten-free, omission, pale ale
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Takeout, Dine-in, and Delivery: A Thanksgiving 2020 Dining Guide to Greater Phoenix
November is here and that means one thing (well, two things) — the holiday season is in full swing. Thanksgiving means football, family and/or friends, and permission to overeat, so here are 20 Valley spots willing to make the turkey and everything in between (think classics like mashed potatoes, stuffing, and decadent pies to more creative options). Enjoy.
Aioli Gourmet Burgers
At Aioli Gourmet Burgers, dinner for two is $54 and includes two pounds of citrus-herb roasted turkey, gravy, choice of mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, or green bean casserole, cranberry relish, herb stuffing, baked rolls, and two slices of pumpkin pie. Dinner for four (meaning you can double all that) is $99. Orders must be submitted by 3 p.m. on Thursday, November 19.
Thanksgiving can begin early with a pumpkin churro tart.
Angels Trumpet Ale House
Get Thanksgiving started early with pumpkin churro tarts from Angels Trumpet Ale House. A six-pack of pre-made pumpkin churro tarts perfect for those who don't love pie (or it can be heated up for breakfast, your call). Preorder the tarts between Wednesday, November 15, and Tuesday, November 24. Cost is $20. Call 602-252-2630 to order.
Chompie's Restaurant, Deli, and Bakery
If the whole gang is at yours for Thanksgiving, catering from Chompie's could be your answer. The traditional meal from here serves 12 to 15 people and includes an extra-large roasted turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry relish, mashed potatoes, candied yams, green beans, dinner rolls, and two nine-inch pies for $249.99. Several a la carte items are also available. Orders must be received by Monday, November 23.
Doughbird
It is possible to overeat at Thanksgiving and be charitable at the same time? Doughbird customers are going to try. Proceeds from thanksgiving meal sales will benefit St. Mary's Food Bank. Doughbird's individual meals cost $18 and include half a bird, rosemary stuffing, roasted Brussels sprouts, gravy, and cranberry sauce for dine-in or to-go. The family meal costs $35 and is only available as a to-go order.
Enjoy the view while eating your Thanksgiving meal at Elements.
Elements at Sanctuary
5700 East McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley
Elements at Sanctuary is offering a four-course, prix-fixe menu for its dine-in Thanksgiving meal. That includes a traditional turkey dinner with stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry apple relish, and giblet gravy. Pecan pie, pumpkin spice creme brûlée, and butterscotch cheesecake are some dessert choices. Two seating times are available on Thursday, November 26: Noon to 1:45 p.m. for $105 a person, and 2 to 8 p.m. for $125 a person. Children 6 to 12 dine for $45, and 5 and under dine free. Drinks, tax, and gratuity are additional. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 855-245-2051.
Fuel to Fit
1900 East Apache Boulevard, Tempe
If you want to keep your diet intact, and want to leave the cooking to others, Fuel to Fit will prepare Thanksgiving for you. Set the table and enjoy a dinner package of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, gravy, rolls, and pumpkin and apple pies. An order for four is $149 while an order for 10 costs $299. Orders must be received by Friday, November 20. Delivery and pick-up is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m on Wednesday, November 25. Free delivery is available for orders more than $99.
The Grill offers a three-course meal for Thanksgiving.
The Grill at Boulders Resort & Spa
34631 North Tom Darlington Drive, Carefree
A three-course Thanksgiving meal at The Grill at Boulders Resort & Spa offers a mixed salad, shaved Brussels sprouts, roasted winter squash, and roasted turkey served with mushroom stuffing and gravy. Non-fans of turkey can order pepper-crusted prime rib or and seared sea bass served with white carrot risotto. Dessert includes faves like pecan and pumpkin pie. Cost is $52 per person. Reservations can be made at 480-595-4621.
Hash Kitchen
Hash Kitchen is offering a full Thanksgiving menu with carved turkey, cornbread stuffing hash, and sweet potato pancakes. Other brunch specials include the leg of lamb hash and an eggs Benedict with more carved turkey. Or just hit the bloody mary bar; it's your day off.
A special turkey dinner is available in the restaurant or to-go at Hearth '61.
Mountain Shadows
Hearth '61
5445 East Lincoln Drive, Scottsdale
There's a seasonal menu ready for you at Hearth '61 at Mountain Shadows. On Thanksgiving day, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., a full turkey dinner with all the sides will be served for $46. Pumpkin or butterscotch pie is available for an additional $10. Guests can order the same meal to go for $46 and whole pies will start at $26. Reservations can be made at 480-624-5458, while to-go orders can be placed at 480-524-5431 no later than November 24 at 5 p.m.
Match Market & Bar
A to-go Thanksgiving meal at Match Market & Bar, priced at $45 per person, includes two deviled eggs, roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, and Brussels sprouts with pancetta. But you do get some choices, like house salad or cream of mushroom soup, and pumpkin or chocolate pie. This menu is also available for those who want to dine-in — at 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day — for $60 (plus tax and gratuity). To-go orders and reservations must be made by noon on Saturday, November 21, by calling 602-875-8080.
Miracle Mile Deli offers all the sides for your Thanksgiving dinner.
Miracle Mile Deli
Miracle Mile Deli has your Thanksgiving sides covered. Quarts of homemade mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, potato salad, coleslaw, soup, and pasta salad are all available, starting at $8. Plus, a dozen Kaiser or onion rolls are $15, while a big loaf of rye bread is $9. Pumpkin, pecan, apple, cherry, lemon meringue, coconut meringue, Boston cream, and blueberry pies are $16. Is that everything? Yes. Call 602-776-0992 to place your orders.
Rita's Cantina and Bar
Join panoramic views of Camelback Mountain and a three-course, prix-fixe meal at Rita's Cantina and Bar. Menu highlights include grilled butternut squash bisque, oven-roasted turkey, grilled asparagus with shrimp and lobster gremolata, and seared duck breast. And think pumpkin tart dessert with charred meringue for dessert. Cost starts at $75 per adult and $25 for children 12 and under. For an additional $28, unlimited mimosas can be tacked on. Reservations are available from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, November 26. Call 480-948-1700.
There are several meat options for the taking at SanTan Brewing.
SanTan Brewing
SanTan Brewing Co.
SanTan Brewing is offering a full Thanksgiving dinner with all of the fixin's to-go. House-smoked turkey breast (one pound) is $14.99, housed-smoked short rib (one pound) is $19.99, a quart of gravy is $7.99, a quart of chipotle pumpkin bisque is $12.99, and cheddar macaroni and cheese is $7.99. Other options include beef brisket, pulled pork, carnitas, sausage, and wings. And you can definitely add some beers in, too.
Stratta Kitchen
8260 North Hayden Road, Suite #A102, Scottsdale
Stratta Kitchen is offering a Thanksgiving meal serving four with more than a few options. There's goat cheese cracker and pistachio crumble, slow-roasted buttermilk turkey made with thyme and garlic gravy, candied chestnut stuffing, and butter-whipped Yukon potatoes — just to name a few. Dessert is a choice of pumpkin pie with vanilla bean cream or bourbon caramel pecan pie. Cost is $75 and orders must be placed by Thursday, November 19, for pickup between 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, November 26. Call 480-597-9195.
Executive Chef Lee Hillson is making a three-course prix fixe meal at T. Cook's.
T. Cook's
5200 East Camelback Road
Dinner at T. Cook's means a three-course, prix-fixe meal as well as a view of the sunset behind Camelback Mountain. The holiday menu offers carrot and roasted-onion soup, pumpkin ravioli, and sliced heirloom turkey breast with green beans, Italian sausage, cornbread stuffing, cranberry chutney, and gravy. Desserts include a vegan chocolate mousse torte, berry coulis, and raspberry sorbet. Seating starts at 3 p.m. on Thursday, November 26, and cost starts at $95 per adult and $32 for children 6 to 12 (free for kids under 5). To reserve your spot, call 602-808-0766.
Tomaso's
Tomaso's can be a go-to for your Thanksgiving meal. Starters include a butternut squash bisque for $9 and eggplant torte baked in basil, tomato, and cheese fondue for $28. In addition, a pre-fixe, five-course meal is $52 per person and includes salad, roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower pistachio cake with gruyere, and pumpkin cheesecake. Reservations can be made at 602-956-0836 for dine-in, and takeout is available.
Trapp Haus BBQ
511 East Roosevelt Street
With Trapp Haus BBQ is offering a Thanksgiving Sammitch — slices of pecan-smoked turkey topped with a crispy cornbread stuffing patty and cranberry barbecue sauce, and served on a toasted brioche bun for $11.99. What's more, there are eggrolls packed with pecan-smoked turkey breast, cornbread stuffing, and savory collard greens, then covered in cranberry barbecue sauce, for $8.99. These items are available throughout November. Orders can be placed at 602-466-5462.
Several pies are available for purchase at Wildflower.
If you want to skip the whole homemade pie thing, Wildflower is selling several holiday pies and loaves of bread to-go. Choices include pumpkin, crumb apple, and roasted nut, while loaves include cranberry, stuffing, and pumpkin cinnamon. Pies are $19.99, while the loaves are $8.99. Wildflower locations (most of them-anyway) are open for dine-in, takeout, curbside pickup, and delivery.
Z' Tejas
Is the entire family gathering at your house? Good thing Z'Tejas is offering a family-style Thanksgiving meal. The package includes sliced turkey, poblano mashed potatoes, cornbread stuffing, mixed veggies, cranberry sauce, and chorizo gravy. A gallon of ice tea or lemonade can also be included, as well as pumpkin cheesecake and a chocolate fudge pie. The meal feeds up to four to six people and costs $75. And the same spread is also being served in-house at Z' Tejas location on Wednesday, November 25.
6850 East Main Street, Scottsdale
ZuZu at the Valley Ho is offering dine-in and stay-home meals. From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, guests can enjoy a chef-attended buffet with classic turkey, pumpkin risotto, and other sides plus desserts like apple pie and sweet potato spice cake. Prices range from $54 to $79 per person. For to-go orders, cost is $42 per person. Family meals must be ordered by 5 p.m., Thursday, November 19, and individual meals must be ordered by 5 p.m., Sunday, November 21. Reservations for dinner can be made at 480-421-7997, while to-go orders can be placed at 480-248-2039.
See what Valley restaurants are offering takeout, delivery, and dine-in services with our Phoenix Restaurant Directory. This article was updated from its original version.
Rudri Patel is a lawyer turned writer and editor. She is the co-editor of the online literary journal The Sunlight Press and on staff at Literary Mama.
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On This Day October 17
1915 – Pulitzer-winning playwright Arthur Miller ("All My Sons," "A View from the Bridge," "The Crucible," "Death of a Salesman") (d. 2005)
1918 – Actress and dancer Rita Hayworth ("Only Angels Have Wings," "Strawberry Blonde," "You'll Never Get Rich," "Gilda") (d. 1987)
1920 – Actor Montgomery Clift ("From Here to Eternity," "The Young Lions," "A Place in the Sun," "I Confess") (d. 1966)
1930 – Longtime New York columnist and author Jimmy Breslin (d. 2017)
1938 – Motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel, born Robert Craig Knievel (d. 2007)
1948 – Actor George Wendt, best known for his portrayal of Norm Peterson on the TV sitcom "Cheers"
1948 – Actress Margot Kidder, best known for her role as Lois Lane in the film "Superman," opposite Christopher Reeve (d. 2018)
1958 – Grammy-winning country singer Alan Jackson
1962 – Cartoonist-actor Mike Judge ("Beavis and Butt-head," "King of the Hill")
1963 – Comedian-actor and "Saturday Night Live" alum Norm Macdonald (d. 2021)
1968 – Reggae guitarist and singer-songwriter Ziggy Marley
1972 – Grammy and Oscar-winning rapper and record producer Eminem, born Marshall Bruce Mathers III
1931 – A jury finds Chicago mob boss Al Capone guilty of tax evasion. One of the most notorious criminals of the 1920s and 1930s, Capone is later sentenced to 11 years in federal prison, ordered to pay $215,000 in back taxes and fined $50,000.
1966 – The TV game show takes on a new shape with the premiere of "The Hollywood Squares."
1973 – OPEC announces it will cut oil exports to the U.S. and other nations friendly with Israel, a move that eventually leads to the "Energy Crisis."
1973 – The romantic drama, "The Way We Were," starring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford, has its world premiere in New York before opening nationally three days later. The film captures the Academy Award for Best Original Dramatic Score and Best Original Song for the theme song, "The Way We Were," sung by Streisand.
1974 – President Gerald Ford goes before Congress to explain his pardon of predecessor Richard Nixon.
1989 – A powerful 6.9 magnitude earthquake rocks the San Francisco Bay Area, killing 63 people, injuring 3,000 others and causing more than $5 billion in damage. Known as the Loma Prieta earthquake, the natural disaster strikes just as Game 1 of the World Series is starting at San Francisco's Candlestick Park between local teams The Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants.
1964 – "Do Wah Diddy Diddy," by Manfred Mann, kicks off two weeks on top of the Billboard Hot 100. It's the cover of a song originally recorded in 1963 by the American band The Exciters, but it was the British group Manfred Mann that made it an international smash.
1964 – The Ronettes release their classic ballad, "Walking in the Rain." The single later earns producer Phil Spector the first and only Grammy of his career for sound effects (thunder and rain).
1967 – "Hair," touted as "an American tribal love-rock musical," opens on Broadway.
1970 – "I'll Be There," by the Jackson 5, begins a five-week run at No. 1 on the singles chart. It is the group's fourth consecutive chart-topper.
1981 – Christopher Cross is king of the Billboard Hot 100 with music from the movies – "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)." The track holds at No. 1 for three weeks and goes on to earn a Best Original Song Oscar.
1991 – Singer and TV host Tennessee Ernie Ford dies of liver failure at the age of 72. Ford was best known for his chart-topping 1955 cover of the Merle Travis song "Sixteen Tons."
2008 – Levi Stubbs, lead singer of Motown giants the Four Tops, dies at the age of 72. Stubbs had been in ill health since a 1995 cancer diagnosis; a stroke and other health problems led him to stop touring in 2000.
On this Day June 9
1891 – Composer-songwriter Cole Porter, whose music dominated Broadway from the 1930s to the 1950s (d. 1964)
1915 – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist, songwriter and electric guitar designer Les Paul, born Lester William Polsfuss (d. 2009)
1934 – Stand-up comedian and actor Jackie Mason (d. 2021)
1934 – Grammy Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer Jackie Wilson ("Lonely Teardrops," "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher") (d. 1984)
1961 – Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor Michael J. Fox ("Family Ties," the "Back to the Future" movie series, "Teen Wolf," "Spin City")
1963 – Golden Globe-winning actor Johnny Depp ("What's Eating Gilbert Grape," "Edward Scissorhands," the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "Alice in Wonderland," "Rango," "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindewald")
1981 – Oscar and Golden Globe-winning actress Natalie Portman ("Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace," "Garden State," "Closer," "Black Swan," "Jackie")
1934 – Donald Duck makes his debut in the Walt Disney short film, "The Wise Little Hen."
1954 – In a dramatic confrontation, Joseph Welch, special counsel for the U.S. Army, lashes out at Senator Joseph McCarthy during hearings on whether communism has infiltrated the U.S. armed forces. Welch's rebuke effectively derails McCarthy's campaign to stoke the anticommunist hysteria of America's 'Red Scare'.
1973 – Secretariat wins the Belmont Stakes to become the first Triple Crown winner since Citation in 1948. Secretariat runs the 1.5-mile race in 2:24, a world record that many believe will never be broken.
1980 – Comedian Richard Pryor suffers third-degree burns over more than half of his body while freebasing cocaine.
1993- The so-called "Hollywood Madam," Heidi Fleiss, is arrested and charged in connection with a high-class prostitution ring that catered to wealthy clients, including actor Charlie Sheen. A jury convicts Fleiss on three counts of pandering, for which she receives a three-year sentence. That conviction is overturned in 1996, but a federal tax-evasion case the next year leads to a 20-month prison sentence.
2006 – The animated feature film "Cars," produced by Pixar Animation Studios, opens in U.S. theaters, starring Owen Wilson as Lightning McQueen and Paul Newman in his final acting role, as Doc Hudson.
1958 – The hottest single in the U.S. is "The Purple People Eater" by Sheb Wooley. The novelty hit holds the No. 1 spot for six weeks.
1962 – "I Can't Stop Loving You," by Ray Charles, is in its second week as a No. 1 single. It retains the top spot for five weeks. Across the pond, the track hits the top of the U.K. singles chart that July and holds there for two weeks.
1972 – Elvis Presley plays his first concert in New York City — the first of four sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden. The performances are recorded for later release on the "Elvis As Recorded at Madison Square Garden" album.
1972 – One month after auditioning for Columbia Records, Bruce Springsteen is signed by the label and begins assembling his E Street Band. His debut album, "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.," comes out in January 1973.
1979 – The Bee Gees reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the ninth time with "Love You Inside Out." It becomes the sibling trio's final chart-topper.
1984 – Cyndi Lauper begins a two-week run on top of the Billboard singles chart with "Time After Time," off her debut album, "She's So Unusual." The track earns a Song of the Year Grammy nomination.
1990 – "Hold On," by Wilson Phillips, clinches the top spot on the pop chart. The track goes on to win the Billboard Music Award for 1990 Hot 100 Single of the Year and is nominated for a Song of the Year Grammy.
1998 – The Ronettes ("Be My Baby," "Walking In The Rain") appear in court for their lawsuit against producer Phil Spector, whom they allege breached their 34-year-old contract by failing to pay royalties since 1963. Although The Ronettes win the case, the New York State Court of Appeals later overturns the decision, saying Spector had unconditional rights to their recordings.
2001 – Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa and Pink have the No. 1 single with their cover of Labelle's 1974 smash, "Lady Marmalade."


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Fayose: Democracy will only return to Nigeria when Buhari leaves office
June 12, 2020 Danlami Nmodu News, Politics, Project 0
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has said that there was nothing to celebrate today, in terms of democratic governance, declaring that democracy will only return to the country when President Muhammadu Buhari leaves office.
According to his Spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, the former governor, who was speaking on today's democracy day celebration, said it was painful that "legacy of free, fair and transparent elections bequeathed to Nigeria by the PDP government has been destroyed, with elections in the country now being held at gun point."
Fayose said peace and prosperity can only be achieved, when leaders earn legitimacy through the ballot, decrying the open display of contempt for free, fair and transparent election by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government.
He said; "Democracy will return to Nigeria again after President Buhari's tenure.
"Today, there is no democracy to celebrate and I have not stopped wondering how we got here in Nigeria.
"I am sure Nigerians will still recall that I warned them in 2015.
"The people mourn when the wicked are in authority while they rejoice when the righteous are in leadership. Today, Nigerians are mourning.
"Nevertheless, we must all keep hope alive because after darkness, there will definitely be light,"he said.
Tags: #TrackNigeria, Buhari, Democracy, Fayose
Fayose
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How to change the 'Region' of my Nintendo Switch OLED? – Advanced settings
The Nintendo Switch OLED It is an improved version of your current Nintendo console that has already sold more than 100 million units worldwide. In this article we want to talk to you specifically about one of its advanced configuration settings, how is that of change your Nintendo Region, because surely you have asked yourself:
Can I change the Region for another that is not the one that corresponds to me? How does changing Region benefit me? Are there any considerations I need to keep in mind when making the switch? We invite you to discover the answers to these questions.
1 What happens when the region is changed on a Nintendo Switch OLED?
2 How can you access the settings of your Nintendo Switch OLED console?
3 What is the procedure to modify your region on Nintendo Switch OLED?
4 How can you configure your Nintendo Switch OLED if you have changed the region?
5 How to go back to your original region if the apps are 'Not available in your region'?
What happens when the region is changed on a Nintendo Switch OLED?
By changing the Region in your Nintendo Switch OLED account, you will access the Nintendo eShop for that country or region when you come back to start the app on the Nintendo Switch. With this change you get benefits of offers and discounts in the eShop that is available for that region or country, since Nintendo Switch is region free, that is, it does not matter the country where we buy physically or digitally, the game will work perfectly in our console.
As you may already know, there are video games that can be downloaded and others not because they do not come out in all countries and this is the only way to get them and also depending on the country and the currency exchange, an edition abroad could be much cheaper and thus be able to benefit from these offers and discounts.
It is important to note that the balance of your account Nintendo eShop is not transferable between regions, that is, if you have $ 100 in your US region account, you cannot use that balance in your Europe region account. Another consideration to keep in mind is credit cards from one region will not work in another.
How can you access the settings of your Nintendo Switch OLED console?
When you turn on your Nintendo Switch console, we go to the HOME Menu and then select the icon 'console settings', which is at the bottom of the screen and is shaped like a gear. The menu that you can get at this link includes Health and Safety Help, Screen Brightness, Parental Control, Internet, TV settings, or changing the Console Language, among others, being able to modify each one of them and adapting them to your convenience .
What is the procedure to modify your region on Nintendo Switch OLED?
When entering console settings, here we will go down to the Console section, we look in the right panel for 'Region' and we select the region that we want to configure, whether it is our own or another to which we want to access in order to download or buy a game or application.
When choosing the Region the console will ask us reboot the device to be able to save the changes made. It should be noted that when changing region in the eShop, your balance must be zero, on the contrary, you will not be able to make the change and it may throw you an error.
How can you configure your Nintendo Switch OLED if you have changed the region?
First of all, the settings in the Nintendo eShop of your console must always correspond to the country or region from your Nintendo Switch OLED account, that is, if you are from Spain you will have to be in the European region, if you are in the US you will have to be in the US Region of America.
It is mandatory that you accept the Nintendo contract agreements and the privacy policies of the country of change so that you can access all offers that may be offered, if not, do not make the change. So that you are sure before making the change we will tell you what are the countries where eShop is available: in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru.
How to go back to your original region if the apps are 'Not available in your region'?
The Nintendo Switch OLED, as we have already said, has its own store, which allows us to buy games or download them for free and download applications to use them on our console, now it is possible to find different problems, among which is 'They are not available in your region'. This is because there are countries, especially Latin Americans that do not have an eShop or there are restrictions that prevent you from accessing certain games or applications, so we must change the region.
That said, enter by logging in with your email in your Nintendo account, once you enter you will see in your user information profile that is the country / region, you change it for one that has an eShop, you save the changes accepting the policies and the next time you log in to your console, your new region will appear.
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