text:
Why would any state pass an invasive bill like South Dakota did?
Dear South Dakota,
I heard you recently passed a bill to help ensure students have their privacy respected, and I wanted to say "thanks!"
I do, however, have a few concerns I hope you can help me with. I was reading through the bill, appropriately titled, "An Act to restrict access to certain restrooms and locker rooms in public schools," and while it's not the sexiest title (you can't even make an acronym out of it — I mean … AATRATCRALRIPS?), that's not really the focus. The important thing is that it ensures student privacy and, as Republican state Sen. David Omdahl said, "to preserve the innocence of our young people."
Photos via iStock.
I, too, think it's important that we preserve the innocence of our young people, which is why I wanted to ask a few things about the bill before the governor decides whether he'll sign or veto. Let's start with the obvious questions.
If you define "biological sex" as "the physical condition of being male or female as determined by a person's chromosomes and anatomy as identified at birth," I have to ask what category you place people who either haven't had their chromosomes tested (which, I don't know about you, but I certainly haven't; that's not something they do to newborns) or people with "anatomy" (very vague) that falls somewhere outside the male/female binary (as much as 1% of the population)?
Here's that section from your bill:
"BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
Section 1. That chapter 13–24 be amended by adding a NEW SECTION to read:
The term, biological sex, as used in this Act, means the physical condition of being male or female as determined by a person's chromosomes and anatomy as identified at birth."
This next part came to my attention because, well, I'm just curious what this has to do with "preserving innocence" or privacy? Do kids still take showers in schools? That don't have private stalls? It's been a while since I was in school, but I can't remember a single time anybody in my grade school or high school used the showers after gym class. Most people just showered at home, I think.
I decided to run a very informal poll, and yep, it seems as though open showers are a thing of the past.
And when it comes to restrooms, I've never seen anybody's genitals (nor had the opportunity to test their DNA) while using the bathroom. I'm a firm believer that if you're seeing others' genitals while you use the bathroom, then you're, well, bathrooming wrong.
And I'm curious how you plan to test students' anatomy and/or chromosomes. That is, how will you enforce this new law? Will there be genital checks upon entering locker rooms? Do students need to give a blood sample? Surely you have some system in place. I'm sure you wouldn't pass a law without — well, who knows?
But again, from your bill:
"Section 2. That the code be amended by adding a NEW SECTION to read:
Every restroom, locker room, and shower room located in a public elementary or secondary school that is designated for student use and is accessible by multiple students at the same time shall be designated for and used only by students of the same biological sex. In addition, any public school student participating in a school sponsored activity off school premises which includes being in a state of undress in the presence of other students shall use those rooms designated for and used only by students of the same biological sex."
Actually, the more I think about it, the more it seems like this bill actively wipes away innocence. I mean, I wouldn't want a teacher looking at my junk. I wouldn't feel as though my privacy is protected any better if a public school (which is essentially the government) had access to my DNA. That'd actually make me feel a whole lot less protected. I'd feel violated, even.
It seems to me that this bill wasn't properly thought through. It sounds expensive (if you're going to ensure people are in the "right" restroom and locker room, this'll be pricey!), and it sounds like — well, I'm no lawyer, but — it sounds to me like this invites lawsuits. I could be wrong.
But can you tell me how knowing what students' genitals look like helps ensure their privacy? It seems to me like this bill is a solution in search of a problem; sadly, that "solution" will only cause more problems.
You may not know Gladys West, but her calculations revolutionized navigation.
She couldn't have imagined how much her calculations would affect the world.
Erin Canty
US Air Force/Wikimedia Commons.
Dr. Gladys West is inducted into the Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame, 2018.
If you've never driven your car into a lake, thank Gladys West.
She is one of the mathematicians responsible for developing the global positioning system, better known as GPS.
Like many of the black women responsible for American achievements in math and science, West isn't exactly a household name. But after she mentioned her contribution in a biography she wrote for a sorority function, her community turned their attention to this local "hidden figure."
West was one of only four black employees at the Naval Proving Ground in 1956.
She accepted a position at the Dahlgren, Virginia, facility doing calculations, with her early work focusing on satellites. West also programmed early computers and examined the information that determined the precise location and elevation of satellites in space. Her data collection and calculations would ultimately aid in the development of GPS.
Employe testing the circuits on a super computer 1950s.
U.S. Census Bureau employees/Wikimedia Commons.
West and her colleagues back then probably could not have speculated just how much their calculations would affect the world.
Pretty much every "smart" device — from cellphones to fridges to dog collars — has GPS capabilities these days. The technology has changed the way we play, work, navigate, and explore our communities.
"When you're working every day, you're not thinking, 'What impact is this going to have on the world?' You're thinking, 'I've got to get this right,'" West once said in an interview with The Associated Press.
GPS has intrigated into many of the devices we use today.
Photo by Psk Slayer on Unsplash
West would continue her work until her retirement in 1998.
After more than 40 years of calculations and complex data analysis, West retired. And following a well-earned vacation with her husband, she suffered a major stroke. But during her recovery, she worked toward returning to school and earned a doctorate. Her go-forward determination led to her regain most of her mobility, and she even survived heart surgery and cancer years later.
While she may not be as well known as other women in STEM fields, West's contribution is undeniable.
At 87, West is working on her memoir and spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren. And according to her oldest daughter, West — despite the advent of GPS — still likes to have a paper map on hand.
Who are we to argue with greatness?
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Caity Lotz is heading to The CW's Arrow for a new Birds of Prey inspired episode.
Last December, fans of The CW's Arrowverse were treated to the year's crossover event. The exciting crossover, titled Elseworlds, featured the titular heroes of The CW's Arrow, The Flash, and Supergirl teaming up to take down a nefarious foe who has taken hold of the timeline. The one Arrowverse series exempt from the crossover's line-up was Legends of Tomorrow. The CW team-up series returns with new episodes this April but before then, fans will be able to see one of the series' leads, Caity Lotz, in a very different kind of a team-up.
According to a report from TV Line, Legends of Tomorrow's Sara Lance (Caity Lotz) will appear in an upcoming episode of Arrow, season seven episode eighteen, alongside fellow Arrowverse vigilante, Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy Rodgers). This is what Arrow showrunner had to tell TV Line about the exciting Birds of Prey-inspired episode.
The Birds of Prey will also be featured in a big screen adaptation, though it won't star the heroes of the Arrowverse. Instead, a new installment of the DC Extended Universe, titled Birds of Prey, will bring Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn into the iconic female-led team alongside characters such as the Huntress and Black Canary.
We'll be sure to keep you updated on all news regarding Caity Lotz's upcoming return to The CW's Arrow as soon as more information becomes available. Are you excited for Caity Lotz to return in the new episode? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
DIGGLE AND LYLA DEPLOY THE GHOST INITIATIVE – After months of covertly pursuing Dante, Diggle (David Ramsey) and Lyla (guest star Audrey Marie Anderson) finally have a solid lead on the elusive terrorist, so they deploy the ARGUS Ghost Initiative to apprehend him. Meanwhile, Oliver (Stephen Amell) tries to bond with Emiko (Sea Shimooka). Marcus Stokes directed the episode written by Rebecca Bellotto & Jeane Wong (#714).


We are now in the midst of counting the Omer. R' David Avudraham z"l (13th-14th century Spain) writes that one reason that Hashem commanded us to count the Omer is that during this period, people are busy with the harvest and are dispersed in the fields. In order that people not forget to travel to Yerushalayim for Shavuot, Hashem instructed us to keep count of the days.
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi teaches in the Midrash Rabbah: The word "Torah" appears five times in connection with the metzora (one who is afflicted with tzara'at). The word "Metzora" alludes to "motzi shem ra" / one who speaks ill of another, and tzara'at is in fact a punishment for speaking lashon hara. The five-time repetition of "Torah" teaches that one who speaks lashon hara transgresses all five books of the Torah. Therefore, Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi concludes, Moshe Rabbeinu warned the Jewish people regarding the laws of tzara'at.
What is this Midrash teaching? asks R' Moshe Gruenwald z"l (rabbi of Huszt, Hungary; died 1909). Didn't Moshe warn the Jewish people against all of the Torah's transgressions, even those that are not equal to violating all five books of the Torah?
He explains: An argument could be made that the laws of tzara'at should have been addressed to the kohanim. It is the kohanim, after all, who are delegated to "diagnose" tzara'at and to accept the offerings brought by the "recovered" metzora. Why, the Midrash wonders, did Moshe address these laws to all of the Jewish people, not just to the kohanim? Indeed, why were the laws of the metzora's offerings (chapter 14) not addressed by G-d to Aharon as were the laws that precede and follow them (chapters 13 and 15)? The answer, says the Midrash, is that Moshe was to make a special point to all of the Jewish people: speaking lashon hara is equivalent to violating all five books of the Torah.
In addition, writes R' Rosenstein, it is impossible not to exaggerate when describing the faults of another. Thus, even if one intends to tell only the truth, he is bound to tell a lie.
Finally, one who sees a fault in another is bound to rebuke him. Thus, one who speaks about another instead of to him is neglecting the mitzvah of giving rebuke.
R' Yitzchak of Volozhin z"l (1780-1849; son and successor to R' Chaim of Volozhin) asks: Why couldn't the mishnah say, "you do not know the reward for mitzvot"? What is added by, "that is paid"?
He answers with a parable. Two merchants (call them Reuven and Shimon) traveled to the market day in a distant town. Reuven had a cousin in that town (call him Levi), so the two travelers stopped-in at Levi's house instead of going to an inn. Levi was overjoyed to see his relative, Reuven, and the two of them sat down to catch up on family happenings while dinner was prepared. Shimon, having no part in this discussion, went to take a nap.
Explains R' Yitzchak: We read in Devarim (30:11-14), "For this commandment that I command you today — it is not hidden from you and it is not distant. It is not in heaven, [f[for you]o say, `Who can ascend to the heaven for us and take it for us, so that we can listen to it and perform it?' Nor is it across the sea, [f[for you]o say, `Who can cross to the other side of the sea for us and take it for us, so that we can listen to it and perform it?' Rather, the matter is very near to you — in your mouth and your heart — to perform it." Rashi comments: "`It is not in heaven" – for were it in heaven, it would still be your duty to go up after it and to learn it." Accordingly, says R' Yitzchak, we must appreciate the kindness that Hashem did for us by giving us the Torah. We do not realize the reward that we would have to pay for the mitzvot if G-d had not given them to us for free. This is what the mishnah is teaching.
The following is an excerpt from a letter written by R' Avraham Yitzchak Hakohen Kook z"l in 1913 to R' Yaakov David Willowsky z"l (the Ridvaz). At the time, R' Kook was Chief Rabbi of Yafo (Jaffa). Later, he would become the first Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi of Eretz Yisrael. The recipient had been rabbi of Slutsk, Poland and Chicago, and was then living in Tzefat. In the letter, R' Kook defends himself against criticisms that he is too close to the secular and even anti- religious Zionists. The letter is reprinted in Igrot Re'iyah Vol. II, No. 555.
There is no doubt that if your honor, the great sage, and other great sages of the generation, may they live and be well, would support me, join with me, and act as I do as much as their personalities allow, that the Name of Heaven would be sanctified and much peace and blessing would come upon the people of Israel and the Land. Many, many people would return in full repentance, and the sprouting of Israel's redemption would become obvious. The goodness and holiness that would come about as a result is indescribable. I hope that this will indeed happen eventually, that those who fear Hashem will recognize the purity of my heart and the truth of my views, and we will all become one union to do the Will of G-d and to increase the light of G-d and His honor upon His nations and His beloved land.
The editors hope these brief 'snippets' will engender further study and discussion of Torah topics ('lehagdil Torah u'leha'adirah'), and your letters are appreciated. Web archives at Torah.org start with 5758 (1997) and may be retrieved from the Hamaayan page. Text archives from 1990 through the present may be retrieved from http://www.acoast.com/~sehc/hamaayan/.


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Posted on November 6, 2015 by katiesmithpei
Pulamoo would like to see more students discover fun of rugby
Miramichi Leader
Wed May 6 2015
Page: B1
Section: Sports
Byline: Katie Smith
The game of rugby has had a bad reputation, likely since its beginnings in the 19th century. This might have to do with a match's many tackles and hits – by players wearing little equipment.
The odd player might wear a scrum cap, but other than that, the often metal-studded cleats and a mouth guard are all that is required.
Rugby players rely on fitness and skill over padding and helmets, which is to say they not only learn how to tackle, but they also learn how to protect themselves.
And while the sport may seem barbaric to many, for those who play, it brings camaraderie, friendship, healthy competition and a constant striving for improvement. It becomes a lifestyle, an obsession.
One of the coaches of the Miramichi Valley High School Pulamoo boys rugby team said the stigma around the sport could account for the low numbers of players he sees coming into the high schools.
Tim Sullivan, who has been with the team for five years, said in the northern part of the province, support for rugby is fairly low, but said in Miramichi the support is decent.
"There's a pretty good community, as you can see, a lot of people want to come back (to help)," he told the Miramichi Leader during an outdoor practice on Wednesday April 29. "We've got some players that have come back today just to be at practice, so there's a strong culture with that and the school is excellent with us."
Members of the Miramichi Valley High School boys rugby team prepare to engage in a scrum during a recent practice. Photo: Katie Smith/Miramichi Leader
Sullivan said in the past 10 to 15 years, the sport's popularity has grown in the Miramichi, but in other areas of the northeast, it's been in decline.
"Bathurst used to have two teams, nothing now. There used to be some other stuff up in Richibucto, there's nothing anymore. So it's unfortunate that way. We'd really like to see it grow."
Having a program in the middle schools would help get numbers up when the students reach high school, but it's more than that, Sullivan said.
"It's a slow process trying to convince people it's not some barbaric sport with a bunch of brutes punching each other, and for whatever reason, that's what people think it is."
Sullivan said he doesn't like to put expectations on any season but he feels confident in how the boys will do this year.
"For us, our biggest goal every year is to make the crossovers, to make the provincial semifinals. We want to get ourselves into a position for that, so usually that means being the top two in the conference. This year I think there's only three teams in the conference, so the odds of that are usually pretty good."
In his years as coach, Sullivan said there was only one year when the team didn't reach its goal.
"We've been pretty consistent."
Last year, the MVHS boys rugby team lost in the semifinals to Fredericton High School.
"Last year was definitely a rebuilding year, that's how we looked at it," said Sullivan.
Oromocto beat Fredericton High School in last year's finals, and Sullivan said Oromocto often wins, and with good reason.
"They have a strong program and a great coach. They've always got good numbers and have two teams going. As soon as one guy graduates, another moves up. That's what we'd like to get here."
The high school's team is made up of a large contingent of Grade 11s and a few seniors who will play a pivotal role this year, Sullivan said.
"The last couple of years we haven't been able to get the 9s and 10s we'd like to, so that's kind of the issue we're trying to address," he said. "As it stands right now, we like our team. We have a nice mix of guys who have been involved in rugby and like rugby. We have three or four guys who have played at the provincial level. We have some talent in here and some guys who have really helped the culture."
One of the players Sullivan referred to is Grade 11 student Patrick Hache.
MVHS boys rugby team captain Patrick Hache brings talent, skills and smarts to his game. Photo: Katie Smith/Miramichi Leader
Upon first glance, Hache looks like he's a coach rather than a player.
Standing almost six feet tall and weighing about 200 pounds, the 17-year-old played on last year's provincial under-18 team in the front row of the scrum, as a prop.
The scrum is generally made up of bigger players, like Hache, but for his high school team, Hache plays with the backs at number 10.
For those unfamiliar with the sport, a rugby team consists of 15 players – eight in the scrum (forwards), a scrum-half who feeds the ball into and retrieves the ball from the scrum and passes the ball out to the six back players (backs).
When a scrum is won, the scrum-half throws the ball to the backs, and the first player who usually receives that pass is the number 10.
Having a strong build and speed is ideal for a number 10, but it also takes brains, and as Sullivan said of his team captain, Hache has it all.
"He's the general out there. He can read the field and tell the guys where to go." Hache said he's happy in either position.
"I kind of like the backs because there are not a lot of backs who are closer to my size, but I do like the forward pack because I like being in close."
To add to his playing advantage, Hache also wrestles (which helps with tackling) and does competitive powerlifting, which he said is, "just for fun".
Powerlifting is good for rugby, he said.
"A lot of it's explosive, compound lifts and squats."
Hache also used to play basketball, but gave it up.
"I thought it would be better to train for rugby because it was the only sport that really meant a lot to me and that I did well at," he said. "It's definitely my favourite sport."
Unlike many students who start high school, Hache was introduced to rugby at an early age because his sister, Jillian, used to play in high school.
"She was right into it, she's not a very big girl, either, but she's tough. She really got me into it. When we were younger she'd want to go outside and want to hit me."
He said his friend's involvement in the sport also piqued his interest.
"Me and my buddy, his older brother played and we'd kind of just practise in the yard and I got interested in it."
Rugby has brought a lot to Hache over the years.
"A lot of good friends, I got really close with the team. It's something to really look forward to and work hard for and train for."
Hache said he would love to see more boys from the younger grades getting involved, and to convince them not to be afraid.
"A lot of the Grade 9s are convinced that if you're not big then you can't play, but I try to tell them there's a position for every size. It doesn't matter if you're small; it doesn't matter if you're big. If you're small, you're probably quick and you'll run the ball; if you're big you'll be taking on the little guys. I try to put them in a position where they feel confident."
He said the decline in interest from Grade 9 students is disappointing.
"There was so much interest in my Grade 9 year, we had 25 guys out. Not all of them stuck with it, but we still got at least 10 guys who have kept up with it."
As for this season, Hache is feeling good about lies ahead.
"I think this will be a really good season for us. We've had a pretty good group since Grade 9. I think if we're going to do good or go anywhere, this is the year. We still have a good chance next year, but I think we'll make an impact for sure this year."
The team is also coached by Todd Beck, Jason Dedam and Rob Murphy, Sullivan said.
"They're the ones bringing the majority of the knowledge and experience. They've got lots to share. And having Rob imported from Ireland helps too," he said laughing.
Entrepreneur uses know-how to help improve people's lives
Wed Jul 1 2015
Section: Business
A young entrepreneur from Miramichi is designing a bionic knee brace that could change the way people with an injury or permanent disability get around.
Bob Garrish and his business partner, Chris Cowper-Smith, co-founders of Spring Loaded Technology in Halifax, are working on making the world's first knee brace that has an exoskeleton-level powered hinge built into it, which will store the user's own kinetic energy and release it when it's most needed.
The project has already received some noteworthy attention. Garrish, 33, and Cowper-Smith, 31, received the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) 2015 Young Entrepreneur Award on June 22 for the turning point project, Bionic Boost, winning the grand prize of $100,000.
The brace, similar to a carbon-fibre knee brace someone receives after receiving a knee injury, has a carbon-fibre frame that straps to the user's leg and bends and straightens with the user's knee, Garrish said in an interview with the Miramichi Leader.
Bob Garrish models the bionic knee brace he helped create and develop. Photo: Submitted
"But the difference is that if you were to crouch, our brace would actually help you get back up, or if you go down a staircase it would support your weight," he said. "It's actually tuned to the user's weight. It's extremely strong."
The mechanism is strong enough that a 250-pound person wearing one could have one non-working quadricep and still be able to crouch down, tie their shoes and stand back up.
It is entirely mechanical, so there are no batteries or power sources required for the brace to operate, and it's lightweight and small enough to be worn under clothing, said Garrish, who is a graduate of James M. Hill Memorial High School and the son of Barry and Ginette Garrish of Napan.
"The strapping it on was one of the trickiest parts of development because to lift you back up, this essentially has to put your entire body weight on the back of your leg," he said. "So figuring out how to do that in a way that didn't hurt the user and that it was still comfortable was huge."
Garrish and Cowper-Smith met in a course at Dalhousie University in Halifax aimed at teaching people how to make startup companies, a course which included students from all different backgrounds and areas of study.
During the course, they were partnered up with another student, a hockey player, who wanted a powered knee brace because he thought it could make him skate faster.
"And so that's how it got started. We started looking into it and there's like 110 years of people trying to patent the same thing and trying to do it different ways and it never worked. I thought, 'Oh sure, I can fix that,'?" he said, laughing.
Garrish said the thing he and his business partner are most excited about is how this device is going to change people's lives.
"Recovery is one area where it certainly can help, but the one we're really excited about is people with a permanent quadricep weakness from injury or other disease, or people who have neurological disorders that cause loss of muscle control, like multiple sclerosis or muscular dystrophy."
For many of those people, who have lost the ability to crouch down, their world starts at their waist, Garrish said.
"You can't even bend down and tie your shoes. If you can't tie your shoes, you can't go to the grocery store, you can't leave the house without anyone else's help. You instantly lose the outside world and need a caretaker for something as simple as losing the ability to crouch and stand back up."
Garrish, who underwent knee surgery himself six months into starting the company, said he learned a lot during his recovery.
"As soon as you have one of those injuries, you learn stuff that's really not obvious," he said, adding going down the stairs with a knee injury is "terrifying."
"If someone has a knee that can fail, one, this can support their weight, but two, if they have a knee that's unstable, this will also catch them when they start to fall."
Thanks to the BDC Award, Spring Loaded Technology will be able to go to market this fall with the brace, something Garrish said wouldn't have happened until at least early 2016 without the funding.
The money will be used for new rapid carbon-fibre and composites manufacturing equipment to boost production and keep costs down, so the brace will be affordable and accessible to users.
Nearly all of the parts are made in the Halifax facility, Garrish said.
A lot of this stuff, we actually designed the manufacturing process and built the machines we used to make the parts," he said. "We're not only doing it here, but we're doing it at a cost where we can still make money and hit the price point we want to so that people can afford this."
Affordability has got to be part of it, Garrish said.
"Initially, we'll probably be doing a crowd-funding campaign like Kickstarter or Indiegogo, just because we've had so many individual users contact us," he said. "We're confident we can sell directly to consumers to start without going through distributors and that lets us control the price point."
Garrish said the cost they are aiming for will be more expensive than an off-the-shelf knee brace, but cheaper than buying a custom knee brace.
"We're essentially selling you an automobile for less than the price of a new bicycle," he said. "We have to make a nice knee brace to put this on, so we're effectively selling you a nice knee brace that happens to make you twice as strong for less than the price of a nice knee brace."
In the end, Garrish said he isn't in it for the money.
"I could be making a whole lot of more money designing weapons. Man, I could design a great missile," he said, laughing. "This will pay off, but the business you choose, we're definitely in this one because we think it's something that really matters."
Filipino man says sacrifices worth effort
Fri May 15 2015
Page: A1
Nothing worth having in life comes easy, as the saying goes, and for one immigrant living in Miramichi, the act of sacrifice is all too familiar.
Joel Ligad landed in New Brunswick from the Philippines in 2010, looking for work and a better life for himself and his family.
With little work in his native land, Ligad often travelled to Taiwan for months at a time, working various contract jobs. But because of Taiwanese laws, migrant workers can only work there for a maximum of nine years.
Wanting a more sustainable way to earn money, Ligad knew he needed to head west.
"Here, there's a good life. From our perception, Canada is a great country," Ligad told the Miramichi Leader in a recent interview. "That why we were aiming to go to Canada."
Joel Ligad is excited to be reunited with his wife and daughter. Photo: Katie Smith/Miramichi Leader
After looking into making the move, Ligad discovered there was a need for caregivers in Canada, so he returned to school and enrolled in a caregiver program. It wasn't until after that he learned the jobs for men in that field were few and far between.
"But then my friend told me that even if you're not a caregiver, Canada still needs employees."
With this in mind, Ligad applied to come to Canada via Taiwan because there are fewer applicants who apply from there, so he would have a better chance of getting to Canada.
"So I said, 'OK, I'll just go for any job, as long as I'm here in Canada,' and I just submitted my resumé to the agency, and it's up to them (to place me somewhere)."
It was soon time to head to his chosen new country, which was a mix of emotions for Ligad because, while on the one hand he was leaving to find a better life, he also had to leave his wife and unborn child behind.
"When I left, she was pregnant," he said, adding he has never had the chance to hold his baby in his arms.
Ligad's first job in Canada was in Richiboucto at a fish plant, but because it was only contract/seasonal employment, and because immigrants are required to work for a full year in a full-time position before they apply for their residency, he wasn't able to apply for his.
Eventually he landed a job in Miramichi as a Subway employee, and after a year of full-time employment, he was eligible to apply for his residency.
In April, the 36-year-old Ligad was finally granted permission to live in Miramichi, a permission extended to his wife and daughter.
It's been five years since he's seen his wife, Conchita, and has never once met his daughter, Summer, who turns four in June.
He is able to communicate with his family via computer over Skype, but Ligad said his situation has been challenging.
"It's hard. A lot of people don't know. You work at Subway, you face different kinds of people, you smile. And sometimes people don't know what your life (is about)," he said. "It's hard, wondering if (my family) are OK and how things with the baby are going. It's very difficult."
But things are about to look up for the family because Ligad is heading to the Philippines this month to visit with his family and friends and will bring his wife and daughter back to Canada with him.
"I'm so happy that finally all of the sacrifices are worth it. You finally get what you want if you keep on pursuing it."
Apart for five years, Ligad will soon have his wife and daughter under one roof, something he says is worth more than anything else in the world.
As Ligad started talking about his daughter, he paused and looked away as his eyes filled with tears.
"I can just remember the first time she said, 'I love you, Daddy,'?" he said, his voice cracking. "I'm just happy."
Ligad say he draws strength from his family, and they keep him going.
"My family motivates me. I'm doing this for them, so that's why you can't stop. Even though you are here alone, there can be problems with work or personal, but you can get through it."
Ligad said his wife has been strong through this whole process.
"She's OK. I owe her a lot for taking care of my baby. It's really hard. She's just alone. I'm not there for her every time the baby got sick. I owe her a lot for my baby."
And once he has her back in his life permanently, Ligad said he won't leave them again.
"I told my wife, 'I can't promise you an easy life, but the most important thing is that we have each other.' I told her, 'I'm not going to leave you anymore. Whatever happens, I don't care, as long as we have each other.'?"
Ligad is not only going to see his wife and daughter when he goes home, but he is also planning on surprising his mother and two brothers with a visit because it has also been five years since he's seen them.
"I didn't tell them I'm coming. I just told them I got the residency and I told them that before my wife and my daughter will come here, they will visit. So they are expecting my wife and my daughter to visit them, but not me."
Ligad said he has joined the Point Church and has met a lot of wonderful, supportive people through that, which has helped curb the loneliness of living here without his family.
"The church helped. I (met) people in the community, and some of them have helped me. They are really nice people," he said. "If there's a Thanksgiving, I'll go to their house with their family. That helps a lot."
The Philippines, which is made up of more than seven thousand small islands, is a country that enjoys a tropical climate, so the idea of snow is foreign to Ligad's family.
"My daughter, every time we talk on the Internet, she will ask me, 'Can you show me the snow?' The good thing is, they will come here in the summer for an easier transition because where we come from, it's so warm there."
Snow or not, Ligad said in the end, all that matters is that he and his family will again be reunited.
A red tide washes over Canada
Posted on October 20, 2015 by katiesmithpei
I can once again say I am proud to be Canadian. The country spoke, and our collective voice was heard.
After nearly a decade in power, Stephen Harper's Conservative government was defeated.
Justin Trudeau's Liberals won a majority government, earning 184 of the possible 338 seats in Parliament.
While Trudeau won 54 per cent of the seats, he actually only received 39.5 per cent of the popular vote. And if I learned anything about math in school, that's not isn't a passing grade, nor is it a majority. However, because of our first-past-the-post electoral system, his party formed just that.
I had to go to the voting station more than once to cast my ballot this election, because I had to have someone vouch for me. It took a bit of work, but in the end I was finally able to exercise my right and cast my vote for the candidate I felt best reflected my views. Ok, that's not really how it went down. The truth is, I voted for the candidate that would remove the Conservative incumbent, thus giving the Harper camp one less seat at the table. Strategic voting; that's where it was at this election. Hopefully our new prime minister will keep his word and reform our electoral process so that next time you can vote for the person you think will best serve your district, and have that vote represented in Ottawa.
What I found interesting during the election results was in the district I currently reside. It came down to the wire, but the NDP candidate defeated the Conservative incumbent by a mere 285 votes. And considering this district of Kootenay-Columbia spans a whopping 64,000 kilometres, that's a pretty small margin. This riding showed me that every single vote counted. I'm glad I made the extra effort to have my say.
It's hard to know what the next four years will bring. If our new leader stands by what he's promised, then I'm kind of excited to see where we end up. We said we wanted change, and we got it, right?
Or did we?
Maybe we just flip-flopped back to the "other" party once again. I mean, it's been a Liberal or a Conservative government since the beginning of Canada's story, and defeating a party after a decade is sort of how it goes here in "the true north strong and free". The Conservatives have been in power since 2006, but the Liberals were in power for more than a decade before that.
What will Trudeau do about our electoral process? What about implementing the recommendations made by the TRC and the inquiry into the murdered and missing Aboriginal women and girls? How is he going to handle the recent and highly-secretive Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement? Will any of his campaign promises come true?
The question remains, is Justin Trudeau the change we craved, the change we think we need. Or was he just our best chance at ousting Harper?
I guess only time will tell, but for now I'm going to ride this wave of hope, for however long it lasts.
Political candidates discuss Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations
Posted on September 4, 2015 by katiesmithpei
The issue of reconciliation with First Nations people is on the radar of most of the political parties as the fall federal election continues.
In recent interviews with The Free Press, the four main candidates for Kootenay-Columbia discussed his respective party's policy on the implementation of the 94 recommendations made by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
Candidates from left: Bill Green (Green Party), David Wilks (incumbent Conservative MP), Wayne Stetski (NDP) and Don Johnston (Liberal Party). Photo submitted.
In June, the TRC – a component of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement whose mandate is to inform Canadians about what happened at the residential schools – presented a report to government indicating the findings of a six-year investigation into the abuses that took place over the course of about 150 years. The last school closed in 1996.
Justice Murray Sinclair, Ojibway-Canadian judge and chair of the TRC, spoke in Ottawa on June 2, calling what happened at the residential schools a "cultural genocide".
Part of the recommendations is an inquiry into the more than 1,000 missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls from 1980 to 2012.
The four candidates running in Kootenay-Columbia offered their thoughts on the recommendations for an inquiry. Conservative candidate and incumbent MP David Wilks said that whatever the public may think, investigations into such cases are ongoing and in the jurisdiction of the RCMP.
"There have been so many inquiries done already. When we talk about missing and murdered Indigenous women – this is a sad story in every case – in every case. There isn't one that isn't. But, a lot of them, as brought out by the RCMP, are solved. They do solve a lot of them, and they are able to investigate them and they are able to bring it to conclusion."
Yes, there are still cases that remain unsolved, and despite what the public might think, the RCMP continues to work on solving them, Wilks said.
Wilks, who served as an RCMP officer for six years in Golden, said the way he looks at it is, "the RCMP and other police forces investigate every missing person" and that the issue shouldn't be looked at as solely an Aboriginal issue.
"Let's broaden it – missing and murdered people. The problem is that there are some that are just very, very difficult to solve," he said. "I don't think when it comes to missing and murdered Aboriginal peoples that it's fair for the government of the day – whether it's us, the Liberals the NDP or the Greens – to say 'what are you going to do about it?' Well, I don't know what I'm going to do about people that murder people. I don't know what I'm going to do about that, because some of them you're going to solve, and some of them you're not going to solve. That's the criminal element."
As far as the RCMP's involvement into the inquiry goes, Green Party candidate Bill Green said he thinks part of the answer to moving forward on the issue of reconciliation is better funding for the RCMP, which he said is in need of more resources.
"The government has cut resources to the RCMP. Apart from the security intelligence functions of the RCMP, they need more resources. But, clearly, there has to be a systemic overhaul with the RCMP and it's not so much a criticism as it is a 'let's find a way forward' for the RCMP to become responsive to real threats of security – to Aboriginal people and Aboriginal women in particular – in many parts of Canada."
In other words, the Green Party believes in reconciliation and wants to work with the First Nations, and having worked with Ktunaxa Nation Council Green said the issue is "very important" to him.
"I think it's absolutely about moving forward together, but it's about reinventing Canada as a country that's a partnership with First Nations," he said, adding it's about working together.
"First Nations are universally saying there has to be a Royal Commission into the missing and murdered aboriginal women, but [you have to be] willing to engage with First Nations at that level – which is how are we going to find joint-submissions to this – and that's one of the reasons why I think we have to change the government."
NDP candidate Wayne Stetski said he also believes in reconciliation, and said there's another step to take.
"I truly believe that treaties will move all of us forward, together, I really do. So I'm not afraid of treaties," he said. "Absolutely, reconciliation is important. And I think there's a better future in British Columbia with treaties."
Having spent a couple of his younger years in a residential school in the North West Territories, Stetski said that, even as a child, he noticed a difference between the way the priests and nuns treated him and his brother – the only two Caucasians children in the school – compared to how the Inuit children were treated, adding said that might have been where his interest in Aboriginal rights began.
"We're all just people, in the end, and that's how I felt in kindergarten and Grade 1, you know? All my friends were Inuit, so I really have never felt differences, I guess, between races and cultures."
Like Green, Stetski has worked with the Ktunaxa Nation Council. as the mayor of Cranbrook, where he sat on the Treaty Negotiation Committee representing municipalities with the Ktunaxa, the federal and provincial governments.
"I really do believe in reconciliation, personally," he said. "What [federal NDP leader] Tom Mulcair has said is basically we've got to start over with a new model. He said he's going to set up a new committee structure with the prime minister as part of that to make sure that the decisions that the federal government [makes] around different things consider
First Nations and their impacts in terms of what we're doing."
Stetski said the NDP also support a national inquiry into the missing and murdered Aboriginal women.
"For the life of me, I cannot figure out why the federal government would not do that," he said.
Liberal candidate Don Johnston, like two of his running mates, worked with the Aboriginal community when he was with Indian Affairs.
The Liberal Party, he said, is committed to implementing the recommendations by the TRC, but is also committed to working closely with First Nations leaderships.
"With the leaders of First Nations as equals at the table to resolve these conflicts, but also to have those conversations with the provinces, too."
Johnston said his party will recognize the rights Aboriginal people have, "that have clearly been recognized by the Supreme Court and clearly recognized in the constitution".
But moving forward isn't what the Conservatives are doing, he said.
"There was a lot of hope after they made the apology for the residential schools, that maybe there would be change."
But then, during the TRC report in Ottawa in June when Sinclair made a plea for an inquiry into the missing and murdered Indigenous woman, Bernard Valcourt, minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, remained the only person seated as the audience erupted in a standing ovation.
"He failed himself, and he failed Canadians," Johnston said.
If Canadians take a hard look at where Aboriginal children are today, they will see the disadvantages those children face, he said.
"And anybody that sits in front of you and tells you that Aboriginal children born on reserves in Canada right now have the same likelihood of success as you, they're either stupid or they're Conservatives," he said, adding he made that joke intentionally. "There's lots of smart Conservatives, but the reality is, we've got issues that we've run from for so long, we can't run from them anymore. And the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has focused that so we can finally understand it."
Pro-choice advocates want more access to abortion across New Bruswick
Posted on March 19, 2015 by katiesmithpei
Access to certain medical services can be challenging throughout the province, especially for those living in rural areas, said one concerned woman who wants to see abortion and reproductive services brought to Miramichi.
Rebeka Frazer-Chiasson, who worked for two years doing community development in Miramichi and now runs a farm in Rogersville, believes in a woman's right to choose to terminate her pregnancy.
Frazer-Chiasson said it can be hard for women to make the trip to another municipality to access services.
"Access is really challenging everywhere in New Brunswick but even more so in rural areas when you consider distance and transportation is a challenge, especially for lower income women," she said. "But I think that it's a problem everywhere in the province. It's a discussion we have to have province-wide, but also a recognition that most of our population is in rural areas and really spread out amongst each other. That's definitely something that we should be addressing whenever we talk about abortion services or reproductive justice is how we can get it in rural areas."
Support groups are hard to come by for women dealing with the issues surrounding abortion in Miramichi and women might find it difficult to connect with other women for support, she said.
"If it (abortion services) was happening in Miramichi, or if there was access (at) the hospital, there's all kinds of support groups, whether it's for dealing with death or loss or cancer," she said. "When it's not in your community, it can be hard to connect to other people."
Frazer-Chiasson said while it is very important to be surrounded by a supportive family and friends, having an actual organization to turn to is crucial.
"I have a strong family tie and family backing and I think that's what a lot of people go on in small towns and in the Miramichi, but we have to recognize that is definitely not everyone's reality, and (we need to) create opportunities and tools for people who don't have that kind of support," she said. "And obviously with abortion and reproductive justice, even if you have a strong family tie, it's not necessary that they're going to support you in that decision."
Having worked within the community, Frazer-Chiasson said there are women with whom she would feel comfortable talking about issues like abortion.
"But there's nothing that I know of that's a support group or somewhere that you can go to that's specifically about reproductive justice and access to abortion."
Currently, two hospitals in the province offer abortions are the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre in Moncton, an hour and a half drive away, and Chaleur Regional Hospital in Bathurst, about 50 minutes from Miramichi.
Both hospitals are operated by the francophone Vitalite health authority.
Last month Horizon Health Network president and CEO John McGarry announced that come April, the Moncton Hospital will be the only hospital in the anglophone health authority that will offer fully-funded abortions services.
Jessi Taylor, spokesperson for the Reproductive Justice of New Brunswick, a collective of individuals from across the
province dedicated to ensuring publicly funded and self-referred abortion is available in the province, said she doesn't understand Horizon's decision to offer the procedure in a centre that already offers the service.
"They're going to be opening in Moncton where there's already abortion services, instead of a place like Miramichi which has no services at all," she said in a phone interview from Fredericton. "While there are a lot of abortions done in Moncton, those using the services are largely people coming from everywhere else in New Brunswick."
A letter McGarry wrote to doctors in the province was leaked to the media last month where he said there was a need to balance access with cost, being accountable to both patients and taxpayers.
"I have come to the conclusion that, in this case of uncertain sustainable volumes, we can best reconcile all interests by making a decision on a single site. That site will be The Moncton Hospital."
McGarry also said the Moncton Hospital has a committed clinical team of, at minimum, four physicians and said that offering the service at one hospital rather than three with save his company a minimum of half a million dollars a year.
"We cannot afford that capital cost. Operational costs in one site will be only slightly affected by placing all three projected volumes together."
A poll released in January shows that New Brunswickers are split on whether or not they believe a woman has the right to terminate a pregnancy.
The recent Corporate Resources Associates Inc. poll reported that 48 per cent of the province believes a woman can have an abortion within the first trimester of pregnancy.
Limited access can cause long wait times, and since an abortion must be performed within a certain time-frame, this could pose issues for some women, Taylor said.
"If a woman needs to wait to get in to see the doctor to have an abortion, but the wait time makes it so she is into her second trimester, or 13.6 weeks, they won't perform the procedure. At that point you have to go out of province and pay out of pocket."
And it's costly, she said, adding at the Clinic 554 in Fredericton, which is where the old Morgentaler clinic was located, abortions cost $700.
Taylor has some suggestions about making better access for Miramichiers, adding that hospitals are already hooked up with the necessary equipment to perform abortions, since the equipment required is the same that's used during an emergency miscarriage, so she thinks doctors should be trained on that equipment.
"The department of health needs to pressure Horizon into opening more services in more places, but they also need to get rid of the rule about refusing to fund services in clinic settings," she said. "Clinic settings are way cheaper and they're way better for patients and providers alike. We have clinics and we have resources and we have equipment, but they're just refusing to use it. Miramichiers deserve better."
Frazer-Chiasson thinks there is a double-sided rhetoric surrounding the issue of reproductive rights.
"We're talking about wanting to increase women's participation in community life or economics or definitely in politics, but we're not talking about what the challenges might be and how access to our reproductive justice is definitely a challenge and something that has to be addressed if we truly want greater female participation."
Perhaps talking about these issues can take away some of the taboo or stigma some women face if they do in fact choose to terminate their pregnancy, she said.
"I've never seen anything around pro-choice here. I would like to talk more with the people who I know are pro-choice in the Miramichi about the "culture of silence" and why this is," she said, adding people might have different opinions if they talk about it in a different context. "If people are given the opportunity to think about it differently and have access to a different language than what they've grown up in, they (might) feel that it makes sense, and think, 'yeah sure, I feel that I or women in my life should have control over their bodies and those decisions'."
Miramichi is far away from having any sort of pro-choice rally, she said.
"But maybe we're not that far from at least getting more people to talk about it. There's probably way more conversations happening than we think."
The Miramichi Leader has placed interview requests with both Horizon Health Network and the Department of Health.
Concerns around physician-assisted death
Canadians now have the right to choose death over suffering. Well, sort of.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of Canada overturned a ruling that will now allow for physician-assisted death in Canada. While this might seem like a step in the right direction for those in favour of euthanasia, there is still some concern around the ruling.
In the past when the issue of euthanasia came up, I always took the stand where I think people should have the right to choose death over suffering.
Now that the prohibition of assisted-death has been deemed unconstitutional, and now that Canadians are one step closer to being able to opt for death, I am no longer sure where I stand.
Let me explain why.
The idea of assisted suicide has long been debated in this country, with Canadians begging the question, is it sometimes ok for people to die by their own hand or by the hand of a doctor?
The ruling states that only physicians are allowed to carry out life-ending measures in the cases of competent adults who "clearly consent to the termination of life" and who "has a grievous and irremediable medical condition (including an illness, disease or disability) that causes enduring suffering that is intolerable to the individual in the circumstances of his or her condition."
Seems straight forward enough…right? Not so much.
As it stands right now, a lot can be left up to interpretation. Who is considered a "competent adult"? Is that based on age or on mental capacity or a mix of the two? What do they mean by grievous, or severe? What one person considers severe might not be the same as another person's definition. What kind of suffering is considered "intolerable"? Again, this could differ from one person to another.
Does this ruling take into consideration patients who suffer from mental illness, who are in a constant state of despair and anguish? While this might not necessarily come out as physical pain, they are in intolerable pain nonetheless.
The Supreme Court has postponed the effect of the decision for one year, which is to say Parliament has one year to craft legislation to go in place of the old legislation that banned physician-assisted death.
I fear this new legislation might be rushed, seeing as though Parliament goes on summer hiatus from late-June to late-September and once they are back, they will be preparing for the fixed election date of Oct. 19.
This issue, one would suspect, would want to be dealt with before a (potential) change in leadership as it is not likely an issue politicians will want to discuss while campaigning.
Last fall, my uncle was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer that spread throughout his body and there was nothing that could be done to help him.
He spent the last few weeks of his life in the hospital, waiting to die. He couldn't eat so had feeding tubes. He lost a lot of weight as his health deteriorated significantly. It started to look like he would eventually end up starving to death.
I remember being really angry that he and his family had to go through this, waiting for the inevitable to occur, while he suffered in a cruel manner, clinging to what can only be described as a poor quality of life.
Luckily, if that word can be used in such a terrible situation, his wait ended before too long. But not everyone passes so quickly and are thus forced to suffer and endure a terrible quality of life for long periods of time.
If death is inevitable, why should a patient be forced to suffer? Should that person not be allowed to be relieved of their misery and suffering?
I still tend to lean on the side of yes, we should be allowed to choose death over suffering.
On the other hand, questions come up: What if a person has given their consent to a doctor that they want to die, but at a later date changes their mind but at that point they don't have the capacity to express this?
And then what if a physician abuses the whole concept of assisted suicide, taking liberties into his or her own hands and ending the life of their patient, falsely claiming it was what the patient wanted?
To take it to the extreme, what if physician assisted-death becomes a common practice as a way for government to save on health care costs? Because it's much more expensive to keep a patient on machines under constant care than it is to simply remove them from the equation.
Failure to draft clear legislation could result in similar issues that have come out surrounding the abortion debate.
In 1988, the Supreme Court struck down the Criminal Code laws allowing abortion and to this day, no standards have been set and each province has a different approach to the issue, where some provinces allow abortions and other do not.
Whatever the final legislation says, it has to be incredibly thorough and clear and there needs to be transparency from the doctors and the government for each case where assisted-death is carried through.
[Originally published in the Miramichi Leader on Feb. 15, 2015]
Let's talk about mental health
Posted on January 21, 2015 by katiesmithpei
They say what we don't know can't hurt us, but sometimes, what we don't know is precisely what hurts us. And just because we can't see something, doesn't mean it's not there.
Mental Health week isn't until May, but it's an issue we should be openly talking about year-round.
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association website, one in five Canadians will personally experience mental illness in their lifetime.
The site also stated that it is estimated that 10-20 per cent of Canadian youth are affected by a mental disorder or illness, the single most disabling group of disorders worldwide.
And sadly, only one in five children in this country who need mental health services will receive them.
So why is there still so much stigma around mental health?
When I was first diagnosed with a mental illness, I felt embarrassed, ashamed and angry.
I didn't trust doctors, I didn't believe in medication, and I was scared of what people would think of me.
I used to hear of people on antidepressant medications and think, "Suck it up, it's all in your head".
I refused to even consider that psychology and psychiatry were legitimate areas of study, for no reason other than I just didn't understand the nature of mental illness.
For more than 15 years, I lived a life where my moods would swing drastically up and down, often several times a day.
Despite having friends, teachers and doctors suggest there might be something wrong, I thought I was fine, just perhaps a little more emotional than the average person.
After several failed relationships, loss of friends and growing tension in my family, I still didn't think there was anything wrong with me.
A couple of years ago, I was beginning to spiral out of control. I was trying to make sense of my life and came to the conclusion it wasn't worth living. Rather than seek help, I choose a path filled with self-destruction.
Then one day my best friend sat me down and said she was scared for my life. For some reason, her words hit home and for the first time in my life, I believed I needed help.
I went to see a counsellor and she recommended that I be put on anti-depression medication. I saw my family doctor and he concurred and put me on a drug.
For a few months, I felt a bit better, though I was no where near out of the woods. So I decided to stop taking the meds and tried to battle my issues on my own through living a healthier lifestyle, cutting out the indulgences, and focusing on trying to feel better.
Several more months passed and I was starting to feel that horrible anxiety and depression all over again. This time I went to see a psychiatrist.
After reviewing my files and speaking with me, he diagnosed me with bipolar disorder, what used to be called manic-depression.
I was put on a mood stabilizer and an anti-anxiety medication, which I protested at first. My psychiatrist said I had no reason to feel ashamed about my diagnosis. He put it to me in a way I could make sense of it. He said if I was diabetic, I would be put on medicine to treat the disease. Then he said that having a mental illness is no different – if I wanted to feel better, I needed to regulate my brain chemistry. I did and slowly started to feel more "normal".
I was coming to terms with the fact that I was sick and that I needed medication to sustain a functional existence, even though I wasn't fully on board with the idea of taking pills to feel better.
I would self-adjust my medication, albeit a terrible idea, and my moods would fluctuate. I came off one drug altogether because I decided I was fine. Then I would only sometimes take the mood stabilizer, and loved how I would feel – I would feel high, euphoric, unstoppable. I barely slept for days on end, flying high, but then I would crash and fall into a debilitating depression. One day, I decided I couldn't take it anymore and I contemplated suicide. But the end of that day, it was no longer "if" I killed myself, but rather "how" I'd do it.
For once, I decided to make a good decision and rather than harming myself, I went to make an appointment with my psychiatrist, whom I'd stopped seeing months before because I thought I was OK.
The receptionist took one look at me and told me to wait in the waiting room. She found one of the mental health nurses who took me to her office and talked with me, then went and got my doctor.
I had a meltdown, but I was in a safe place. It was the worst I'd felt in years, but it was the best thing that could have happened to me. I realized, that was my rock bottom and I had somewhat of a breakthrough.
The doctor adjusted my medications and told me I have no choice, I have to take them, which I have been doing religiously, along with regular counselling and yoga.
And after all of those years of living in a cloud of anger, sadness, loathing, confusion, and extreme highs, I can finally see clearly.
It is so important to seek help when you feel something isn't right in your head. We can't see mental illness, but it affects so many people. A lot of us, myself included, were scared to seek help, scared of what the doctor might tell us, and scared to take medication because we didn't know how others would react to it. For me, the key to coping was communication.
Talking to my friends and loved ones about what I was dealing with, so they, in turn, knew how to deal with me.
It's been a long road, a long struggle, but I can say with good faith I'm here today, happy and healthy, because I sought help for my mental illness.
[Originally published in the Miramichi Leader on Jan. 22, 2015.]
A Look Back on 2014
Posted on December 23, 2014 by katiesmithpei
This year has all but come to an end, and if you live on Prince Edward Island, you are probably more than a little sick and tired of hearing about 2014. This year marked 150 years since John A and friends marched down Great George Street and into Province House where they came up with the idea of Canada. Though commonly referred to as the Birthplace of Confederation, I like to refer to PEI as the Conception Place.
The province did more than enough to mark the occasion, with millions upon millions of provincial and federal money thrown at this anniversary (one wonders what they will do when it's actually Canada's 150th birthday?) With our unemployment and poverty rates at an all-time high (and to say nothing of the fact women are still basically second-class citizens without any access to safe abortions and/or other women's health care), it's hard to understand the reasoning behind this never-ending, over-priced (lame-ass) celebration…but I digress.
For me, this year was anything but a celebration. I fought (and often failed) the urge to indulge in self-destructive extra-curriculars, was diagnosed with a mental illness, lost my job, had horrible luck with men, and worst of all, lost three wonderful family members. It's been a year of certain hardships that I'd rather like to forget.
But through all the dark times, there was always a light that shone, however dimly. And it wasn't until I really started to reflect on my year that I realized out of every bad moment, a silver lining showed its face.
My impulses/addictions were all tangled up with my mental illness – but with the help of the right cocktail of medications, therapy and most recently, yoga, I feel better than I have in years – in over a decade, really.
The loss of a job forced me to figure out what I really wanted to do with my life (I had to once again ask myself what I wanted to be when I grow up) and will be starting a new job in the new year in my field of choice.
The men I saw might not have treated me great, but I definitely sent out negative vibes that would attract such creatures. I now know what I want and what I'm worth and how I deserve to be treated.
Even the loss of my two uncles and my aunt had its share of positive moments – our family was brought closer together, and the love and support was very present. I'm grateful for those who remain and will make an effort to get to know them better.
Amidst the more difficult times, there were many high points – again, these were buried pretty deep in a pile of crap, but they were nonetheless there.
I got my first car! This is pretty insignificant indeed, but it gave me freedom that only wheels can bring you.
I found out my true friends and have tried to become a better, more attentive friend to them. They stuck by me through it all and I'm so ever grateful.
I got to know my cousin and her son a whole lot better, and this was the best part of my year for sure. In fact, I became a lot closer with all of my family and realize how lucky and fortunate I am that these wonderful people love me unconditionally.
I made amends with those I've harboured resentment towards in the past, and that's been so rewarding – hate just consumes you. It really is better to let the past go; to leave the baggage at the door, walk on through and embrace the present with a smile on your face.
I think years like this come about to test our resolve. If we don't totally break from it, we come out stronger and better.
I have to say that I don't regret anything that has happened this year. Had you asked me that a few months ago, I would have had a much different response. But it was what it was and I'm grateful to have made it through. Now for Christmas, my favourite time of year to spend with family and friends.
A very safe and Merry Christmas to all. Welcome new traditions and embrace the old ones.
I can't wait to see what 2015 has in store!!
Cheers, friends.
Wagon Blues: A Traveling Installation
Posted on August 19, 2014 by katiesmithpei
Travel and displacement changes our physical and mental boundaries and one Quebec artist will bring this concept to life this summer during the fourth annual Art in the.
Visual artist Christine Comeau is interested in the idea of nomadic lifestyles and incorporates this idea into her work. On August 23, Comeau will bring her living canvas project to the streets of downtown Charlottetown. Her piece, Wagon Blues, is a choreographed tableau vivant, a performance installation about the wanderings of a small community of nomadic creatures, half-human, half-animal, dragging their caravans and luggage around the city and who are "both curious and frightened by the discovery of this strange world."
Comeau, who received her MFA from Laval University, said artistic residencies and art festivals like this one are an integral part of her practice.
"They combine art, travel and passage," she said via E-mail earlier this month. "As human beings we discover the public space as a medium for very different forms of interaction."
For her piece, the Montreal resident said she and her participants will wear connectable clothing that can be fastened together so they become one unit as they move about town.
"Bound by the ties, my movements are affecting the movement of my companions," she explained, adding the volunteers can conceal their identity.
"It allows them to experience their alienation from themselves," she said. "Alienation is also a feeling of being different from others."
Wagon Blues is being curated by the Confederation Centre Art Gallery as part of the Centre's mandate to not only promote local art, but to promote art from across the country as well. This is one of three pieces from Quebec to be featured this year.
The Centre's curator, Pan Wendt, said he first saw some of Comeau's work at an underground art festival in Montreal and liked how colourful and abstract it was. As co-coordinator for Art in the Open, he thought her style would be a good for the festival.
"In a way, the main interest for Art in the Open is pieces that are ephemeral," he said, explaining that such sculptures are mobile and temporarily connect to the body.
"Imagine a tent with wheels and the canvas is physically attached to the performers and there will be a caravan of weird presences," he said. "It's abstract, it'll be kind of confusing to people who will be distracted by the moving installation."
Nomadism shakes things up, and brings to the public the dynamics between strangers through the medium of art, Comeau said, adding she is excited to be part of this summer's festival.
"To be somewhere else, to reinvent my daily life elsewhere, to stroll, to lose myself in cities' labyrinths, to wait, to meet people, to invite them to take part in my parades or my interventions, she said. "All these movements and these gestures are majorly important in my existence, as well as in my artistic approach."
For more information about Art in the Open, visit artintheopenpei.com.
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Windows 11 for business
Best hybrid working tech
Microsoft Teams updates
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Hands on: Canon ImageClass MF820Cdn review
A heavy-duty printer worthy of your large workloads
Not yet rated By Juan Martinez published 13 January 15
What is a hands on review?
Early Verdict
If you want high-quality images, but speed is your primary concern, this Canon multifunction printer is right for you.
Bulk workloads
Standard print size only
Awful scrolling
Some ink leakage
If you're in the market for a home office or enterprise printer that can handle anything you throw at it, the Sharp MX-C301W printer is a 72.8 lb. unit that handles copying, printing, scanning, and faxing, all with a footprint of just 17" (w) x 22½" (d) x 18½" (h) (prices vary).
Samsung also produces two quality models, the C2670FW ($699.99, £445, AU$852) and the Multifunction Xpress C460FW ($470, £310, AU$575) both provide everything you'll need to satisfy your workers and their printing needs.
If neither of these units tickles your fancy, but you want similar capabilities, a new contender has emerged. The Canon ImageClass MF820Cdn ($1299, US only) boasts the brawn of Samsung's models with the print quality of the Sharp device. This is a top-of-the-line, comprehensive and competent print/scan/copy/fax machine that demands your consideration.
At 94.8 pounds and two feet tall, the MF820Cdn is a beast. If you're looking for a compact device, you're in the wrong place. However, what this printer lacks in elegance, it more than makes up for in performance.
It boasts a duty cycle of more than 88,000 pages per month that produces 600 x 600 DPI prints created from four toner bottles and four drums of yellow, magenta, cyan and black ink. You can load 550 sheets into the main tray and 550 sheets into each of the three additional optional trays. You can also load 100 sheets into a multi-purpose tray if you need even more capacity.
The printer comes with a USB port, air pressurized toner bottles and drums and a waste toner system that is meant to protect against leakage and spills (more on this later). You'll conduct most of your business on a 3.5-inch LCD touchscreen that is intuitive and simple-to-use (theoretically - more on this later as well). It is designed to connect with office ethernet networks and file-transfer systems, as well as Apple AirPrint and Mopria Printer Service mobile applications.
Unfortunately, all you'll be able to print are documents from envelope to legal size, so forget about loading your avant garde photo projects onto this bad boy.
The MF820Cdn is super quick, producing 36 color pages per minute and an incredibly impressive 8.96-second single page print. The copier replicates documents in 6 seconds and the fax machine can distribute 36 pages in one minute for color and black text.
When using a behemoth of a printer like this one, you typically expect it to spit out dull prints that are good enough for board meetings but too boring to put behind a frame. I wouldn't compare the quality of the MF820Cdn's prints to the Pixma line of photo printers - however, I was impressed with its prints. The reds, blacks and blues produced on this machine are incredibly bright and bold, with a depth you don't typically see on mass-duty printers.
Security is a major concern for anyone printing employee documents and financials. This printer features a tool that enables you to send a document to the printer with an accompanying passcode, so that you can print from across the office, go to the device at your leisure, and then command the print be made once you've entered the passcode. No more sprinting from across the trading floor so that you can grab your 401k spreadsheet before your buddy scoops it up.
Although the air-pressurized toner bottles are designed to prevent leakage, when I opened the machine and checked out each bottle individually I noticed minor spillage at the tips of two of the four bottles. It wasn't enough to alarm me, but I do wonder if minor spillage turns to major flooding after heavy-duty usage.
This device can print from a ton of awesome places. If you work at a place that commands a $1299 printer, you're likely connected to an ethernet network, a mobile app and maybe even a hard line. However, unlike most of the other Canon printers I've tested (even really low-end machines) this one doesn't offer any cloud printing capabilities. As I said, this isn't a major issue if you're hooked up to these other connections, but it seems like an avoidable omission.
I don't like Canon's touchscreens. The buttons are always too close together, which makes it impossible to scroll. For example: Canon crams three or four options onto the 3.5-inch screen, rather that providing space between each option, so when you attempt to scroll you inevitably click on one of the options. This happens along the entire spectrum of Canon's lineup (I tested a Pixma and had the same issue).
This machine does almost everything you'll want an office printer to do. It prints fast. It prints clear. You can't go wrong with it. It does have a few minor flaws, but no one has created a perfect printer. This comes pretty close.
However, if you're interested in photo printing or non-traditional printing formats, you'll likely want to head elsewhere, as this model is specifically designed for standard office use.
Hands on reviews' are a journalist's first impressions of a piece of kit based on spending some time with it. It may be just a few moments, or a few hours. The important thing is we have been able to play with it ourselves and can give you some sense of what it's like to use, even if it's only an embryonic view. For more information, see TechRadar's Reviews Guarantee.
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text:
ashmolean.org
License Images
The Great Jewish bride
© Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford (image, internal record shot)
Your name ?
formerly attributed to Rembrandt (1606 - 1669) (printmaker)
attributed to Ferdinand Bol (1616 - 1680) (printmaker)
Europe (place of creation)
etching on laid paper
visual representation › print
plate 13.4 x 9.7 cm (height x width)
sheet 13.5 x 9.8 cm (height x width)
Presented by Chambers Hall, 1855.
WA1855.284
Our online collection is being continually updated. Find out more
Know more about this object? Spotted an error? Contact us
Hind, Arthur Mayger, A Catalogue of Rembrandt's Etchings, 2 vols, 2nd (London: Methuen, 1923), 361
Hollstein, F. W. H., Hollstein Dutch & Flemish: Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts, ca. 1450-1700 (Amsterdam: Menno Hertzberger, 1949-), 21.II
Münz, Ludwig, Rembrandt's Etchings. A critical catalogue of Rembrandt's etchings and the etchings of his school formerly attributed to the master with an essay on Rembrandt's technique and documentary sources., 2 vols (London: Phaidon, 1952), 326
White, Christopher, Boon, Karel G., Rembrandt's Etchings: An Illustrated Critical Catalogue, 2 vols (Amsterdam: Van Gendt; New York: Abner Schram, 1969), 341
Hollstein, F. W. H., The New Hollstein Dutch & Flemish: Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts, ca. 1450-1700 (Ouderkerk aan den IJssel, 1993-), 154
ref-url ?
mce-EMAIL
Gardens, Libraries & Museums in Oxford
Botanic Garden and Harcourt Arboretum
Museum of the History of Science
Oxford University Museum of Natural History
© 2017 University of Oxford -


The Teachers' House Journal accepts submissions of articles by educators reflecting on the practices and purposes of teaching at any level. Our purpose is to create a space where educators may publish their own thoughtful inquiries regarding their work with the children they teach, with their peers, and with the communities they serve. We welcome writing that demonstrates teachers' roles as leaders in both thought and action.
Articles may be submitted at any time by email attachment to the editorial committee at th.teacherstories@gmail.com.
Submissions should be in Word or rich text formats.
The editorial board reserves the right to accept or reject articles for publication. No article will be edited for content without the permission of the author(s).
TJ and Mister Gidseg Eric Gidseg, a recently retired kindergarten teacher and adjunct professor of elementary education, writes about the challenges encountered by teachers when working with a child who challenges the teacher's sense of efficacy.


HomeCinemaMasalaDid Shraddha Kapoor just approve of stalking?
Did Shraddha Kapoor just approve of stalking?
On Yaaron Ki Baraat on Saturday we saw buddies Farhan Akhtar and Shraddha Kapoor effectually quashing all rumours about their romantic involvement.
Buddies don't have affairs with one another. Yaaron Ki Baaraat co-host Riteish Deshmukh's wife Genelia D'Souza effectually tried to prove this in the film Jaana Tu Yaa Jaane Na when she refused to accept her best friend Imran Khan (remember him?) as boyfriend material.
While it was good to see the Rock On pair celebrating their friendship under public stare, what was not so good was the encouragement that Shraddha extended to a fan who had been pursuing her relentlessly.
By her own admission, she was meeting the fan for the 17th time this time on the sets of Sajid and Ritesh's talk show. In a choked voice she told us she had seen the van at her shootings, under her residential building, etc. Instead of reprimanding the fan for stalking her, Shraddha Kapoor hugged the bewildered guy and thanked him for being so supportive.
Stalking, in case Shraddha doesn't know, is a serious cognizable offence and also very dangerous. Several working women have recently lost their lives to stalkers who have turned deadly. Perhaps the illusion of safety provided by security guards around her exempts Shraddha from the perils of stalking.
But when she hugs a stalker on national television, she puts other far less privileged and protected working-women, in imminent danger.
Please don't endorse wrong social behaviour just to appear liberal, cool or cute.
Source: Bollywood News original article at Did Shraddha Kapoor just approve of stalking?


text:
Любче, або Лубче () — село в Польщі, у гміні Ярчів Томашівського повіту Люблінського воєводства. Населення —   (2011).

Історія
За даними етнографічної експедиції 1869—1870 років під керівництвом Павла Чубинського, у селі переважно проживали греко-католики, усе населення розмовляло українською мовою.

За німецької окупації 1939—1944 років у селі діяла українська школа. 1944 року польські шовіністи вбили в селі 24 українців.

У 1975—1998 роках село належало до Замойського воєводства.

Демографія
Демографічна структура станом на 31 березня 2011 року:

Примітки

Села Томашівського повіту (Люблінське воєводство)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Specialising in Hunter Valley wine tours. Browse our range on day and night wine tours around the fabulous Hunter Valley.
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Food and drink pairing tours – Discover Hunter Valley from sunset by choosing between two different tours, visiting winery, dining and brewery destinations.
Locally owned and operated. Rated #1 on TripAdvisor in 'food and drink Pokolbin'.


communities organizing themselves in the face of manufactured food shortages to grow and distribute their own food participatory democracy in action through community councils, 'comunas' and other forms of citizen organizationcommunity-run art, media, education, health and nutrition efforts alternative markets and fairs featuring homemade products and agroecologically produced foods parks, natural areas, historic sites, and other reclaimed public spaces.
The purpose of this delegation is to document the political resistance of the popular sectors to a neoliberal restoration in Venezuela in the aftermath of the parliamentary elections of December 6, 2015. In those elections the opposition coalition, Roundtable of Democratic Unity (MUD), won a qualified majority. The election results, however, do not reflect a popular endorsement of the MUD agenda. This electoral defeat was caused in large part by an economic and media campaign waged by powerful US-backed interests against the Maduro administration, exacerbated by a plunge in oil prices. There was also some voter abstention among a significant part of the Chavista electoral base motivated by dissatisfaction with the government's handling of the related shortages, inflation, and corruption. For this reason, there is a great deal of critique and self-critique going on throughout the entire spectrum of Chavismo with a view to correcting errors (rectificación) and relaunching (reimpulso) the Bolivarian project.
Come witness and document the efforts of the popular sectors to regroup and defend the political, economic and social rights guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, even during a period in which a neoliberal agenda will likely dominate the legislative branch of government.
To Learn more and hold a spot, email cbalbertolovera@gmail.com. Please be in touch as soon as possible, as space for this delegation is very limited. Please allow several days for responses.


text:
Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson To Miss Crucial Postseason Game Due To Injury. Will He Play Elsewhere Next Season?
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is expected to miss the team's postseason matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday due to a lingering knee injury.
Jackson was injured back in week 13 during Baltimore's 10-9 victory over the Denver Broncos when linebacker Jonathon Cooper tackled Jackson to the ground and landed all of his body weight on Jackson's left knee. Since the injury occurred, Jackson has yet to practice or play.
ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter tweeted Thursday that Jackson is "not expected to play" during Baltimore's crucial playoff game against Cincinnati, which ultimately puts his future with the organization in limbo.
Lamar Jackson officially did not practice today and is not expected to play Sunday night vs. Bengals; Tyler Huntley resumed throwing today and was listed as a limited participant at practice.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 12, 2023
Before the season got underway, Jackson was seeking a fully guaranteed deal from the Ravens. He rejected a six-year contract offer that was worth up to $250 million, with $133 million fully guaranteed, according to NBC Sports, but that wasn't enough for Jackson.
Jackson reportedly wanted a deal similar to Deshaun Watson's contract with the Cleveland Browns. Over the offseason, Watson signed a $230 million deal with Cleveland with every cent fully guaranteed, according to ESPN.
With Jackson likely missing the most important game of the season, I can't imagine Baltimore's management budging to Jackson's contract demands this offseason. I think there's a better chance that Jackson walks away from the club during free agency and plays elsewhere next year. (RELATED: Newly Released Police Video Shows Odell Beckham Jr. Hurling Insults On An Airplane)
Jackson's inability to remain healthy this season proved that he's not worthy of having a contract like Watson's. His style of play takes too much of a physical toll on the body to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in him. Right now, the Ravens need Jackson more than ever, and he's hurt. Why in the world would they pay him the money he wants if he can't play a full season?
I applaud Baltimore's management for holding their ground over the summer during their contract negotiations with Jackson. Considering the way it played out, they definitely made the right decision. Jackson proved to be injury prone just like every other dual-threat quarterback before him. Jackson should have just accepted the six-year deal the team offered him in the first place. Had he done that, he would have been in a much better position than he is in now.
I smell an ugly divorce brewing between the star quarterback and the Ravens after this season ends.
fbq('init', '1660572110829759'); fbq('set','agent','tmgoogletagmanager', '1660572110829759'); fbq('track', "PageView");
University's Ban On Cheating, Plagiarism 'Unfairly Targets' Minority Students, Ivy Leaguer Claims
What's Going On With Tesla Stock Today – Benzinga


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Carrie Ann Inaba
Carrie Ann Inaba (born on June 12, 1982 in January 5, 1968 in Honolulu, Hawaii) is an American dancer, choreographer, singer and reality competition television show judge. Inaba started out as a popular singer in Japan, then returned to America and became known as a dancer. She has also choreographed for various television shows, including American Idol and So You Think You Could Dance. Inaba currently serves as a judge on Dancing With The Stars.
Best Known For:
Artem Chigvintsev is best known for being a judge on Dancing With The Stars.
Personal Life:
Inaba attended the University of California, Los Angeles, and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in world arts and culture. She is fluent in Japanese, and is of Chinese, Japanese and Irish descent. Inaba dated professional Latin dancer Artem Chigvintsev, but they split in 2008. She then dated an accountant, Jesse Sloan, and the two were engaged but broke it off in 2012. As an acticist, Inaba supports the Humane Society of the United States and PETA. She launched the Carrie Ann Animal Foundation in 2012, which supports the rescue, welfare and well-being of animals.
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The dancers weren't the only ones heating up the ballroom last night on 'Dancing With The Stars!' Carrie Ann Inaba stunned in a sequin, turquoise gown!
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Triwa's founders are convinced that in an era where time can be read on any appliance a watch should have added aestetic value. Inspired by Andy Warhol's Factory they started a workshop with like minded designers in Stockholm to work on a collection of watches that met their own expectations. Triwa (Transforming the Industry of Watches) releases two watch collections each year, keeping up with the latest fashions.
Transforming the Industry of watches', abbreviated TRIWA, tells the story of Harald Wachtmeister, Ludvid Scheja, Didrik Wachtmeister and Tobias Ericsson: four friends from Stockholm who felt it was time to design watches, not only as practical accessory but above all as a unique style symbol. This philosophy and the mix of classic Scandinavian design, modern Swedish elements and various types of high-quality materials makes TRIWA unique.
For the design of the watches TRIWA got inspired by people with different cultures, styles and talents from all over the world. TRIWA PEOPLE is a collective of known and unknown artists, musicians, activists and creative people that symbolizes individuality and unity at the same time by the shared passion for creativity and design.
In the headquarters in Stockholm every TRIWA watch is passionately designed with the philosophy: "We only design what we want to wear ourselves''. This is reflected in the collection: each TRIWA watch is extremely stylish and beautifully finished. All leather watch straps are from Tärnsjö Tannery. This tannery is among the remaining 5% tanneries around the world that are still completely environmentally friendly without the use of synthetic substances.
The TRIWA watch collection consists of both ladies watches and men's watches. The collection is a beautiful fusion of minimalist, sleek and also detailed design.
Triwa 'Falken' is inspired by the Swedish bird of prey bearing the same name. Triwa 'Falken' watches are characterized by a minimalistic 38 mm design with a sleek dial bearing the Triwa Falken logo, the Triwa logo, simple hands and a recognizable sub-dial in the middle of the hands and the six o'clock position. The 5 ATM water resistant and watches are available in a silver, rose gold and gray colored stainless steel version with a brown, beige or black leather strap.
Triwa Klinga watches are a beautiful blend of sleek, classic design and modern Scandinavian influences. Klinga has an ultra-slim design that fits both a formal and casual outfit. A special detail of the Klinga series is the conical crown. The watches are 5 ATM water resistant and available in different versions.
10 ATM waterproof TRIWA Niben watches have a detailed engraved silver or gold coloured dial with a contrasting or matching second hand and inner ring. To personalize the design of the watches, you can choose from a biological leather strap, canvas strap, nylon strap and a stainless steel bracelet.
The Triwa Lances collection consists of several models. 'Triwa Sky Lansen Chrono' is a collection of modern, unisex chronographs, while 'Dawn Lansen' watches have a casual chic design with a trendy continuous strap. Triwa 'Sort of Black Lansen' is a collaboration between Danish designer Rasmus Storm and TRIWA. The watches are water resistant up to 10 ATM and available in gold, silver and black.
The 'Skala' series consists of 36 mm watches with a screwed bezel and a deepened dial as the main design features.
Triwa Nevil is a series of stylish chronographs (5 or 10 ATM water resistant) with a matching inner ring.
Whether you are looking for an elegant analogue watch or a chronograph; all TRIWA watches exude class, combined with a trendy twist.


text:
Q: how to use throw exception in java I have problems using try-catch in method inverse(), after running the code I get this error:

Exception TanpaInvers is never thrown in body of corresponding try
  statement

The code is like this:
class SalahIndex
public class SalahIndeks extends Exception {
    public SalahIndeks(String pesan) {
        super(pesan);
    }
}

class TanpaInverse
public class TanpaInverse extends Exception {
    public TanpaInverse(String pesan) {
        super(pesan);
    }
}

method class Matrix2x2
    double determinan(){
    int a11 = 0, a12 = 0, a21 = 0, a22 = 0;

    double determinan = this.a11 * this.a22 - this.a12 * this.a21;
    return determinan;
}

Matriks2x2 inverse() throws TanpaInverse, SalahIndeks {

    Matriks2x2 A = new Matriks2x2(a11, a12, a21, a22);
    double detA = A.determinan();

    if (detA != 0){
        try{
            double a11 = this.a22/detA;
            double a12 =  -this.a12/detA;
            double a21 =  -this.a21/detA;
            double a22 =  this.a11/detA;

        }
        catch(TanpaInverse errT){}
        catch(SalahIndeks e){}
    }

    return new Matriks2x2(a11, a12, a21, a22);
}
private int a11, a12, a21, a22;
}

A: What the compiler is complaining about is that in your code you say by catch something like "when a TanpaInverse is thrown, do this", while your code will definitely not throw such an exception.
Instead, you should use throw our exceptions if sth. is going wrong with the matrix. Not knowing what Tanpa and Salah in your language mean, it's hard to say when they should be thrown, but sth. like this would seem right to me:
// here goes code for "if some condition is violated, throw a new SalahIndeks

if (detA != 0){

         double a11 = this.a22/detA;
         double a12 =  -this.a12/detA;
         double a21 =  -this.a21/detA;
         double a22 =  this.a11/detA;

} else {
  throw new TanpaInverse();
}

THis way, any method calling your inverse can/must have a try/catch block to handle possible exceptions.

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