Adlai Wertman is a professor of clinical entrepreneurship at the USC Marshall School of Business and holds a joint appointment at the Rossier School of Education. He is also the founding director of the Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab at Marshall—a center focused on educating and supporting USC students, faculty, staff and community members on using business models to address global social, environmental and health challenges. The Lab offers a one-year Master of Science in Social Entrepreneurship—the first such degree offered by a business school in the United States.
Prior to joining the faculty at Marshall, Adlai spent seven years as president and CEO of Chrysalis—the only non-profit in Los Angeles devoted solely to helping homeless people change their lives through employment. As part of its award-winning program, Chrysalis ran one of the larger social enterprises in the country—Chrysalis Enterprises—with annual revenues more than $4.5 million and nearly 1,000 clients each year. Prior to Chrysalis, Adlai spent 18 years as an investment banker in New York and Los Angeles.
Adlai is an advisory board member of the Global Health Institute and the Roberts Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) and a trustee of the Jewish Community Foundation. He has also served as a commissioner of the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension Fund. Adlai is a frequent speaker on the issues of social entrepreneurship and social enterprise. Adlai was a senior fellow at the UCLA School of Public Affairs and a Wexner Heritage Fellow. Adlai earned his B.A. in economics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and his M.B.A. in finance, public policy management and strategic planning from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.


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Freedom Hunters
Suzanne Delahunty
Have you ever dreamed of packing in your job to pursue your dream career? Do you have a passion in life you want to follow? Freedom Hunters is about inspiring people who have escaped the rat race to pursue their dreams. Suzanne Delahunty, media lawyer turned writer, blogger, editor, stylist and podcaster, interviews fascinating people about where they started out, how they changed their careers and their lives and what success is for them now that they are doing what they love. read less
Jamila Rizvi: Political Advisor to Columnist, Author and Presenter
Jamila Rizvi started her career in politics. Her first job out of university was working for the then Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. From her role as government advisor, Jamila took her career into media, where she worked at the online news site Mamamia as editor in chief. Today, Jamila is the Chief Creative Officer for the Nine Network's Future Women. She writes regular columns for Australia's leading newpapers and has written and edited four books. During Melbourne's strict lockdown this year, Jamila has written and produced two books. Jamila talks about her career journey, how she made each pivot and how she approaches her career since having undergone some major life upheavals in recent years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kat Stewart: PR to Award Winning Actor
Kat Stewart is an Aussie household name due to her many stellar and powerful performances in the very best of Australian TV and theatre, which have led to her winning many accolades including AACTA and Logie awards. Kat became known in Australia for her stunning performances as Roberta Williams in Underbelly, and as Billie Proudman in my favourite Australian series, Offspring. When we spoke she had just wrapped up filming the second season of her latest TV show, Five Bedrooms. I talked to Kat about her career, and how she started out working in PR in Melbourne. However there was something inside her that just had to pursue her passion for performing, and so she transitioned her career from PR to acting. It wasn't an easy road to follow, and Kat was very frank about the challenges that she faced when first starting out in acting. But if you are contemplating a career in acting or in the creative arts, her advice is encouraging. If you have that creative passion burning inside you, you've just got to do it. And if you're in a career right now that you don't necessarily love, it can always help you as you explore your creative side and turn it into your career. Please enjoy the episodeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Lana Wilkinson: Marketing to Celebrity Stylist & Shoe Designer
Lana Wilkinson is one of Australia's best-known celebrity stylists. Her client list includes some of Australia's most stylish women, including Ruby Rose, Megan Gale and Nadia Bartel. Lana started her career in marketing and public relations until her side hustle of styling celebrities for events and media engagements took on a life of its own. She talks about how she changed from a high-powered corporate marketing role to becoming a successful stylist, and more recently, to launching her own show collection. Lana gives great advice to anyone starting out on their own including when to stop working for free and how to have those difficult conversations about charging for your time. She also shares the best business advice anyone ever gave to her, which proved invaluable when she launched her second show collection in the middle of a pandemic. Lana Wilkinson Instagram: @lanawilkinson and @bylanawilkinson Suzanne Delahunty Instagram: @suzannedelahuntySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Maria Hatzistefanis: Banking to Beauty Entrepreneur & founder of Rodial
Maria Hatzistefanis, founded her ground-breaking skincare group, Rodial, in 1999 by identifying a niche for treatments targeted to specific skin concerns. Maria has become a respected and sought-after opinion-leader as she is known for her mentoring and entrepreneurial guidance. Recently she was a judge for the British Fashion Council Vogue fashion fund, and has had guest appearances as a mentor on US fashion series, Project Runway. Maria has just launched her second book, How To Make It Happen in which she outlines how to motivate yourself and how to make your dreams a reality with stories of her own personal experience as well as truly practical step by step advice to help you achieve your own ambitions. Maria didn't start out in the beauty business. After university she completed a business degree. Without knowing what she wanted to do with her career, she started out working in banking. But it was when she was fired from her finance job that things got interesting. We talk about how she started up her beauty business, mentoring, being an entrepreneur and what the challenges are for her in the beauty industry. @mrsrodial @rodialbeauty @overnightsuccessxmrsrodial @suzannedelahuntySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Expert Special: Liz Ward founder of Slick Pivot
Liz Ward is the UK's first pivot coach and founder of Slick Pivot, a boutique coaching hub for career changers, startups and entrepreneurs. She has been the coach working behind the scenes of growing startups including, The Marshmallowist and Taylor Morris Eyewear. An AOC (Association for Coaching) recognised personal and business coach and NLP practitioner with over 12 years experience developing and mentoring high-performing individuals, from entrepreneurs in the start-up world to teams in the corporate world, Liz's mission is to inspire you and give you the tools and techniques to create the life and work you want. In this expert special episode of Freedom Hunters, Liz gives invaluable practical advice on making a pivot or complete change in your career. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Georgia Gwynne Gruber Travel to Music to Writing, Film & TV Production
Georgia Gwynne Gruber grew up in Wales and studied law at Oxford University. However shortly after graduating she was charged with a minor drug offence that resulted in her spending 6 months in prison. This then spurred her on to take her career and life in a wholly different direction. From producing and presenting travel programmes for television, to starting a rap group and touring the world she eventually landing in LA where she has written and produced TV, film and book projects, working with talent from Europe to America, from Zayn Malik to Larry King. After 10 years in the film and TV industry in LA, she has recently moved back to Wales with her husband. The two are currently filming in North Wales with big plans for establishing film and TV production infrastructure in that part of the country. Georgia is also Global Change Ambassador for Round Table Global and a representative on the En Committee, serving the three global goals of Education for all; Empowering everyone; and Environmental rejuvenation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Andy Griffiths: media lawyer to International Justice Mission Regional President
The world needs more people like Andy Griffiths. His work has taken him into brick kilns in India where he lead a team of freedom fighters rescuing people who had been subject to enforced slavery, and to the West Bank in Palestine where his organisation help run a program to create harmony and peace between Israelis and Palestinians through sport. But Andy started out his career in a very different way. Andy studied law and went on to become the Group Legal Director for ITV the UK's biggest commercial TV broadcaster and production company. He went on to achieve what is the career pinnacle for any media lawyer, by becoming the General Counsel of the worlds largest independent TV production company, Endemol. But it was when he realised that the pursuit of profit was not fulfilling for him that he turned his attention to the not-for-profit sector. He talks about the challenges he faced in going from a successful corporate role as a lawyer to running an office in Chennai, India, for the International Justice Mission. We also talked about how to highlight the transferability of your skillset when you are looking to make any career change. But most inspiring of all, Andy shares some truly heart breaking stories about the people he and his teams have rescued from slavery and how those perpetrators of slavery and violence have been brought to account. Laureus International Justice MissionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kristina Karlsson: travel to founder of Kikki K
Kristina is the founder of the stationary and lifestyle brand Kikki K, which has stores in Australia, New Zealand, the USA, UK, Singapore and Hong Kong. And it is available online in over 140 countries around the world. Kristina really is living her dream life. But before she started Kikki K, Kristina tried different jobs in hospitality and travel, finding that none of them were the right fit for her. And it was during a sleepless night of not knowing and worrying about what she should do with her life that she wrote a list of exactly what she wanted from her career and lifestyle. What she wrote down didn't include running a global stationery brand, but it was from that list that Kikki K was born. Kristina talks about how she went from that sleepless night to starting up her business and what the early days were like. We talk about mentoring, the importance of trying out different jobs and what success is for her. For anyone wondering what to do with their life, how to find out what their passion is or how to steer their career in a new direction, Kristina's advice is going to be hugely inspiring. Kikki K: https://www.kikki-k.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Poh Ling Yeow: Artist to TV Chef and Restaurateur
Most of my Australian listeners, and probably quite a few of my UK listeners will have heard of today's guest on Freedom Hunters. You might have watched her come runner up in the first ever series of Australian Masterchef in 2009. Or you might have watched her subsequent TV cooking series, or made delicious dishes from one of her cookbooks. And if you've been to Adelaide in South Australia recently, you might have had cake and coffee at her café, Jam Face, in the Adelaide Central Market. It's Poh Ling Yeow. While Poh is now running her cafe and doing various media projects, she started her career in a very different way. She was a successful artist and make up artist, who decided to follow her love of cooking when she applied to be a contestant on an at-the-tiime unknown cooking show called Masterchef Australia. We talk about what it was like to be on Masterchef and how she dealt with the media and huge attention that followed it. She shared the challenges of running a bricks and mortar business, and we also pondered the question of how to ensure that when your passion becomes your career, it doesn't stop being a passion. @pohlingyeow www.pohlingyeow.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Olly Bengough: Bar Owner to Media Mogul
Olly Bengough started his first business in his twenties when he opened a bar on the King's Road in Chelsea. From there he went on to set up venues which have become London institutions, including Infernos in Clapham and Koko in Camden. Along the way he started up the music festival Lovebox with members of Groove Armada. But it was Olly's love of foreign and independent film that led him to set up the foreign film and lifestyle TV channel Cinemoi having no experience of operating a TV channel. Olly's entrpreneurs story is an adrenalin-filled journey. He shares all the chaos, the hard work, the chance meetings with Martin Scorsese (no less) and his practical advice for anyone wanting to start their own business. And that advice applies equally to anyone looking to take a risk in their career more generally.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tash Sefton: Fashion Buyer & Manager to Entrepreneur
Anyone with a passing interest in fashion will have heard of Tash Sefton. She is one of Australia's most successful fashion entrepreneurs. Tash started out her career in fashion manufacturing, and moved into a business role, overseeing production, manufacturing and buying for one of Australia's biggest streetwear brands, General Pants. But it was when she started a blog called They All Hate Us with her friend and colleague, Elle Ferguson, that work and life changed for Tash. The runaway success of their website meant that she was able to leave her job behind and turn her website into a fully fledged fashion ecommerce business. From there she has gone on to co-host TV makeover show, Style Squad, create and se ll her artwork with her sister Hayley, and provide style consulting to corporates and private clients. With her huge following Tash has also been able to shine a light on causes close to her heart such as conscious consumerism and animal preservation. Tash talked to me about her career journey, which includes one of the funniest job resignation stories I've ever heard. She also tells it how it is to be a fashion entrepreneur: the hard work and long hours that go on behind the glamour of the Instagram grid, and how her approach to social media has completely changed as her career has developed. Tash's Personal Styling site: Where Did Your Style Go Tash and Hayley's Art: Sefton & Segedin Tash works with the Taronga Conservation SocietySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sally Hepworth: HR Manager to Best Selling Author
In episode 8, Suzanne talks to Sally Hepworth. Sally started out her career in event management and HR, but it was while she was on maternity leave with her first child that she finally followed her instinct for writing and penned her first novel. Her first book, the Secrets of Midwives, was the top selling debut novel in Australia in 2015. Fast forward a few years later, and Sally is the best selling author of five books. Sally talks about about her career journey and how she made the change out of her HR career and into full time writing. She has some valuable advice about not giving up in the face of rejection. She also had interesting insights about the idea of women's fiction, and how writers of the genre are having the last laugh. At the time of this episode, Sally's latest book, The Mother In Law, has just been released in the UK and USA. You can follow Sally on her Instagram @sallyhepworth, and her website, www.sallyhepworthauthor.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Naomi Mdudu: Fashion Editor to Business Coach
In episode 7, Suzanne talks to Naomi Mdudu. Naomi started her career as a fashion editor for some of the UK's biggest print publications. Several grueling years later, Naomi dreamt up a career which involved the creation of content which was meaningful to her. This led to her establishing the Lifestyle Edit, an online destination and podcast designed for and about women entrepreneurs, their experiences, their challenges and their achievements. In addition to this, she is a business coach and consultant for female business founders all over the world. In this episode Naomi talks about her decision to leave the print world behind, as well as how she made the transition from editor to business woman. Naomi also shares invaluable advice for anyone with a burning desire to start a business and follow their dream. The Lifestyle Edit Website The Lifestyle Edit PodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Emily Johnston: PR to Lifestyle Blogger
Emily Johnston, blogger, columnist and digital content creator moved from South Carolina to London straight out of university to pursue her dream of forging a career in the art world. Early on, she found a role at an art auction house and ended up as a PR manager for the auction house. But it was when she started her fashion industry news blog in her spare time, that life started to change for Emily. In this episode, Emily talks to Suzanne about how she transitioned from her corporate PR role to her current career which has involved the continued evolution of her hugely successful fashion and lifestyle blog, Fashion Foie Gras, as well as a column for Hello magazine and collaborations with brands such as Ralph Lauren and Coach. Emily shares the challenges of going freelance, how she stays true to herself on social media and how she developed her personal brand. She also has some fascinating insights into whether the body positivity movement has gone too far. You can follow Emily on Instagram @emilyjanejohnston, and on her website Fashion Foie Gras.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Lucy Beard: lawyer to gin distiller
Today's inspiring guest on Freedom Hunters is Lucy Beard. Originally from South Africa, Lucy started her career as a lawyer in London city law firms, and as an in-house lawyer for the UK's largest commercial TV producer and broadcaster, ITV. She then spent two years as general manager of the broadcast technology company, SDN. It was during a grown up gap year of travelling around Europe that Lucy and her husband Leigh, also a lawyer, were struck with the idea of starting a gin distillery. This led the two back to their native South Africa, where they started up Hope on Hopkins, Cape Town's first artisanal gin distillery. In this episode of Freedom Hunters, I talk to Lucy about how inspiration struck her and her husband to start up in the gin business, how they made the transition from lawyers to distillers and the importance of family and friends. Hope on Hopkins: http://hopeonhopkins.co.za See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bola Marquis: IT manager to luxury fashion brand founder
Bola Marquis started out his career as a business analyst and then programme manager in industries including oil and gas, travel and advertising. It was his entrepreneurial spirit and creative flair that led him to leave it all behind (although not quite entirely - more on that in the podcast) to start up Okun, an African inspired swimwear brand that is stocked in luxury stores and online stockists including Matches and Mr Porter. In this episode Bola talks about how he went about "opening the door" to his new career, serendipity, how he deals with failure and his unique take on job versus passion. The Okun Instagram account, @okunbeachwear is a beautiful source of beach inspiration, and features heavenly African beaches with the colourful, vibrant African-inspired designs of Okun men's swim shorts. With womenswear in his sights for the coming year - watch this space. Okun beachwear: www.okunlife.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Celeste Wong: barista to multi-hyphen business woman
Celeste Wong started out her career as an actress and barista. Since moving to London, she has been listed as one of London's top five baristas in The Financial Times and has held top positions in artisan cafes. In recent years, in pursuit of more fulfillment from her work, Celeste produced and presented her own web series based around coffee and people in the coffee industry. That was the catalyst for her to develop the ultimate portfolio career. She is now a brand consultant, video producer and presenter, actress, blogger about all things coffee, lifestyle and travel and she has her own brand of coffee beans and merchandise. Celeste talks to Suzanne about how she changed career from barista to multi-hyphen business woman, developing a brand and purpose and how she deals with failure. The Girl in the Café: www.thegirlinthecafe.co.uk Instagram: @the_girl_in_the_cafe TGITC Web Series: www.thegirlinthecafe.co.uk/webseries/ TGITC coffee and merchandise: http://www.thegirlinthecafe.co.uk/shop/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chloe Roberts: music industry exec and inventor
Chloe Roberts is a music industry executive in London. Her company has developed the careers of artists such as Zayn and Ellie Goulding and currently manages Rita Ora amongst other big names. Chloe also invented and launched a baby product, Lapbaby. Chloe talks to Suzanne about how she got into the music industry, her style as an executive in a creative world, time's up in the music industry and what happened when she was presented with the opportunity to take her career in a completely different direction. First Access Entertainment: www.firstaccessent.com Lap Baby: www.lap-baby.com Happy Not Perfect: https://happynotperfect.com/ Since recording the interview, Chloe has also started developing her own podcast, Corporate Buddha. In it, she'll be talking to people about how they create work/life balance and how they bring their spirituality into the boardroom. You can follow her on Instagram @corporatebuddhaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Skoda to withdraw sponsorship if Belarus hosts hoc ...
America's Cup challenger series: American Magic loses twice
Mitchell scores 26, Jazz use 21-0 run to beat Hawks 116-92
D-backs avoid salary arbitration with Weaver, Kelly
Gilgeous-Alexander's 33 lead Thunder past Bulls in OT
Royals reach 1-year deals with Keller, Mondesi to avoid arb
Johnson, Scheffler favorites for tour's top player, rookie
Published at 03:01 on 09 September 2020 Updated: 03:10
Dustin Johnson won the silver trophy as the FedEx Cup champion. Odds are he soon will pick up another trophy, this one a bronze variety in the image of Jack Nicklaus.
The vote for PGA Tour player of the year was up in the air going into the Tour Championship, with only one major being played and six players with multiple victories. The winner at East Lake was thought to be the front-runner. Johnson's victory gave him three titles this season, tied with Justin Thomas.
With the short turnaround to the new season — two days between the final putt at East Lake and the opening drive at the Safeway Open in California — the ballots were going out this week to the players.
Scottie Scheffler hits his tee shot on the third hole during the third round of the Tour Championship golf tournament at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020. (AP PhotoJohn Bazemore)
For the PGA Tour player of the year, the candidates were Johnson, Thomas, PGA champion Collin Morikawa (two wins), Webb Simpson (two wins) and Jon Rahm (two wins).
Thomas won his three in October, January and August, all against strong fields, all three of his victories against limited fields that had no cut (CJ Cup in South Korea, Sentry Tournament of Championship and a World Golf Championship). Johnson won the Travelers Championship and The Northern Trust to go along with his FedEx Cup title he won at the Tour Championship. He also was runner-up to Morikawa at the PGA Championship.
More interesting will be the vote for PGA Tour rookie of the year.
Justin Thomas reacts after he misses a putt for eagle on the 18th hole during the final round of the Tour Championship golf tournament at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Monday, Sept. 7, 2020. (AP PhotoJohn Bazemore)
The race is between Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland, with Harry Higgs and Maverick McNealey added to the ballot, presumably to fill space.
Hovland is the only rookie to have won this year, at the Puerto Rico Open the same week as the World Golf Championship in Mexico City where Scheffler was playing.
They were the only rookies to reach East Lake, and Scheffler had a 66-65 weekend to finish alone in fifth. Hovland tied for 20th at the Tour Championship. So it's a matter of how much players who vote value a victory, even against a weak field that didn't include anyone from the top 50.
Jon Rahm reacts after making a putt for birdie on the 18th hole during the final round of the Tour Championship golf tournament at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Monday, Sept. 7, 2020. (AP PhotoJohn Bazemore)
Scheffler had seven top 10s, compared with three for Hovland. He also played in the final group at the PGA Championship, where he tied for fourth.
Meanwhile, Webb Simpson wrapped up the Vardon Trophy for the lowest adjusted scoring average. Thomas won the money list with $7,344,040. It was the third time in the last four years Thomas has won the money title, even though the tour stopped presenting an award for that.
Thomas will get a trophy from the PGA of America for its points-based award for player of the year. Because golf was not played for three months, the race ended before the Tour Championship. Thomas won on the strength of three wins (each worth 10 points), 20 points for winning the money list and 16 points for being third in scoring average.
Collin Morikawa hits his tee shot on the third hole during the final round of the Tour Championship golf tournament at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Monday, Sept. 7, 2020. (AP PhotoJohn Bazemore)
MASTERS CROWD
Augusta National announced last month that spectators would not be allowed when the Masters is played in November. That's not to say the course will be entirely empty.
Players in the field learned last week in a letter from the club that they will be allowed to bring their spouses or significant others. Left unclear, and probably unlikely, is whether that guest list will extend to parents, siblings and other family members.
Webb Simpson hits his first tee shot during the first round of the Tour Championship golf tournament at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Friday, Sept. 4, 2020. (AP PhotoJohn Bazemore)
Competitors typically get eight guest passes for the Masters.
For the spouses or partners coming for the first time, it will be an Augusta National they've never seen, mainly because they will be able to see without having to look over the shoulders of thousands of spectators. But they will miss out on the sounds of the Masters, which can be as memorable as the scenery.
Sebastian Munoz is among the newcomers to the Masters and hopes his girlfriend can get the best of both worlds. He qualified for this year's Masters (originally to be played in April) by winning the Sanderson Farms Open last September. He also will be in the next Masters because he reached the Tour Championship.
Sebastian Munoz tees off on the first hole during the second round of the Tour Championship golf tournament at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. (AP PhotoJohn Bazemore)
"It would be difficult if her only Masters was without fans," Munoz said. "Hopefully, they'll be there for the next one."
SO MUCH FOR PLANNING
Rory McIlroy and his wife, Erica, learned they were expecting their first child over the holidays while in Ireland, and some quick math would have shown perfect timing. She was due in early September, right after the FedEx Cup season ended.
Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot from the third hole during the third round of the Tour Championship golf tournament at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020. (AP PhotoJohn Bazemore)
"I was expecting a very quiet fall," McIlroy said. "I thought, 'October, November, December, three months at home watching my daughter grow up a little bit. That'll be nice.'"
And then golf shut down for three months because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which upended the calendar.
Poppy Kennedy McIlroy was born two weeks before the U.S. Open. Still to come is the Masters in November, another shot for McIlroy to get the career Grand Slam.
After the U.S. Open, McIlroy plans to play the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, and the following week in the Zozo Championship at Sherwood in California. Two weeks later he has the Masters, and that's it.
"So I've got a couple of three-week chunks there that I can spend time at home and enjoy it," he said. "And the post-Masters, I've got a couple months to really enjoy it."
OPEN AND CLOSED
Reaching the Tour Championship comes with the perk of being exempt for the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open, and the PGA Championship was virtually a lock because it's based on a money list and all 30 players at East Lake would have earned enough, anyway.
But the cancellation of the British Open this year due to the pandemic presented a different scenario.
The field for Royal's St. George's, had it been played in July, would have included the 30 players who made it to East Lake last year. As for the 30 players who made it to the Tour Championship this year? That's to be determined.
The R&A sent out a notice last week saying it will honor all exemptions that had been decided by April 6, the day the 149th Open was pushed back to 2021. At the time, 106 players were exempt for the 156-man field.
"With only 50 places left for all qualifiers and new exemptions, there will be a reduction in the number of places available at certain championships and money lists over the year," the R&A said. "That includes the Tour Championship."
Of the 30-man field this year, 16 were not at East Lake a year ago, a list that includes Scottie Scheffler and Harris English, Mackenzie Hughes and Billy Horschel. Two others, Joaquin Niemann and Cameron Smith, would have made it to Royal St. George's this year from being on the Presidents Cup team.
The R&A is reviewing how to fill the final 50 spots. Among the last to get in was Joel Dahmen, who tied for fifth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. That was the last of the International Final Qualifying series before the pandemic shut down golf.
Two other IFQ sites in America, the RBC Canadian Open and John Deere Classic, were canceled this year. Another was the Travelers Championship, where the two spots would have gone to Hughes and Kevin Streelman. But then, that was held after the Open had been canceled.
"Players should not make assumptions about exemptions based on previous years' events," the R&A said.
DIVOTS
The 30-man field at the Tour Championship was represented by a 12 countries, the most since the FedEx Cup began in 2007. Every continent had at least two players except for Africa, which had none. ... For the first time, the average age of the 30 players was at East Lake was under 30 (29.33). Ryan Palmer (43) was the only player in his 40s. ... Americans have won four of the nine LPGA events that have been held this year. ... Country singer Colt Ford, who once played professionally, is making his PGA Tour Champions debut on a sponsor exemption. The other sponsor exemption has gone to Gary Nicklaus.
The ANA Inspiration is missing seven out of the top 20 in the women's world ranking, all from Asia, because of travel involved amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
"When I went through all three stages of Q-school and got my tour card, I think they gave me a $25,000 check. I thought I was rich because I didn't have but a couple hundred bucks in my bank account probably." — Dustin Johnson, after winning the $15 million prize as FedEx Cup champion.
Skoda to withdraw sponsorship if Belarus hosts hockey w ...
Czech carmaker Skoda has warned th ...
When her suburban Dallas high scho ...
Schauffele recovers from COVID-19, optimistic about new year
Masters field at 84 players heading into the final 3 months
PGA Tour's top 2 rules officials retiring after long careers
Major champion Popov overlooked for exemption to LPGA finale
Limited fans, limited views to start new year on PGA Tour
Thomas sees room for improvement after another strong year
Major changes for post-major media tours during pandemic
Fowler among those still not a lock for Masters invitation


Your questions answered by OBO's online expert, Jon O'Haire.
I am planning on ordering new kickers (I'm currently using the obo robo high control), and was wondering the difference between the high rebound and high control.
As the name suggests the High Rebound offer a more significant rebound effect to the kicker. The foam compresses and expands resulting in high paced clears with a minimum amount of impact. Typically keepers who play with the High Rebound kickers use more of a deflecting than kicking style in playing the ball. The only down-side is that because of the compression, once the kickers lose their elasticity you lose rebound and will feel the ball more than you might with the High Control kickers. It all depends on your game. Personally I tend to kick rather than deflect when I save/clear and prefer the High Controls.
Author adminPosted on June 21, 2011 April 22, 2014 Categories OBO Online ExpertTags hi control, hi rebound, Kickers, ROBO1 Comment on What's the difference between hi rebound and hi control?
Does the colour of a goalie's kit make a difference to the opposition. i.e. does the striker get distracted by bright colours?
The studies I'm aware of in regards to colour have been done with football and ice hockey. There are two different schools of thought, one is to blend in and the second is to distract. Blue and green are good blending colours. On the distracting front, red, orange and yellow are good distracting colours. I recently heard mention of a study done by a Canadian university that was done with ice hockey goalkeepers. The study centered on many keepers wearing white equipment to blend in with the white ice. They also did a study as to what colour made pads (all the same size, just different colours) appear to be the "biggest" and yellow coloured equipment was deemed to be the "biggest." You can make a case for blending in or distracting. If a striker is distracted by your colours they're not focusing on the goal. If you're blending in, the striker may not see you. At the end of the day it's not so much about what the striker sees, but what colours make you feel strongest in goal.
Author adminPosted on April 26, 2011 April 26, 2011 Categories OBO Online ExpertTags colour1 Comment on Does kit colour make a difference?


text:
package org.elasticsearch.common.network;

import org.apache.lucene.util.BytesRef;
import org.apache.lucene.util.Constants;

import java.io.IOException;
import java.net.Inet4Address;
import java.net.Inet6Address;
import java.net.InetAddress;
import java.net.NetworkInterface;
import java.net.SocketException;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Arrays;
import java.util.Collections;
import java.util.Comparator;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.Optional;
import java.util.function.Predicate;
import java.util.stream.Collectors;

/**
 * Utilities for network interfaces / addresses binding and publishing.
 * Its only intended for that purpose, not general purpose usage!!!!
 */
public abstract class NetworkUtils {

    /** no instantiation */
    private NetworkUtils() {}

    /**
     * By default we bind to any addresses on an interface/name, unless restricted by :ipv4 etc.
     * This property is unrelated to that, this is about what we *publish*. Today the code pretty much
     * expects one address so this is used for the sort order.
     * @deprecated transition mechanism only
     */
    @Deprecated
    static final boolean PREFER_V6 = Boolean.parseBoolean(System.getProperty("java.net.preferIPv6Addresses", "false"));

    /**
     * True if we can bind to a v6 address. Its silly, but for *binding* we have a need to know
     * if the stack works. this can prevent scary noise on IPv4-only hosts.
     * @deprecated transition mechanism only, do not use
     */
    @Deprecated
    public static final boolean SUPPORTS_V6;

    static {
        boolean v = false;
        try {
            for (NetworkInterface nic : getInterfaces()) {
                for (InetAddress address : Collections.list(nic.getInetAddresses())) {
                    if (address instanceof Inet6Address) {
                        v = true;
                        break;
                    }
                }
            }
        } catch (SecurityException | SocketException misconfiguration) {
            v = true; // be optimistic, you misconfigure, then you get noise to your screen
        }
        SUPPORTS_V6 = v;
    }

    /** Sorts an address by preference. This way code like publishing can just pick the first one */
    static int sortKey(InetAddress address, boolean prefer_v6) {
        int key = address.getAddress().length;
        if (prefer_v6) {
            key = -key;
        }

        if (address.isAnyLocalAddress()) {
            key += 5;
        }
        if (address.isMulticastAddress()) {
            key += 4;
        }
        if (address.isLoopbackAddress()) {
            key += 3;
        }
        if (address.isLinkLocalAddress()) {
            key += 2;
        }
        if (address.isSiteLocalAddress()) {
            key += 1;
        }

        return key;
    }

    /**
     * Sorts addresses by order of preference. This is used to pick the first one for publishing
     * @deprecated remove this when multihoming is really correct
     */
    @Deprecated
    // only public because of silly multicast
    public static void sortAddresses(List<InetAddress> list) {
        Collections.sort(list, new Comparator<InetAddress>() {
            @Override
            public int compare(InetAddress left, InetAddress right) {
                int cmp = Integer.compare(sortKey(left, PREFER_V6), sortKey(right, PREFER_V6));
                if (cmp == 0) {
                    cmp = new BytesRef(left.getAddress()).compareTo(new BytesRef(right.getAddress()));
                }
                return cmp;
            }
        });
    }

    /** Return all interfaces (and subinterfaces) on the system */
    static List<NetworkInterface> getInterfaces() throws SocketException {
        List<NetworkInterface> all = new ArrayList<>();
        addAllInterfaces(all, Collections.list(NetworkInterface.getNetworkInterfaces()));
        Collections.sort(all, new Comparator<NetworkInterface>() {
            @Override
            public int compare(NetworkInterface left, NetworkInterface right) {
                return Integer.compare(left.getIndex(), right.getIndex());
            }
        });
        return all;
    }

    /** Helper for getInterfaces, recursively adds subinterfaces to {@code target} */
    private static void addAllInterfaces(List<NetworkInterface> target, List<NetworkInterface> level) {
        if (level.isEmpty() == false) {
            target.addAll(level);
            for (NetworkInterface intf : level) {
                addAllInterfaces(target, Collections.list(intf.getSubInterfaces()));
            }
        }
    }

    /** Returns system default for SO_REUSEADDR */
    public static boolean defaultReuseAddress() {
        return Constants.WINDOWS ? false : true;
    }

    private static InetAddress[] filterAllAddresses(final Predicate<InetAddress> predicate, final String message) throws IOException {
        final List<NetworkInterface> interfaces = getInterfaces();
        final List<InetAddress> list = new ArrayList<>();
        for (final NetworkInterface intf : interfaces) {
            for (final InetAddress address : Collections.list(intf.getInetAddresses())) {
                if (predicate.test(address) && isUp(intf)) {
                    list.add(address);
                }
            }
        }
        if (list.isEmpty()) {
            throw new IllegalArgumentException(message + ", got " + interfaces);
        }
        return list.toArray(new InetAddress[0]);
    }

    private static boolean isUp(final NetworkInterface intf) throws IOException {
        try {
            return intf.isUp();
        } catch (final SocketException e) {
            // virtual ethernet devices come and go, we will treat such a device that disappeared as not being up
            if (intf.getName().startsWith("veth") && e.getMessage().equals("No such device (getFlags() failed)")) {
                return false;
            }
            throw new IOException("failed to check if interface [" + intf.getName() + "] is up", e);
        }
    }

    /** Returns all interface-local scope (loopback) addresses for interfaces that are up. */
    static InetAddress[] getLoopbackAddresses() throws IOException {
        return filterAllAddresses(InetAddress::isLoopbackAddress, "no up-and-running loopback addresses found");
    }

    /** Returns all site-local scope (private) addresses for interfaces that are up. */
    static InetAddress[] getSiteLocalAddresses() throws IOException {
        return filterAllAddresses(InetAddress::isSiteLocalAddress, "No up-and-running site-local (private) addresses found");
    }

    /** Returns all global scope addresses for interfaces that are up. */
    static InetAddress[] getGlobalAddresses() throws IOException {
        return filterAllAddresses(
            address -> address.isLoopbackAddress() == false
                && address.isSiteLocalAddress() == false
                && address.isLinkLocalAddress() == false,
            "no up-and-running global-scope (public) addresses found"
        );
    }

    /** Returns all addresses (any scope) for interfaces that are up.
     *  This is only used to pick a publish address, when the user set network.host to a wildcard */
    public static InetAddress[] getAllAddresses() throws IOException {
        return filterAllAddresses(address -> true, "no up-and-running addresses found");
    }

    static Optional<NetworkInterface> maybeGetInterfaceByName(List<NetworkInterface> networkInterfaces, String name) {
        return networkInterfaces.stream().filter(netIf -> name.equals(netIf.getName())).findFirst();
    }

    /** Returns addresses for the given interface (it must be marked up) */
    static InetAddress[] getAddressesForInterface(String settingValue, String suffix, String interfaceName) throws SocketException {
        Optional<NetworkInterface> networkInterface = maybeGetInterfaceByName(getInterfaces(), interfaceName);

        if (networkInterface.isPresent() == false) {
            throw new IllegalArgumentException(
                "setting ["
                    + settingValue
                    + "] matched no network interfaces; valid values include ["
                    + getInterfaces().stream()
                        .map(otherInterface -> "_" + otherInterface.getName() + suffix + "_")
                        .collect(Collectors.joining(", "))
                    + "]"
            );
        }
        if (networkInterface.get().isUp() == false) {
            throw new IllegalArgumentException(
                "setting ["
                    + settingValue
                    + "] matched network interface ["
                    + networkInterface.get().getName()
                    + "] but this interface is not up and running"
            );
        }
        List<InetAddress> list = Collections.list(networkInterface.get().getInetAddresses());
        if (list.isEmpty()) {
            throw new IllegalArgumentException(
                "setting ["
                    + settingValue
                    + "] matched network interface ["
                    + networkInterface.get().getName()
                    + "] but this interface has no internet addresses"
            );
        }
        return list.toArray(new InetAddress[list.size()]);
    }

    /** Returns only the IPV4 addresses in {@code addresses} */
    static InetAddress[] filterIPV4(InetAddress addresses[]) {
        List<InetAddress> list = new ArrayList<>();
        for (InetAddress address : addresses) {
            if (address instanceof Inet4Address) {
                list.add(address);
            }
        }
        if (list.isEmpty()) {
            throw new IllegalArgumentException("No ipv4 addresses found in " + Arrays.toString(addresses));
        }
        return list.toArray(new InetAddress[list.size()]);
    }

    /** Returns only the IPV6 addresses in {@code addresses} */
    static InetAddress[] filterIPV6(InetAddress addresses[]) {
        List<InetAddress> list = new ArrayList<>();
        for (InetAddress address : addresses) {
            if (address instanceof Inet6Address) {
                list.add(address);
            }
        }
        if (list.isEmpty()) {
            throw new IllegalArgumentException("No ipv6 addresses found in " + Arrays.toString(addresses));
        }
        return list.toArray(new InetAddress[list.size()]);
    }

    /**
     * @return all IPv4 addresses for interfaces that are up.
     */
    public static InetAddress[] getAllIPV4Addresses() throws IOException {
        return filterIPV4(getAllAddresses());
    }

    /**
     * @return all IPv6 addresses for interfaces that are up.
     */
    public static InetAddress[] getAllIPV6Addresses() throws IOException {
        return filterIPV6(getAllAddresses());
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


When time passes, it all looks the same.
And everybody says, "You've gotta think positively,"
The only change that'll ever hold up goes under the skin, clear to the bone.
One day, it's gonna be through - this back burner.
Say man, what are you cooking back there?


The HSV-2 Swift damaged by missile attack off Yemen Oct. 1, 2016. Emirates News Agency photo.
The HSV-2 Swift, formerly an original proof-of-concept ship for the U.S. Navy's Joint High Speed Vessel program, was gutted by explosion and fire when Houthi rebels attacked the ship off Yemen Oct. 1.
Operated by the United Arab Emirates, the 321'x88'x11' Swift was transiting the Bab Al Mandeb strait between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden when it was struck at night. Gutted by the attack but still floating, the vessel was moved to Eritrea for salvage.
Photos released by the Emirates News Agency showed the riddled, burned catamaran with a massive hole in its starboard bow. A Houthi rebel group allied with Iran claimed its fighters targeted the vessel with a C-802 anti-ship missile, a weapon of Chinese design.
If true, such missiles could be a major new threat to Red Sea shipping, warned Stratfor, the Austin, Texas, based business and strategic intelligence firm. Two U.S. guided missile destroyers are in the area to keep shipping lanes to the Suez Canal open.
The HSV-2 Swift when in U.S. Navy service. U.S. Navy photo.
Built in Australia in 2003 by Incat, the Swift was an early prototype for the U.S. Navy's vision of high-speed multihull transports. Under lease to the U.S. Military Sealift Command, the vessel showed its ability for rapid response, with top speed around 45 knots, cruising speed of 30 knots, and 600 tons of cargo capacity.
Designed to deliver troops, supplies and vehicles for the American military, the Swift excelled in humanitarian missions, notably relief efforts after the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and hurricane Katrina in 2005, when it delivered supplies to Gulf of Mexico communities cut off by road damage.
The concept evolved into today's class of 103-meter Joint High Speed Vessels, starting with the USNS Spearhead (JHSV1), built by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., and christened in 2011. Austal has so far built six for the JSHV fleet.
After the Spearhead replaced it in U.S. service in 2013, the Swift was leased to the UAE and operated with a crew of 17 contract mariners.
Arab coalition forces battling the Houthi said the UAE ship was on a humanitarian mission to carry medical supplies to the war zone and bring out wounded civilians. Days later there were conflicting reports of casualties from the attack, including up to 22 dead.
I also find it strange that no details about dead or wounded have been released. One might guess that they are intentionally concealing the nationalities. Perhaps they were also doing something other than or in addition to humanitarian aide.
Actually, it is quite believable… Sailed on that ship when it was leased to the U.S. In is truly just a ferry and has been used on that capacity many times. Humanitarian aid turned out to be one of it's best missions. Very sad.
This is why no naval vessel should be built w/o a phalanx gun. One $2M cruise missile easily destroys $100M littoral support vessel. Also why one shouldn't send a ship out alone, as did the USN recently resulting in captured sailors by Iran when small boats were sent on a ridiculously long mission w/no more than outboard engines and hand guns.
If it came with a CIWS then it would have been a warship. US law requires that our warships be built in the US. In order to buy it from Incat in Australia the Navy had to categorize it as not a warship. Also noted that the contract was through Bollinger in Louisiana. That would sem to just add administrative costs unless they were also trying to get around the warship provisions in our laws.
Recommend you check facts on the Navy mission. Two armed Riverine combat craft, carrying mounted machine guns, took an unauthorized short cut, skirting Iranian waters. After one broke down and found themselves a drift in Iranina waters. These combat vessels have inboard diesel jet drives, no out board motors here. Our Sailors, at many levels, screwed up royally.
After some research I am unable to determine who owns the ship. Strange. I find records of leasing and chartering but no record of selling; so perhaps the US Navy still owns it.
US Navy never owned the Swift, it was leased. Owner of the vessel was SEALIFT zinc. The vessel was leased to MSC and the crew was contracted to MSC.
No way that explosion was just the missile warhead. Might be wrong, but those looked like massive secondaries.
I'm one from Swift crew, really no one got injury or loss of life. But my opinion if they are want to kill some one , everyone will be dead. After rocket , they are start shooting by minigun from small boat. Now almost all guys in abudhabi , waiting passports. Owners is NMDC . Under UAE military force charter. We are transferred some things , here is why we was under the focus.
I am working on a boatwork project and found this ship. I hope that all this information is liable. If it is not, then we shall be called liars. I hope that it doesn't happen that way.
Let's continue giving Iran time, American dollars and resources to overtly arm, train and deploy these rebels. Great idea. They aren't even bothering to pretend it's not true anymore and every day they gain more.
herbal medicine, I want to make sure that HIV never happens to anyone else.
contact him today and leave carefree, on whatsapp +2349050606649 Goodluck.
I was on this ship as rotational crew 2005/2006. Thoroughly enjoyed my time onboard. Multiple Humanitarian missions including Banda Ache Tsunami relief; New Orleans, LA Superdome relief from Pensacola, Fla, Hurricane Katrina Relief ; Beirut, Lebanon ex patriot removal and Humanitarian supplies delivered. A lot of people don't know this ship is built of Aluminum. The damage is not surprising to me. Forward area hit was airline passenger style seating and the galley (kitchen). All materials were light weight for speed. Sad to see her this way. Incat (Hobart, Tasmania), builds incredible machines. That is why she is not a USS or USNS designation. Not built in the U.S.A. I will never forget my time onboard. Oh, It also used 4 of the largest Diesel engine Caterpillar built D3618, 9970 HP, with Wartsilla water jets. Can you tell I am a proud crew member/Engineer ?
ART you knew my son. He was on that ship the same time, docked on the Mississippi. Beautiful Ship. He gave me a tour while visiting in Virginia for Christmas 2004. I was telling a friend about this ship last night and I was stunned to see the damages to it. The Forward area was beautiful – reminded me of the Starship Enterprise from Star Trek. Beautiful ship and you sailors did a great job in New Orleans. At least now I know where else you were. My son was always careful not to give TMI. I would be very proud too, if I were you. Thank you for your service.


Comments: Graianfryn is situated on the edge of Snowdonia National Park between the mountains and the sea. There is spectacular scenery, wonderful walks, sandy beaches and they provide delicious imaginative vegan or vegetarian food. Breakfast for vegan guests includes a full cooked breakfast, a selection of homemade cereals, a choice of dairy free milks, gorgeous jams and home baked bread. Highly recommended by vegans who have stayed here.
3 miles from Snowdon. Their website has detailed directions.


text:
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Paralysed with fear in Guyana
April 27, 2018 May 21, 2018 carinyasharplesLeave a comment
Much of my time in Guyana is spent trying to not be afraid – as much as some people would like me to be. Fear is often seen as a positive rather than a negative sentiment. To be fearless is to be careless, to invite trouble on yourself.
Fear can be a necessary emotion, like pain. It tells us something is wrong, and that we need to do something about it. But while pain ends as soon as the treatment begins working, fear doesn't. It sticks around long after the danger has passed – knotting itself into your guts like a cancer so you can no longer tell if it's your instinct or fear talking.
Don't leave your bike there. Don't walk there. Don't take the bus. Don't go there alone. Don't trust them. Don't trust anyone. Watch what you say to who. Don't tell them you've gone away. Get extra grills. Don't go to Guyana, fullstop.
Sometimes the advice is wise, sometimes it's necessary, sometimes it's not. Deciding which is which is not always easy. And before you know find yourself being 'safe rather than sorry' about everything. Just stepping out of the house feels reckless.
One of the first things that fear destroys is trust. That's why receipts are stamped by someone who's not the cashier, why there are bag bays in superstores, why you need your ID to pay by card at a supermarket, why people are reluctant to advertise their prices, why the customs inspector at Guyana Post Office bore holes through the soap I was sending to a friend – testing, presumably, for drugs.
It seems unnecessarily suspicious, but then I haven't experienced what happens when these trusts are betrayed.
I haven't lived through times when the possessions I broke my back to buy were stolen from under my nose. Or when family and friends deceived me for their own gain. I haven't had someone pull a knife or gun on me. I haven't had someone threaten my life for just speaking my mind. I haven't had my front door beaten down (well, a couple of thieves tried to kick my door down once years ago in the UK but they didn't get through).
Perhaps if that had happened to me again and again I would not be able to dismiss the fear so quickly.
The problem with living in fear, though, is that while you may stop the bad things happening – you also stop the good. How many innovative ideas have never been realised because someone was worried a rival would steal or copy them? How many films or albums sit on hard drives, safe from pirates but unseen? How many frightened people spend sleepless nights or nervous days, waiting for what they see as the inevitable? How many beautiful relationships have never begun because of a fear of what could go wrong? How many leaders have never taken the lead because it was less risky or scary to continue with the status quo?
Growing up, my dad often quoted President Roosevelt as saying, 'The only thing to fear is fear itself'. It was part of Roosevelt's inaugural address on being elected in 1933 – at a time when America was in the grip of the Great Depression. Fear was something he tried to banish from the minds of his electorate. Today, leaders fan the flames of fear to get into power – and then to maintain their grip on it.
Speaking to my Communications students about ethics in the media, I showed them an Al-Jazeera video analysing media manipulation in Kenya, which is due to go to the polls – like Guyana – in 2020. Like Guyana, Kenyan elections are often beset by ethnic tensions and fierce political rivalry. The video showed a campaign ad that played on its viewers' worst fears, imagining a future Kenya where communities are removed from their homes, where there is no money for clean water, and where women are giving birth in the streets.
What fear-mongering can Guyanese expect in the coming few years from all political parties? Are we ready to withstand it, to question it? Are we willing to criticise parties for using fear tactics? As internet connectivity spreads across the country and sensationalist 'news' websites mushroom, how will GECOM or the GPA guard against the spreading of fake, malicious and prejudicial coverage without trampling on press freedoms?
Guyana is a scary place for many people, especially those Guyanese living overseas who wrap themselves in a nostalgic, rose-tinted view of Guyana – while being terrified to actually step foot in the country they rhapsodise about. Yet is it really the worst place in the world? Sometimes you would think so.
A neighbour stops me almost every day to share a new fear. An errant relative. An unknown figure on the street. A particular corner where you could get mugged around 1pm. "Girl, I frighten". She tries to pass on her fears, and seems almost disappointed if I don't share in them or immediately pledge to change my habits.
There are some fears that are justified and real. But when every decision we make is an act of fear, we become paralysed by it.
[Main image: Image from page 130 of "Natural history of Selborne and observations on nature [microform]" (1904), via Flickr]
All the things that were not said
April 3, 2018 May 21, 2018 carinyasharples2 Comments
The worst country in the world, Untitled, Untitled, The oil man cometh, Things I would like to get rid of in Guyana, Which Guyana do you want to live in?, Guyana on screen, Where's the music at?, One year in Guyana, Black, gold + green, Things to do in a blackout, How to be a foreigner in Guyana, How to be a foreigner, Aborted words, Garlic is an aphrodisiac… and other things I learned at the Ayurveric cookery class, Making a disgraceful Brexit, Coming from foreign, Looking the wrong way on Independence Day, GuyExpo 2016, I am the midnight mosquito killer, How do you pick your battles?, On being overwhelmed, The man who designed Guyana's Golden Arrow flag, Flower power: The school girl fighting mosquitoes with curry plant, In pictures: A snapshot of Linden Guyana, First local elections in 22 years, A poem fuh women's day.
Looking in the draft folder of this blog, I find 27 unpublished pieces. Blogs I began and decided against finishing or sharing.
Sometimes it was because I was tired of my own voice. I found that blogs quickly turned into advice columns with me saying how things should be in Guyana. And who needs another foreigner doing that? (Didn't stop me the other times though, clearly.)
Sometimes I just got distracted by life. It happens and I'm increasingly making peace with that. As a freelancer I'm used to putting pressure on myself to get things done, but I'm learning to say: if you don't do it, is it really the end of the world? Which is both good and bad.
Sometimes I find what seemed so articulate in my head seems trite on the page. Cycling home from the screening of a film I was hit with a rush of inspiration to talk about the need to value artists. But what came out on the page felt unoriginal and lecturing.
Finding your voice on the page is a challenge. Finding your spoken voice is another thing. I've never been so conscious of my accent as since being in Guyana. I feel powerless over how it is perceived: 'posh', 'proper', valuable, incomprehensible, strange, funny.
Fairly soon after arriving Guyana, I found my accent was a joke for the moderators at two separate events. One dismissed my raised hand and that of another British person, saying: "Can we have a question from someone's who's not British?" Another compared my quiet, mumbling, British style of speaking in comparison to clearer American diction.
I was partly delighted to have the British accent disparaged, after the privilege it has demanded and enforced for so many years – often at the expense of other languages and accents. But, of course, I felt somewhat self-conscious too. I still rarely speak up at public events, where a 'different' accent usually causes people to spin around in their seats.
The sad thing is that 'different' voice could include a Guyanese one. How often, after all, is Creolese the language of debates, talks, Q&A sessions, and presentations in Guyana? How many Guyanese also feel reluctant to speak up because they're worried about someone laughing at a Creolese term or a 'wrong' pronunciation?
But I'm also trying to stop overthinking. Twice recently I've queried my ability to do something because of my accent and whether or not I'd be understood. The second time I stopped and said, 'Maybe I'm being too sensitive'. 'Just a bit,' was a friend's diplomatic response.
Like my writing, my accent is fluid and changeable. I don't know if that makes me inauthentic and false or flexible and considerate. And it isn't just a Guyana thing. I hear myself become more cockney with certain people back in London. When I lived in Ghana for three months, I picked up expressions, like 'Ehen' – that satisfying note of agreement. Travelling in Brazil for six weeks gave me 'Oopa!' and, briefly, an exclamation something like 'Oosh'. Perhaps it's inevitable that we adjust our language and try out new words, like clothing, as we try find our way in unfamiliar places.
One of Guyana's most famous poets, Grace Nichols, once wrote: "I have crossed an ocean, I have lost my tongue. From the root of the old one, a new one has sprung".
I'm not sure that I have lost my old tongue, or grown a fresh one. Perhaps instead it has split, serpent like – not with venom or lies but to speak more than one truth, more than one experience, more than one perspective. A snake apparently uses its tongue to 'smell' or test out its environment. And interestingly, I discover, a hummingbird also has a forked tongue, to help it draw nectar from a plant.
So too will I continue to explore my environment in the hope of finding words that are sensitive to the world around them, nourishing and bring sweetness.
Moving Circle of Artists take a spin to Rewa
March 29, 2018 May 21, 2018 carinyasharplesLeave a comment
In Pakuri (St Cuthbert's Mission) in the early 1990s, Guyanese artist and archaeologist George Simon began a movement to promote and encourage indigenous art and artists. Its name was the Moving Circle of Artists. It led to various outreach projects, including fellow artist Ozzie Hussein spending a year volunteering at Surama and around Rockview Lodge – training artists and creating totum poles.
One of the artists Hussein discovered during his travels was Surama-based Victor Captain, who has since exhibited his work widely – including at Guyana's national gallery, Castellani House. Earlier this year, Simon's dream came full circle as Captain joined a group of young artists and other volunteers on a similar expedition: to bring art to Rewa village in the North Rupununi.
The new Rewa Eco-Lodge sign carved by the team. Photo courtesy Andrew Campbell
The group of seven included Captain, artist and designer Nigel Butler, archaeologist and historian Andrew Campbell, environmentalist and team coordinator Hadeyyah Asgar, and artists Wilkie George, Ransford Simon and Jerry Marco. Support and guidance was provided by George Simon, as well as Anna Iles, Rtd Major General Joe Singh and David Yhann – owner of The Courtyard on Robb Street, where the Onhare festival of indigenous art took place in September 2017.
But the project was propelled along and ultimately brought to fruition by the enterprising young group – as their presentation as Moray House last night demonstrated.
The Moving Circle of Artists (minus one) present their work at Moray House
After an introduction by Laureen Pierre, Asgar took to the podium to talk about environmental concerns that had come to her attention during the team's two-week visit to Rewa – which included an epic two/three days' travelling up the river there and back. She spoke of illegal hunting and fishing, and concerns around fish/hunting stocks due to this and also the increase in the population of Rewa (which currently numbers 309).
Andrew Campbell with the catch of the day. Photo courtesy Andrew Campbell
Fake permission letters, sport fishing participants not catching and releasing, mercury deposits from mining leaking into rivers in the region were just three areas she highlighted, suggesting possible avenues for action or discussion for each – from increasing or introducing patrols to involving the Environmental Protection Agency.
Despite such environmental concerns, Rewa remains an area of extraordinary natural beauty and is lucky to have easy access to fish, so the team were well fed in the village by all accounts. Even when conducting a tour of Corona Falls on Rewa River, they were able to simply catch and cook their meals.
While sadly not a natural spring of the popular Mexican beer, Corona Falls does lay claim to an impressive number of petrolyphs – or rock carvings. With the help of a GPS and camera, Campbell was able to log and photograph many examples.
Petroglyph and tool sharpening marks at Corona Falls. Photo courtesy Andrew Campbell
After giving a short history of Rewa, which was first settled as recently as 1959 by Nicholas Edwards and family, Campbell went on to explain the techniques behind dating the petroglyphs. The rock carvings themselves, it seems, are unreliable indicators of age so what they do, he explained, so to look for archeological remains from previous eras – for example pottery.
Digging and archeology takes time and tools, so given the short time available to them, Campbell explained how they would "let nature do the digging for us" – and seek out pottery shards in the upturned earth around uprooted trees.
Photo courtesy Andrew Campbell
Butler then took over to explain the role of the artists, who carried out art workshops in Rewa village – as well as updating Rewa Eco-Lodge with some stunning cabin-wall paintings, interior carvings, and a new welcome sign. Art materials are notoriously expensive in Guyana – and not easy to transport on long journeys through the interior – so Butler explained how the artists led the participants on a scavenging walk to collect natural painting tools and equipment.
Natural palette. Photo courtesy Andrew Campbell
The first week involved guided classes, but by the second week the new artists of Rewa were left to their own devices. What emerged was an inventive array of works, including 'canvases' made by stretching cloth between the 'V' of a tree branch (an idea shared by Butler), painted coconut-tree 'spathes' (the curved bit shown in the photo above!), and even decorated skulls and turtle shells. Some of these works were on sale at Moray House, with many snapped up quickly – though a few pieces may still be available.
Work by Rewa artist. Photo courtesy Andrew Campbell
Before the concluding Q&A session, the toshao of Rewa added his thanks to the team and called on those present to come and see the works for themselves. Rewa Eco-Lodge is a community-run enterprise, which helps sustain the community. It's also now the proud owner of an array of work by some of Guyana's youngest and most talented indigenous artists.
Yhann ended the proceedings by talking of the future of the Moving Circle of Artists project, emphasising the importance of funding but also adding "communities will grow their own communities". It seems by investing in the Moving Circle of Artists, Rewa is doing just that.
For more photos and updates on the Moving Circle of Artists' trip to Rewa, follow Andrew Campbell on Facebook
Into the Rupununi Music & Arts Festival 2018
This blog is for the forthcoming Guyana Annual.
It's late afternoon at Manari Ranch and the sun is just setting over the savannah. On the stage, a group of Brazilian dancers lead a forró lesson – arms twisting, feet bouncing rhythmically. Off stage, performers for tonight's show gather instruments, poetry pages and courage for their soundcheck. While around the main space, stallholders fire up drum barbeques and swimmers splash in same the cool creek where that morning someone spotted an otter. This is the Rupununi Music & Arts Festival 2018.
Although launched in 2014, this year marked the festival's third outing in the Rupununi – after 2017's event was cancelled and replaced with a special 'Georgetown edition' to drum up interest. The festival began, so the story goes, when London-based Guyanese flautist Keith Waithe met Rockview Lodge owner Colin Edwards in Annai. They invited Trinidad-born arts promoter Bob Ramdhanie to meet with them in London. The rest is history. Today the team has grown to include Georgetown coordinator Denis D'Agrella, volunteer coordinator and travel specialist Luke Johnson, and Gavin Mendonca – in charge of social media and PR.
Having started out at Rockview, the festival is now planting roots at its new home: Manari Ranch, just outside Lethem. A sprawling open space, dotted with mango and lemon trees, a winding creek and the ranch itself, it's the ideal spot for a rustic and relaxed festival weekend. There's no rushing here. The festival's nightly programme tends to begin an hour later than scheduled; music and dance classes seem to happen spontaneously; and apart from restrictions on entering the camping area, there are no borders. Artists and festivalgoers mingle, and no one seems to bother with the VIP tent.
"We try to get away from this thing we call structure," says freewheeling festival director Ramdhanie. "The idea is that we kind of get people together and as more and more gather, we start something … [you] come out into an open space, have some fun, listen to the music, try some workshops – but it's all very informal."
What emerges is a very organic, collaborative event. When we arrive after a long but entertaining bus journey from Georgetown, there's already a hive of activity as the team of volunteers busily put the finishing touches to the decorations. There's the tall look-out post made from wood and topped with a Scouts' flag, the campfire that will be set alight that night, the bowl of mangos gathered from one of the many surrounding trees, heavy with fruit.
The volunteers are a lively team, made up of members of the Moving Circle of Artists, which includes former students of E. R. Burrowes School of Art; the St. Stanislaus College Scout Group; and those looking for a free and more involved experience of the festival. They stop to help we sleepy arrivals put up our tents, stamping pegs in the ground and navigating complex structures with practised ease.
Meanwhile, two Venezuelan artists wield paint cans and brushes to complete signs directing people to the festival and to not swim in the creek (oops, too late). Their handiwork already evident on the brightly coloured boards that surround the individual pit latrines and creek-water showers. It's not the Marriott by any means, but can you look at the stars while bathing in a hotel room?
During the day, our time is spent in the creek, relaxing, doing workshops in everything from capoeira and yoga to wood carving, and going on trips to local sights like Kumu Falls, Lethem and Bonfim – just over the border into Brazil. Then it's time to eat and dance. There are four or five food stalls selling everything from pepperpot, eggs and bake 'n' saltfish in the morning to tuma fish, grilled meat skewers and hot dogs for dinner. A Banks bar and caipirinha stall, decorated with hanging fruits, run throughout the evenings too.
The main event though is, of course, the music. Mendonca switches hats to perform folk favourites with Buxton Arts drummer Chucky, before rocking out with his Georgetown metal band Feed The Flames – featuring special guest singer Josi. There are also lively performances from Georgetown singer-songwriters including Jackie Jaxx, Ruquyyah Boyer, Abel Stokes, Trevaun Selman; as well as appearances by Charlie DeFreitas, Lynden Cupidore, Nachgana Academy of Dance, spoken word collective Jazz and Poetry On A Stool, and comedian Chow Pow as MC.
Despite being billed as the Rupununi Music Festival, there are surprisingly few performers from the region – beyond the Surama Culture Group, which opened proceedings on the first night. But in the spirit of leading world music festivals like WOMAD, an international flavour is added by Los Goliardos, a big band from Venezuela; dancers Wilkinson Oliveira and Bruna Lima from Brazil, and reggae group The Virtuosics who were flown in from Jamaica.
Walking around the camp you can hear a mixture of languages being spoken, while the nightly campfire is usually dominated by the Venezuelan musicians – reaching out to their neighbours with offerings of familiar Latin songs and Bob Marley.
And as the tents came down on Monday morning, photos were snapped, contacts exchanged and promises made to return next year. The feeling was, this is just the beginning…
Indian indentureship exhibition at Guyana's National Archives
November 3, 2017 May 21, 2018 carinyasharples5 Comments
"It took them about four months," said Karen Budhram, Senior Assistant Archivist at the Walter Rodney Archives. She was standing in front of a row of amazingly well-preserved emigration forms of her relatives who had come from India to what was then British Guiana. One of the brown pages had no official seals and was otherwise blank apart from a few scribbled details. "She was born on the boat," explained Karen. So a form had to be improvised.
Original emigration documents. Photos by Carinya Sharples, copyright Karen Budhram
At four months, the journey of indentured labourers from India was longer than that of slaves forcibly brought from Africa – with their ships actually going around Africa to get to British Guiana, explained Karen. And the wooden 'logie' houses they lived in had previously been inhabited by slaves. But this wasn't said to compare their situations, just to join the dots. For some women, Karen added, leaving India represented an escape from family or certain customs – though obviously for others freedom was the last thing they found.
The fascinating thing was these records were all of Karen's ancestors. She could trace her family back right to different regions of India – and had created a huge family tree.
As well as painting a picture of Indian indentureship more generally, the exhibition also told a very personal story. Alongside examples of cane-cutter clothing, Indian musical instruments and the type of house overseers would have lived in, there were black-and-white photos of Karen's great-great grandparents, a 'sil and lorha' stone grinder from her mother's kitchen, and her own beautiful painting of her daughter.
Coming into the exhibition, there were already two children exploring the room's contents. They were, they said, mixed Indian and African – like my daughter, said Karen, pointing out her daughter's curly hair in the painting. The exhibition, she hopes, is a way for more people to learn more about and embrace their Indian heritage.
We were encouraged to ask questions about anything we saw. The young duo took Karen up on her word and asked, 'What's this? What's that?' Sharing what they knew when something familiar came up. A star-shaped wooden masher was like one in their mum's kitchen, the girl said. It was used in making dhal, added Karen – something they labourers may have had to eat day in and day out (with rice).
That kitchenware, jewellery and other objects of daily life have been preserved is wonderful, but that such intact paper records still exist is incredible. Looking at the registers of births, deaths and estate arrivals, you could still make out the tiny details that made each person stand out – a distinguishing mark perhaps or how they died. Pneumonia, bronchitis, dysentery.
The exhibition ends tomorrow, 3 November 2017 [Update: Karen Budhram says the exhibition will officially close early next week, so will actually be open Saturday 4 November and perhaps into next week]. But the services of the National Archives remain open. And some records are already online – particularly relating to Indian arrivals – so enter your surname into the search box on the home page of the archives website and see what comes up…
National Archives of Guyana, Homestretch Avenue, D'Urban Park, Georgetown, Guyana.
Archivist – (592) 227-7687
Senior Assistant Archivist- (592) 225-6783
General Office – (592) 226-3852
General Office email: narchivesguyana@gmail.com
Mondays-Thursdays: 8.30 hrs-16.00 hrs
Fridays: 8.30 hrs-15.00 hrs
Saturday: 9:00 hrs–2:00 hrs
Guyana's social media party seeks youth followers
June 11, 2017 May 21, 2018 carinyasharples3 Comments
The launch of the UMA in Georgetown, Guyana, on 4 June 2017. NB: This photo is not entirely representative of the 30-or-so people in attendance, many of whom were sitting behind or on another bank of chairs to the left.
"My friends, if I have rats in my house, I would need a cat to take out the rat. I wouldn't care if the cat is a white cat, a brown cat, or a black cat. I want the mouse die … If we want betterment in Guyana, we want good things for Guyana, I don't care if it's a black, white or brown person – if you can do the job, then Guyana is yours – Guyana is all of our own, to develop and to work towards making a better country."
The speaker was a young UG graduate and the co-founder of the United Movement Alliance (UMA), a new youth-focused party in Guyana. Rodley Mathoo and his fellow 'executive members' were there to hold their first public meeting – shifting the debate from a social media platform to a real one, located on the shiny top floor of the Kalyan Mall on Lamaha Street (a space, Mathoo later explained, he had been able to get a good price for hiring).
The co-founder of the party, according to a Newsroom Guyana piece, is
"25-year-old Ubraj Narine, who is a graduate Hindu priest from the International Vedanta University and is currently a priest at several temples across the country." Mathoo was also joined on the podium by his sister (I realise now, I didn't hear her introduced), who spoke of some of the challenges facing young people in Guyana:
"We know the struggle of having to work and go to classes. Coming home at 10, 11[pm] – just to graduate … We're going to make education a little more affordable [so] we won't need to be spending our whole paycheck at the end of the month to better ourselves … We'll be putting youth first. We have suffered enough due to politicians putting them first and us last."
In Guyanese politics, split for many years down racial lines, people are quick to judge we were told. Mr Mathoo said some people have accused the party of being an offshoot of the PPP. Yet, he claimed, no one in the fledgling party has any political affiliations. And he was pretty unimpressed in his analysis of both the two main parties: "You all expected change in 2015. I did. But we're still waiting for it … We would have sat down for 23 years and we would have allowed a political dictatorship to take away our resources and give to their own friends and family."
There was a clear attempt to position the party as multi-ethnic. The other two guest speakers were a young afro-Guyanese student at UG and Ras Leon, the publisher of a newspaper called 'Unite' that he was selling as the small audience trickled in. "I'm fully in support of the initiative you have taken," the elder man enthused. "Simply because life is like a relay race and right now my generation ought to be turning the baton over to yours. But a lot of us are holding on … and that ought not to be."
Referring to the half empty hall, attended by some 30 persons, he reassured the organisers: "Do not be dismayed by the fact that there are more empty chairs here than filled seats. No. Because in those chairs are spirits of our ancestors who are here with us, because you young people are really ancestors who have come again and, trust me, you walk with older folks around you."
In terms of policies, the group (unsurprisingly) focuses on issues affecting young people. In their hands, the VAT on education would be scrapped, and education standards improved. Youth unemployment would be tackled, and there seemed to be much hope pinned on the gas and oil industry – although mention was made of other industries. "80% of UG graduates leave this country every single year," claimed Mr Mathoo, "Why? Because the environment has not been created to sustain themselves and to sustain their families."
The focus was on growth, independence and Guyana first ("Aren't Guyanese capable enough of dictating their own policies?"). Topics under attack ranged from large gold mining companies suffocating small miners and not paying duties, to the lack of processing for aluminium in Guyana's booming Bauxite era – and the misconception that Guyana needs to bring in foreign experts. "If you go in any part of the world, in every sector there is a Guyanese there. Why can't Guyanese work towards the development of their own country?"
With no leader yet appointed, and little or no political experience (the UMA Facebook page and fundraising seem to be their main achievements so far), the group might be expected to aim for lower-hanging fruit – local elections, building support in Guyana's ten regions as they ambitiously plan to etc. But although they say they're not reaching for presidency or government, their aim for 2020 is to get five to seven seats in the national assembly, from which to advocate on youth issues, corruption and nepotism.
"In this day and age…to get a job or to get something done at GRA, you have to get a little line," said an exasperated Ms Mathoo. "If you don't, you'll get nowhere. and we have to stop that … you can't get things done on your own. You have to know either know somebody or you've got to be high up there." Whether the group is really drawing a new line, or just tracing an old one, time will tell. But to see young people engaged and leading the debate is welcome – even if it's in smart shirts and suites.
Why we need critics
June 6, 2017 May 21, 2018 carinyasharples2 Comments
A Guyana Restaurant Week review inspires fury from an apparent staff member. "Ur full fo shit!"
People talk of being slighted or blacklisted for having criticised institutions or individuals.
"Guyanese don't do criticism", say some. Others complain, "People always knock you down here".
There's a difference between a critic and a hater. To criticise you care, you want it to be better. But people mistake this love for hate.
Criticism doesn't come naturally. It is a muscle honed, a skill developed with time and practice. We may feel it in our gut, our bodies may respond unconsciously, but unless we can articulate why we like or dislike something it is of little help to the artist.
There's a skill to both giving and receiving criticism.
The praise sandwich is the most popular technique when giving: say something you like, then something you don't like, followed by another layer of sugar. Soften the blow. Instead of saying, 'I don't like…' or 'It was just bad', say 'I didn't understand why…?' or 'Have you thought about…?'
How to get constructive criticism is another matter. But producers of creative works or public services can encourage this through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TripAdvisor, comment cards, email requests/surveys, Q&A sessions, focus groups… At the recent Timehri Film Festival, feedback forms were offered, asking three basic questions: What did you enjoy, what didn't you enjoy, what could we improve?
Accepting criticism is just as tricky. But if you find yourself agreeing with the criticism or notice that what they pointed out has niggled with you too, then you should probably listen carefully. And if you disagree, well… you should listen carefully anyway, and be prepared to defend your decisions or work.
Criticism challenges us and often leads to better outcomes. When I was writing a BBC article on Guyana's high suicide rate, I sent a draft to a friend whose honest opinion I value, who made me realise that my original opening paragraph was a bit invasive and overly dramatic. I knew something wasn't right but needed someone else to vocalise it.
Criticism is also about resolving misunderstandings. That same article was translated into Spanish and Portuguese for BBC Mundo. Only recently I realised that the editors had captioned my photo of Georgetown Hospital's psychiatric unit as "como uma prisão" ("like a prison") in reference to the grilled drugs dispensary – not understanding that such grills are commonplace in Georgetown. I wasn't happy with the choice of words – or the stock photo that had been used of a stoned-looking white man clutching his head. Which said nothing about Guyanese people, or the realities of mental health.
How many people also baulked at the words – like the friend who tentatively mentioned the caption just a few days ago in a discussion about tone and writing about Guyana as a foreigner?
Since coming to Guyana I can think of only two occasions where I've received direct public criticism for my writing. Once was for my (on pause, don't ask) oral history project, which was summarised as "life under the whiteman is god reflectioneerin shizzle" on Mark Jacobs' slicing blog. I angrily wrote some earnest and offended comment, but actually it helped me think about who I was doing the project for. In writing 'Nearly 50 years on, we wonder: what was life like in those pre-independence years?', who was the 'we'?
The second time was in response to my open letter to Prince Harry. Two readers criticised me for writing apparently on behalf of Guyana. "Leave the prince alone. What the hell does he have to do with the past? And what the hell are you doing in Guyana," said 'Anna maria'. 'Printmeink' added: "You sounded like a trouble maker acting on behalf of the Guyanese people when you addressed the reparations. This was very offensive as you have no authority to even go back into time not yours." Again I defended myself, but again I used the criticism as an opportunity for self-reflection. Was I actually being offensive by saying 'we'? Which 'we' do I belong to? Do I have a right to join the #notmyprince debate and other issues surrounding colonialism when I've lived in the UK most of my life?
Far from driving a wedge between us, conscious and well-meaning criticism brings us together and promotes progress, self-improvement and quality. Why do artists, musicians, chefs, writers, directors, actors… all of us anxiously await reviews? Partly because the feedback could help or hinder our careers, but also because artists need knowledgable people to analyse, question and understand their work. It shows them that their message has or hasn't got through, it makes them reflect on and develop their practices, and it points out holes they need to fix. You don't get that from fans.
Obviously a review is just one person's opinion, but if the person writing or saying it is someone whose views and analysis you respect, you should listen to what they have to say. The most talented creatives I've met are not the ones who belittle others, boast of their own genius and dismiss criticism, but the ones who invite discussion, collaboration and debate. Who see the creative process as a never-ending journey. Who would never presume themselves to be the greatest, because they have too much respect for their peers.
Reading Media Diversified this morning, I came across this review of Vasco Araújo's Decolonial Desire exhibition. The reviewer was knowingly "emotional" and highly critical of Araújo's intentions and lack of self-reflectiveness: "I wonder if underneath his self-assuredness Araújo is aware that he has, in this room, recreated the human zoos he is trying to critique." I understood her dismay and disappointment. Yet I also felt curious about seeing the exhibition myself, finding out more about people and places cited – like Ota Benga, the Congolese rubber workers and transgender Black actress Jenny Larrue – and making my own judgement. And isn't that what a review should do?


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This BSA was restored and rebuilt in the beginning of this century, but has been standing in a garage for a long time. By this the chrome of the rims and the exhaustdamper got bad. Paint is still in good condition. At the moment the bike runs rides and works well, but because of the longtime it hasn't been used it is wise to give it a good check-up. Is with Dutch registration. Nice little bike with its stiff frame and speedo in fueltank.


text:
Drop sedition charge against Karpal so that Malaysia can return to the international mainstream of civilized nations by upholding the just rule of law and scrupulous respect of the absolute privilege of lawyers for all statements made during legal proceedings
(Petaling Jaya, Tuesday): With the postponement till January next year of the sedition trial of DAP Deputy National Chairman, former five-term MP for Jelutong and leading constitutional, criminal and human rights lawyer Karpal Singh, originally set to begin today till the end of the month, on rather weak and unsatisfactory grounds, the official authorities should make full use of the extra time to bring the country back to the international mainstream of civilized nations by upholding the just rule of law and scrupulous respect of the absolute privilege of lawyers for all statements made during legal proceedings.
The prosecution of Karpal Singh under the Sedition Act punishable with three years' jail for comments he made in court while acting as the lead defence counsel in the sodomy trial of former Deputy Prime Minister and current prisoner of conscience, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is a scandal and outrage for the Malaysian system of justice, marking a grave setback from its painful emergence from the judicial Dark Age when it was the scorn of national and international legal and judicial community as well as world opinion.
This is why with the sedition trial of Karpal, Malaysia is back in the international "dock" for violating international norms of conduct of civilized nations which cherish the just rule of law, with representatives from international legal and judicial organisations from all corners of the globe present in the Kuala Lumpur High Court this morning to observe the proceedings, such as Lawasia, the International Bar Association, including the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Datuk Param Cumaraswamy.
The prosecution of a lawyer for comments in court will cause irreparable injury to justice as it is unprecedented in the Commonwealth and in Common Law where it is an established and entrenched principle and rule of law that lawyers enjoy absolute privilege for all statements during legal proceedings.
It also runs counter to international law, which guarantees lawyers' immunity in Article 20 of the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers which states:
"Lawyers shall enjoy civil and penal immunity for relevant statements made in good faith in written or oral pleadings or in their professional appearances before a court, tribunal or other legal or administrative authority".
In addition, Article 16(a) of the same Principles states that "Governments shall ensure that lawyers are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference".
There are two other reasons which would make the prosecution of Karpal for sedition even more outrageous, namely:
the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad had conceded in October 1999 that Karpal enjoyed immunity for what he had said in court in his capacity as defence counsel for Anwar Ibrahim on Sept. 10, 1999 on sodomy trial relating to the allegation of arsenic poisoning; and •Mahathir's public statement in London last year that he would want to see Karpal "hanged".
enhance the reputation of Malaysia's system of justice and as a mature civil society especially as the sedition charge against Karpal has the effect of a "political anthrax" to undermine Malaysia's attractiveness as an investment centre.
There is a further compelling reason why the official authorities should drop the sedition charge against Karpal and bring Malaysia back to the international norms and mainstream of conduct of civilized nations by upholding the just rule of law and scrupulous respect of the absolute privilege of lawyers for all statements made during legal proceedings.
Malaysia has in recent times been inundated with enough "headaches" detrimental to the country's international reputation, threatening to drive away investors and tourists from our shores and underming the country's economic recovery efforts - whether KMM, Malaysia as a transit point for Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda operatives, the declaration of Malaysia as an Islamic state by the Prime Minister, PAS' announcement of jihad over US airstrikes in Afghanistan and the latest round-the-clock news report over CNN of the lethal anthrax bacteria by mail from Malaysia.
Malaysia can do without another international scandal especially as Karpal's sedition trial will have the effect of a "political anthrax" to undermine Malaysia's attractiveness and reliability as an investment destination.


Western Digital has rolled out an app to allow iPhone users to view pictures placed on its Nas boxes.
The WD Photos taps into WD's MioNet online file access service, so users will need to set up a MioNet account - registration is free, WD said.
Photos placed in the Nas boxes' Shared Pictures folder can then be searched, filtered and viewed on the phone - or on an iPod Touch.


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There are different stages of tuning. Please see the side menu for a description.
Suspension is one of those components that we specialize in. From Coil-overs to air-ride and everything in-between we have you covered. We can set up each and every customer with just the right solution for their needs whether it is for track or daily use or a combination of the two. Factory type ride quality can be achieved while giving the customer a stance for their vehicle that is not only better looking but will handle better as well.


The IAC Standards & Guidelines for Vein Center Accreditation: Superficial Venous Evaluation and Management are available below for download as a PDF. These accreditation Standards are the minimum standards for accreditation of a vein center, and represent the minimum requirements to which an accredited facility is held accountable. Applicant vein centers must reference the current published version of the Standards when applying for first-time accreditation or reaccreditation.
Standards that are highlighted are content changes that were made as part of the August 15, 2018 revision. Facilities applying for accreditation after August 15, 2018 must comply with these new highlighted Standards.
Facilities performing fluoroscopy must reference the IAC Standards for Vein Center Accreditation: Superficial Venous Evaluation and Management – Fluoroscopy.