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The Station: EV SPACs face new regulatory speed bump, more on Rivian's reorg and VW weighs direct sales for Scout brand – TechCrunch
May 30, 2022 by Car parts No Comments
Welcome back to The Station, your weekly guide to everything going on in the world of transportation.
Many readers of this weekly newsletter are likely enjoying a three-day weekend thanks to the Memorial Day holiday. So, this week I will keep it a wee bit shorter.
Before we get started, check out the latest transportation Q&A, this time with Convoy co-founder and CEO Dan Lewis. He predicts digital freight will go mainstream within the year. Why? Lewis said: "The industry is going to contract differently. Brokers are going to think about digital capacity and how they get access to that; they're going to be comfortable using a platform like Convoy for that."
As always, you can email me at [email protected] to share thoughts, criticisms, opinions, or tips. You also can send a direct message to @kirstenkorosec or @rebeccabellan.
Micromobbin'
Maybe scooter ADAS isn't such a bad idea after all. A new report from the UK Department for Transportation revealed that the number of pedestrians injured after being hit by e-scooters was nearly four times higher in 2021, at 223 people, than in 2020 when 57 people were injured.
Seeing as how it's still illegal in the UK for people to ride private e-scooters, most of these injuries occurred with vehicles from shared micromobility schemes. The report doesn't say where these accidents occurred – were scooter riders on the sidewalk, and if so, are there protected bike lanes on the street where the accidents occurred?
PeopleForBikes, in partnership with Wend Collective, released a report celebrating the milestones of certain U.S. cities that have systematically increased bike mobility by following the organization's grassroots effort strategy.
Here are some of the highlights:
• Austin, Texas: Completed 115 miles of new bike lanes in 24 months and secured another $460M to complete the network by 2025.
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Completed 50 new network miles and plans to build another 15 miles in 2022.
• Providence, Rhode Island: Constructed 43 miles of new bikeways under Great Streets Initiative, with another 22 miles planned for this year.
• New Orleans, Louisiana: Constructed 27 miles of new "high comfort" bikeways in underserved areas. Offered highest concentration of new protected bike lanes of any other city in the program.
• Denver, Colorado: Constructed 100 miles of new bikeways with another 50 miles of community-based networks scheduled for 2022.
A BCG survey predicts subscription will be the fastest-growing area of micromobility this decade.
Self-combusting micromobility vehicles are getting more abundant.
Serial 1 has released its new BASH/MTN e-bike, a single-speed, small-batch production bike where minimalism meets off-road adventure.
Squad Mobility launched pre-orders for its Solar City Car, a two-seater compact city car that charges itself, in part, on solar energy. The car will be available in 2023 from €6,250.
See ya next week!
— Rebecca Bellan
A little bird
Perhaps you saw coverage of a leaked internal email, first viewed by Bloomberg, from Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe that detailed changes among some of its higher profile leaders at the company.
Initial reports, including ours, focused on Rivian hiring Frank Klein as …….
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2022/05/30/the-station-ev-spacs-face-new-regulatory-speed-bump-more-on-rivians-reorg-and-vw-weighs-direct-sales-for-scout-brand/


These Procedures applies to all staff at the University with UniSuper.
(2) Staff members who meet the criteria outlined in section (1) will initially join the Defined Benefit Division as the default plan. Staff will then have a period of 24 months from the date of joining to decide whether they wish to remain in the Defined Benefit Division or transfer to the Accumulation Super 2. This is facilitated through UniSuper directly.
(3) Once a member has transferred to the Accumulation Super 2, it is not possible to transfer back to the Defined Benefit Division, as per the conditions of the fund.
(4) Staff who do not meet eligibility criteria as outlined in section (1) above for the UniSuper Defined Benefit Division or UniSuper Accumulation Super 2 will join as UniSuper Accumulation Super 1 members.
(5) Casual staff will join as UniSuper Accumulation Super 1 members.
(6) Contributions by staff members for Defined Benefit Division or Accumulated Super 2 fund members are automatically deducted from fortnightly salary payments.
(7) Staff members contribute at either the standard rate of 7% of their salaries, or under contribution flexibility arrangements, can reduce their contributions to 4.45%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1% or 0%.
(8) For Defined Benefit Division or Accumulation Super 2 members, the University contributes at a rate of 17% of member's salaries.
(9) For Accumulation Super 1 members, the University contributes 9.50% employer contributions as required under the Superannuation Guarantee legislation. Staff members are not obliged to make any contributions to this plan.
9.5% contributions on earnings where they earn more than $450 gross per calendar month.
(11) Additional voluntary superannuation contributions can be made on a before-tax (salary sacrifice) or after-tax basis and can be varied or ceased on a fortnightly basis, provided sufficient notice if provided to HRS, in accordance with payroll deadlines. For post-tax contributions, staff members are required to complete the UniSuper Regular Voluntary Contribution Election Form. For pre-tax contributions, staff members are required to complete the University's Salary Packaging Additional Superannuation form, forward to Human Resource Services.
(12) Casual staff are not eligible to make additional voluntary contributions through the University payroll.
(13) A period of part-time employment, or long service leave on half-pay, reduces a member's average service fraction which, for Defined Benefit Division members, is one of the factors used in calculating the member's final benefits.
(14) A staff member's superannuation contribution level will change during the period of a secondment based on the salary of the seconded position where the staff member is already contributing to the Defined Benefit Division or Accumulation (2) Plans.
(15) Superannuation contributions will continue during any period of paid leave and will cease for staff members on leave without pay.
(16) The period of leave without salary is treated as membership with a service fraction of zero for that period for members of the Defined Benefit Division, with death and disablement benefits continuing but reducing over the period of leave.
(17) The University does not pay the 3% award contributions for staff whilst on parental leave without pay. The 3% award (or accumulation) payments are based on an employee's ordinary times earnings. There are no payments being made for ordinary hours of work during the period of unpaid leave.
(18) Additional contributions are deducted from the staff member's salary to cover the amount of these contributions while the staff member is on parental leave, from the date of advice of parental leave until the time of commencement of unpaid leave.
(19) Death and disablement insurance cover is an inbuilt feature of the Defined Benefit Division / Accumulation Super 2 membership.
(20) The UniSuper website has information for members and provides assistance for Accumulation Super 1 members regarding the option of purchasing additional death and disablement insurance and income protection insurance.
(21) The University keeps a suitable position available for a member of staff on a temporary incapacity benefit for a period of up to 24 months or for the period of the unexpired term of the member's contract of employment (whichever is the shorter period). The term is defined by the trustees and the need for the incapacity benefit is reviewed every six months.
(22) The UniSuper website provides comprehensive details of the benefits, contributions and other features of the UniSuper plans.
(23) Human Resource Services Directorate may advise new staff and staff with contract extensions of their eligibility and applicable superannuation schemes, and provide the employee, the appropriate forms.
(24) Staff who are members of other superannuation schemes can obtain more information directly from the relevant superannuation fund about their benefits and conditions.


1. US House Republicans found President Donald Trump's campaign didn't collude with Russia. The findings were announced in a draft report by GOP members of the House Intelligence Committee, but Democrats say the investigation wasn't yet complete.
3. China cut or restructured more than two dozen ministries. The shakeup follows the government eliminating term limits, allowing President Xi Jinping to rule indefinitely.
4. Trump blocked a $US117 billion Broadcom takeover of Qualcomm. Trump said there was "credible evidence" that Singapore-based Broadcom "might take action" that could impair US national security.
5. Singaporean businesses may have violated sanctions against North Korea. A leaked UN draft report alleges two companies supplied banned luxury goods to North Korea.
6.Three package bombs in Austin, Texas, appear to be linked. Package bombs killed a teenager and wounded two women on Monday, and were similar to a bombing that killed a man earlier this month.
7. Saudi Arabia may have used physical abuse to net billions of dollars from officials and businessmen. At least 17 people were reportedly treated at hospital at the beginning of the November corruption crackdown.
8. The US Navy keeps encountering mysterious UFOs. Recent videos show recorded interactions between the Navy and strange flying objects.
9. Yahoo will have to face a lawsuit from victims of a series of data breaches. Yahoo was accused of being too slow to disclose the data breaches, which occurred between 2013 and 2016.
10. Australia's defence department banned officials from using Chinese app WeChat. The move follows the department "phasing out" Chinese mobile phone brands Huawei and ZTE shortly after a US security warning.
Ashton Kutcher's venture fund held one of the most exclusive and bonkers parties at SXSW, the world's wildest tech conference – take a look inside.


Varanasi is an pilgrimage cente of hindus.Varanasiis situated along the west bank of the Ganges in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.Benares is the oldest living city in the world.According to Marck Twain"Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together". Hindus believe that one who is graced to die on the land of Varanasi would attain salvation and freedom from the cycle of birth and re-birth.Attracting over a million pilgrims every year, it lives and breathes traditional Hindu religion and culture.Temples form the major source of tourism here and the banks of the Ganges, the centre of much of the religious activity that occurs in the city. it is the hub of many traditional industries and is world famous for its silks. The town does a roaring trade in tourism and its infrastructure, hotels, transport.The best season to visit Varanasi and its temples is between October and March. Some of the major festivals and cultural events also take place in this period.


Ian Burrell is a man who's tried it all — from being a hip-hop artist to a basketball player to a TV personality. But the celebrated rum expert has a few more titles up his sleeve. As the only global rum ambassador, organiser of the famed UK RumFest and owner of rum bar and Caribbean restaurant Cottons Camden in London, Burrell scours the world to train young bartenders and to lecture and promote rum and cocktails.
During the recent Singapore Cocktail Week, Quotient went behind the bar with the rum connoisseur to learn more about his favourite tipple and discuss his passion for combining alcohol with creativity.
Quotient: Hi Ian. Can you share with us your passion for cocktails and how it drove you to become the founder of the world-renowned UK Rumfest? Where did it start from, and why rum?
Burrell: Actually it wasn't the passion for cocktails that drove me to become the founder of RumFest. It was the passion for rum that lead me to this path because for me rum is more than a spirit. It's actually a lifestyle and the way that it's used in the Tropics is a message that I want to pass on to the rest of the world.
Ian Burrell is the world's only Global Rum Ambassador.
You are the world's only Global Ambassador for rum. What does your role entail?
It entails travelling around the world to all seven continents just to basically spread the gospel of the rum — how it is made, what it is, its history, the different types of rums, how it's used in cocktails and how it's used with food pairing. I also lead the Rum Experience, which is my company that helps to promote rum on all seven continents by way of seminars, presentations, tastings, masterclasses, mixology and PR.
What or who has been the biggest influence on your career?
I would say a lot of the young bartenders that are coming up these days are influencing me because I see their enthusiasm not only for the cocktail culture but for rum culture. I see them discovering new rums and new ways to create cocktails and making new bars. They've been influential because I am learning from them; they challenge you with new questions, new drinks, new ways of using them. I try to take small bits of knowledge from father-figures in the industry, put them together in me and then pass them on to the younger guys. Some amazing people I've worked with are bartenders such as Alex Katrena and Simone Caporale, who are ranked as some of the best mixologists in the world.
What are some current trends you've seen in the cocktail market? How have trends changed over the years?
Definitely food pairings. A lot of bartenders are working with world chefs to create new flavours, using exotic ingredients that will give the cocktail a story — something that really sets your drink apart from all the others. Some other trends I've seen in bars around the world are fusions with exotic flavours and spices. Presently, in the UK, the hottest ingredient to pair rum with is ginger beer. Each country offers something different in terms of new flavours and spices. One of my favourite combinations right now is Ting, a carbonated beverage popular in the Caribbean. Once people taste it, they simply love it!
What are the hottest, up-and-coming cities for cocktail lovers?
London and New York are definitely the hottest cities for cocktails right now. I am very surprised to see that the rum scene here in Singapore is similar to what I saw in Paris six years ago when the cocktail scene was basically nonexistent. The French capital is now home to probably five of the best bars in the world. It all started with Paris Cocktail Week, which started around five years ago when a wave of bartenders came into the city influencing the local bars and the local scene so I am seeing this now here. Singapore will definitely be hot for the cocktail industry in the next few years. In Europe you have Berlin, Paris, London. In America, you have New York, San Francisco.
Ian Burrell travels the world to participate in seminars, workshops and share his passion for the tropical tipple.
What is your favourite place in the world to enjoy a good cocktail?
It definitely has to be Antarctica, where I had a grog. The setting was amazing with blocks of ice all around, a surreal-looking landscapes and colonies of penguins right in front of your eyes. It's also very hard not to enjoy sitting at a beach bar, where you can enjoy the sea, the sun and the breeze while sipping on a nice, cool cocktail. It's very hard to beat that.
What is your favourite cocktail? What else do you like to drink other than rum?
My favourite rum drinks are Daiquiry, Mai Tai, Piña Colada, but of course I also like to drink champagne!
What is your favourite destination in the world for leisure? Which destination are you planning to visit next?
The Caribbean is such a fun place. As soon as you step off the plane, you've got warm sun and humidity and you hear crickets. When you're there, the vibe is so different. My family is from Jamaica and I grew up there but it's still an attraction to me. I recently worked in Bahamas for a rum festival and it's just amazing thanks to the Caribbean setting in an old fort that pirates wanted to invade centuries ago. Other places on my list are Mauritius and Seychelles as I am definitely an island person. But I'd also want to visit the base camp in Tibet!
Be amongst the select number who get to visit these places daily.
On the whole, the trip was wonderful & the arrangements good.


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Syria Sanctions
135. Are travel-related transactions permissible under the new Syria Executive order 13582?
Yes. The new Syria Executive order, Executive Order 13582, does not prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in transactions ordinarily incident to travel to or from any country, including importation of accompanied baggage for personal use, maintenance within any country including payment of living expenses and acquisition of goods or services for personal use, and arrangement or facilitation or such travel including nonscheduled air, sea, or land voyages.
Released on August 17, 2011
136. What does the term "items" cover, and what is meant by items subject to the Export Administration Regulations?
For the purposes of OFAC Syria General License No. 4A, "items subject to the EAR" is defined at § 734.3 of the Export Administration Regulations ("EAR"), 15 C.F.R. Parts 730-774.The EAR are administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security ("BIS"). Note that BIS maintains authority to license exports and reexports to persons in Syria whose property and interests have been blocked pursuant to Executive Order 13606 (the "GHRAVITY E.O."). For further guidance regarding the exportation or reexportation of items to Syria, please consult the EAR. You may also wish to review the BIS Syria Web page or contact BIS by phone at (202) 482-4252.
Released on June 22, 2012
137. Regarding OFAC Syria General License No. 4A, will I need a specific license from OFAC to export or reexport food or medicine to the Government of Syria?
The export or reexport of food or medicine that is subject to the EAR to the Government of Syria, other than medicine on the Commerce Control List that has not been licensed by BIS for export or reexport to Syria, does not require a specific license from OFAC.
As set forth in the EAR, which implements the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 ("SAA") and Executive Order 13338 of May 11, 2004, BIS does not require a license for the export or reexport of "EAR99" food and medicine; accordingly, EAR99 food and medicine can be exported or reexported to the Government of Syria on a "NLR" ("No License Required") basis, under the regulations administered by BIS.
Additionally, as set forth in the EAR, a BIS license is required for the export or reexport of medicine that is on the Commerce Control List ("CCL medicine"). If BIS has licensed the export or reexport of CCL medicine to the Government of Syria, no specific OFAC license is required.
138. Does General License No. 4A authorize U.S. persons to export or reexport from a third country to Syria or the Government of Syria a foreign-made item with either no U.S. content or de minimis U.S. content?
General License No. 4A only applies to items that are subject to the EAR, as set forth in 15 C.F.R. § 734.3. If a foreign-made item located abroad is not subject to the EAR based on the regulations administered by BIS, the exportation or reexportation of such items by U.S. persons to the Government Syria and the reexportation of services incident to an exportation of such items to Syria are not authorized by General License No. 4A. Because Executive Order 13582 generally prohibits U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with the Government of Syria and separately prohibits the exportation, reexportation, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, by a United States person, wherever located, of any services to Syria, such transactions remain prohibited.
205. Who is authorized to send money to support certain nongovernmental organizations' activities?
U.S. depository institutions, U.S. registered brokers or dealers in securities, and U.S. registered money transmitters are authorized to process transfers of funds to or from Syria on behalf of U.S. and third-country nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), in support of the not-for-profit activities described in General License No. 11. These not-for-profit activities include: (1) activities to support humanitarian projects to meet basic human needs in Syria, including, but not limited to, drought relief, assistance to refugees, internally displaced persons, and conflict victims, food and medicine distribution, and the provision of health services; (2) activities to support democracy building in Syria, including, but not limited to, rule of law, citizen participation, government accountability, and civil society development projects; (3) activities to support education in Syria, including, but not limited to, combating illiteracy, increasing access to education, and assisting education reform projects; and (4) activities to support non-commercial development projects directly benefiting the Syrian people, including, but not limited to, preventing infectious disease and promoting maternal/child health, sustainable agriculture, and clean water assistance. Except for limited transactions with the Government of Syria, General License No. 11 does not authorize the transfer of funds to the Government of Syria or other blocked persons.
206. As an individual, may I transfer funds directly to Syria in support of authorized NGO activities under General License No. 11?
No. Only U.S. depository institutions, U.S. registered brokers or dealers in securities, and U.S. registered money transmitters are authorized to process such transfers of funds, and only on behalf of U.S or third-country NGOs. Although individuals may not transfer funds directly to Syria in support of authorized NGO activities under General License No. 11, please note that, pursuant to General License No. 6, individuals may send noncommercial, personal remittances to individuals in Syria provided that, among other things, the Government of Syria is not involved. However, General License No. 6 provides that "noncommercial, personal remittances" do not include charitable donations of funds to or for the benefit of any entity or funds transfers for use in supporting or operating a business. Please see General License No. 6 for further details.
If you wish to donate funds in support of humanitarian work in Syria, you may do so by transferring funds to an NGO to support its work in Syria. If you wish to send a charitable donation directly to Syria, you must apply for specific authorization to transmit such funds.
225. Why does the United States have sanctions against Syria and what does that mean for me?
The United States has sanctioned the Syrian government, including the Central Bank of Syria, senior Syrian government officials, and individuals and entities supporting the Assad regime and/or responsible for human rights abuses in Syria, in order to reinforce the President's call that Bashar al-Assad step down and to disrupt the Assad regime's ability to finance its campaign of violence against the Syrian people. In addition, Treasury has sanctioned the Commercial Bank of Syria and a number of other entities under Executive Order 13382, an authority that targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their supporters. Over the years Treasury has applied a broad range of sanctions using several different authorities and Executive orders (E.O.s), including counter-terrorism (E.O. 13224), human rights abuses (E.O. 13572), and non-proliferation (E.O. 13382). The United States has also prohibited the exportation of services to Syria, and there have long been legal restrictions on what goods U.S. persons can export to Syria.
These sanctions mean that U.S. persons are not permitted to do business with individuals or entities on OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List), or with any entity 50 percent or more owned by an Specially Designated National (SDN), unless exempt or authorized by OFAC through a general or specific license.
226. How can I help the Syrian people while making sure to abide by the U.S. sanctions?
Recognizing that the Syrian people need many critical services and goods, OFAC has issued several general licenses that, among other things, allow all U.S. persons to send non-commercial, personal remittances to Syrian persons without needing to apply to OFAC for a separate or specific license. Moreover, U.S. persons may donate humanitarian goods like food and medicine to people in Syria, as long as such donations are consistent with Commerce and OFAC regulations.
Finally, OFAC has also issued a general license to allow nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to engage in not-for-profit activities in Syria in support of humanitarian projects, democracy-building, education, and non-commercial development projects directly benefitting the Syrian people. Copies of all OFAC general licenses issued for Syria can be found on OFAC's Syria Sanctions program page. For any activities that fall outside of these general licenses, specific authorization from OFAC would be required, unless the transactions fall within a small category that are exempt from regulation by statute.
As mentioned above, one of the goals of the U.S. sanctions on Syria is to reinforce the President's call for Bashar al-Assad to step down and to disrupt the Assad regime's ability to finance its campaign of violence against the Syrian people. OFAC can issue a specific license to authorize particular transactions that may otherwise be prohibited by the sanctions, as long as those transactions are in the foreign policy interests of the United States. For example, specific licenses may be issued on a case-by case basis to authorize charitable donations of funds that would otherwise be prohibited by the Syrian sanctions regime.
227. May I continue to send money to family or friends in Syria?
Yes. OFAC General License No. 6 authorizes U.S. depository institutions, including banks, and U.S.-registered money transmitters, to process non-commercial, personal remittances to or from Syria, or for or on behalf of an individual ordinarily resident in Syria, provided the funds transfer is not by, to, or through the Government of Syria or any other person designated or otherwise blocked by OFAC. Such transactions do not require further authorization from OFAC. If banks or other institutions have questions about processing remittances, they can contact OFAC's Sanctions Compliance and Evaluation Division via the OFAC hotline at (800) 540-6322 or (202) 622-2490.
228. May I send personal remittances through the Commercial Bank of Syria, the Syrian-Lebanese Commercial Bank, or the Syria International Islamic Bank (SIIB) to family or friends in Syria?
No. General License No. 6 does not authorize any transactions involving individuals or entities designated under E.O. 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their supporters, including the Commercial Bank of Syria, the Syrian Lebanese Commercial Bank, and the SIIB. On August 10, 2011, under Executive Order 13382, the Department of the Treasury designated the Commercial Bank of Syria for its involvement in proliferation activities, and also designated its subsidiary, the Syrian-Lebanese Commercial Bank. On May 30, 2012, the Department of the Treasury also designated the SIIB. Therefore, the use of these financial institutions is not authorized by General License No. 6.
229. Do I need a specific license from OFAC to send U.S.-origin food or medicine to Syria?
No. You may send U.S.-origin food or medicine to Syria without a specific license from OFAC. The Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security ("BIS"), which maintains jurisdiction over the export of most items to Syria, does not require a license for the export of U.S.-origin food and most medicine to Syria. For further guidance regarding the exportation of items to Syria, including a list of such items, please review the BIS Syria Web page, or contact BIS by phone at (202) 482-4252.
230. Can I give donations to NGOs to help the Syrian people?
Yes. U.S. persons can give a charitable donation to U.S. or third-country NGOs, but U.S. persons cannot send such a donation directly to Syria or a Syrian entity without a specific license in order to try to protect the donations from being misused. U.S. depository institutions, including banks, and U.S.-registered money transmitters, are allowed to process transfers of funds to or from Syria on behalf of U.S. NGOs and third-country NGOs in support of the not-for-profit activities described in OFAC General License No. 11.*
These not-for-profit activities include: (1) activities to support humanitarian projects to meet basic human needs in Syria, including drought relief, assistance to refugees, internally displaced persons, and conflict victims, food and medicine distribution, and the provision of health services; (2) activities to support democracy building in Syria, including rule of law, citizen participation, government accountability, and civil society development projects; (3) activities to support education in Syria, including combating illiteracy, increasing access to education, and assisting education reform projects; and (4) activities to support non-commercial development projects directly benefiting the Syrian people, including preventing infectious disease and promoting maternal/child health, sustainable agriculture, and clean water assistance.
General License No. 11 does not authorize transactions with the Government of Syria or other blocked persons, except for limited transactions with the Government of Syria that are necessary for the above-described not-for-profit activities, such as payment of taxes and other fees.
*For guidance on specific questions with respect to charitable donations, NGOs, and the scope of General License No. 11, please reach out to OFAC.
231. Can U.S. NGOs deliver humanitarian assistance directly to Syria?
Yes. U.S. NGOs may provide services to Syria in support of humanitarian projects in Syria without the need for a specific license from OFAC because this activity is covered under OFAC General License No. 11. However, other U.S. government authorities, including the BIS export requirements, may apply to the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Syria. For further guidance, please review the BIS Syria Web page or contact BIS or contact BIS by phone at (202) 482-4252.
NGOs considering entering Syria to conduct assistance operations should be aware that areas of Syria are extremely unstable and dangerous, and should review the State Department's Travel Warning for Syria http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/alertswarnings/syria-travel-warning.html.
U.S. persons should exercise caution not to engage in prohibited transactions with the Syrian Government or any individual or entity on OFAC's SDN list.
232. As an individual, can I send financial donations directly to Syria in support of charitable activities under General License No. 11?
No. Without a specific license, U.S. persons are not permitted to transfer financial donations directly to Syria or to NGOs in Syria. Therefore, if you wish to donate funds in support of humanitarian work in Syria, you may do so by giving funds to U.S. or third-country NGOs to support not-for-profit activities in Syria, per General License No. 11 and as described above.
If you still wish to send a charitable donation directly to Syria or to a Syrian NGO, you may apply to OFAC for specific authorization to transmit such funds. You should provide as much information as possible about how the funds would be transferred, the recipients, and the end use of the funds. Although General License No. 6 does not authorize charitable donations, as mentioned above non-commercial, personal remittances can be sent to Syria under GL No. 6.
841. What does Syria General License 20 authorize?
Syria General License (GL) 20 authorizes, subject to certain conditions, all transactions and activities prohibited by the Syrian Sanctions Regulations (SySR) that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the wind down of transactions involving, directly or indirectly, Emma Tel LLC or any entity in which Emma Tel LLC owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest, through 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time, December 30, 2020. Persons unable to wind down transactions prohibited by the SySR involving, directly or indirectly, Emma Tel LLC, or any entity in which Emma Tel LLC owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest, before 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time, December 30, 2020, are encouraged to seek guidance from OFAC.
For the duration of GL 20, non-U.S. persons may wind down transactions involving, directly or indirectly, Emma Tel LLC, or any entity in which Emma Tel LLC owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest, without exposure to sanctions under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019, provided that such wind down activity is consistent with GL 20. While GL 20 is in effect, wind down transactions involving non-U.S. persons may be processed through the U.S. financial system or involve U.S. persons, as long as the transactions comply with the terms and conditions in GL 20. Non-U.S. persons unable to wind down transactions involving, directly or indirectly, Emma Tel LLC or any entity in which Emma Tel LLC owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest before 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time, December 30, 2020, are encouraged to seek guidance from OFAC.
Released on September 30, 2020
866. What prohibitions apply to the Central Bank of Syria (CBoS)?
The Central Bank of Syria (CBoS) is blocked as part of the Government of Syria, as defined in E.O. 13582 of August 17, 2011 and the Syrian Sanctions Regulations (SySR), 31 C.F.R. Part 542. On December 22, 2020, OFAC identified the CBoS on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List), further underscoring its blocked status. This identification does not trigger new prohibitions on the CBoS. All property and interests in property of the CBoS remain blocked.
Among other things, the SySR generally prohibit U.S. persons, unless exempt or authorized, from engaging in any transaction or dealing in property and interests in property of certain blocked persons, including the CBoS. This also includes the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked, again including the CBoS. The SySR also prohibit the export, reexport, sale, and supply of services to Syria (unless exempt or authorized), which would include services involving the CBoS in Syria.
Pursuant to the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019, non-U.S. persons who knowingly provide significant financial, material, or technological support to, or knowingly engage in a significant transaction with the Government of Syria, including the CBoS, or certain other persons sanctioned with respect to Syria, risk exposure to sanctions.
General and specific licenses under the SySR applicable to the CBoS continue to apply, including authorizations for the provision of humanitarian assistance and certain trade to Syria that may involve the CBoS. For more information regarding authorizations for humanitarian assistance and other trade with Syria by U.S. and non-U.S. persons, please see FAQ 867.
Released on December 22, 2020
867. Can U.S. and non-U.S. persons provide humanitarian assistance to Syria following the identification of the Central Bank of Syria (CBoS) on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List)?
Yes. The identification of the CBoS on the SDN List does not trigger new prohibitions; existing general and specific licenses under the Syrian Sanctions Regulations (SySR), 31 C.F.R. Part 542, continue to apply as they did previously. U.S. persons may continue engaging with the CBoS in connection with humanitarian assistance and certain other trade with Syria authorized by the SySR or exempt from regulation, including: § 542.510 (Exports or reexports to Syria of items licensed or otherwise authorized by the Department of Commerce authorized; exports or reexports of certain services authorized); § 542.513 (Official activities of certain international organizations authorized); § 542.516 (Certain services in support of nongovernmental organizations' activities authorized); and § 542.525 (Exportation or reexportation of services to Syria related to the exportation or reexportation of certain non-U.S.-origin goods authorized). Of note, the export of U.S.-origin food and most medicines to Syria is not prohibited and does not require a Commerce or OFAC license (see 31 CFR § 542.510 and Syria FAQ 229), and U.S. persons can continue engaging with the CBoS in connection with these transactions. For more information on the most relevant exemptions, exceptions, and authorizations for humanitarian assistance and trade under the Syria sanctions program, please see OFAC's April 16, 2020 Fact Sheet: Provision of Humanitarian Assistance and Trade to Combat COVID-19.
In addition, OFAC may issue specific licenses to authorize certain transactions involving U.S. persons or the U.S. financial system that may otherwise be prohibited by OFAC sanctions, provided those transactions are in the foreign policy interests of the United States. OFAC has a longstanding licensing policy supporting the provision of humanitarian assistance
With respect to non-U.S. persons, OFAC will not consider transactions to be "significant" for the purpose of a sanctions determination under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 (Caesar Act) if U.S. persons would not require a specific license from OFAC to participate in such a transaction. Accordingly, non-U.S. persons would not risk exposure to sanctions under the Caesar Act for engaging in activity with the CBoS that is authorized for U.S. persons under a general license in the SySR, such as transactions involving the provision of humanitarian assistance or export of humanitarian goods to Syria. Further, the Caesar Act codifies, with some exceptions, the general license in § 542.516 of the SySR that authorizes certain services in support of nongovernmental organizations, and includes a humanitarian waiver.
OFAC remains committed to ensuring that humanitarian assistance can flow to the people of Syria. Treasury continues to support the critical work of governments, certain international organizations, non-profit organizations, and individuals delivering food, medicine, medical supplies, and humanitarian assistance to civilians in Syria. If individuals, companies, or financial institutions have questions about engaging in or processing transactions related to these authorizations, they can contact OFAC's Sanctions Compliance and Evaluation Division at (800) 540-6322 or (202) 622-2490.
868. I am a non-U.S. person that engages in humanitarian-related transactions or activity with Polymedics LLC and Letia Company. Do I now face exposure to sanctions for engaging in humanitarian-related transactions or activity with these companies?
As described in FAQ 867, non-U.S. persons would not risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in humanitarian-related transactions or activity with Polymedics LLC and Letia Company that are exempt from regulation or authorized for U.S. persons by a general license in the Syrian Sanctions Regulations (SySR), 31 C.F.R. Part 542, such as transactions involving the provision of humanitarian assistance or export of humanitarian goods to Syria.
Additionally, the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 (Caesar Act) codifies, with some exceptions, the general license in § 542.516 of the SySR, which authorizes certain services in support of nongovernmental organizations and includes a humanitarian waiver.
884. Do non-U.S. persons, including nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and foreign financial institutions, risk exposure to U.S. secondary sanctions pursuant to the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 (Caesar Act) for activities that would be authorized under the Syrian Sanctions Regulations (SySR)?
With respect to non-U.S. persons, OFAC will not consider transactions to be "significant" for the purpose of a sanctions determination under the Caesar Act if U.S. persons would not require a specific license from OFAC to participate in such a transaction. Accordingly, non-U.S. persons, including NGOs and foreign financial institutions, would not risk exposure to sanctions under the Caesar Act for engaging in activity, or facilitating transactions and payments for such activity, that is authorized for U.S. persons under a general license (GL) issued pursuant to the SySR. For a list of GLs within the SySR related to humanitarian assistance and trade with Syria, please see OFAC's April 16, 2020 Fact Sheet: Provision of Humanitarian Assistance and Trade to Combat COVID-19. Further, Section 7425 of the Caesar Act codifies, with some exceptions, the general license in § 542.516 of the SySR that authorizes certain services in support of NGOs. Additionally, Section 7432 of the Caesar Act includes a humanitarian waiver for activities not otherwise covered by GL § 542.516 of the SySR.
Please note that this guidance with respect to non-U.S. persons does not apply to transactions and activities that may be subject to sanctions under other sanctions programs administered by OFAC (e.g., transactions with blocked persons designated under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224 (OFAC's counterterrorism authority) or E.O. 13894 (OFAC's Syria-related authority)), unless exempt or otherwise permitted by OFAC.
Released on April 5, 2021
885. May U.S. and non-U.S. persons, including nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and foreign financial institutions, provide or facilitate certain humanitarian assistance to Syria without the risk of sanctions?
Yes. The export of U.S.-origin food and most medicines to Syria is not prohibited and does not require a Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) or OFAC license (see 31 CFR § 542.510, 15 CFR § 746.9, and Syria FAQ 229), and therefore non-U.S. persons would not risk exposure to sanctions under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 (Caesar Act) for engaging in such activity. See FAQ 884. For questions specific to transactions involving items subject to the Export Administration Regulations destined to Syria, please contact the BIS Foreign Policy Division at Foreign.Policy@bis.doc.gov. Additionally, U.S. persons providing services ordinarily incident to the export or reexport of certain non-U.S.-origin food and most medicines to Syria is not prohibited and does not require an OFAC specific license (see 31 CFR § 542.525), and therefore non-U.S. persons would not risk exposure to sanctions under the Caesar Act for engaging in such activity. For more information on the most relevant exemptions, exceptions, and authorizations for humanitarian assistance and trade under the Syria sanctions program, please see OFAC's April 16, 2020 Fact Sheet: Provision of Humanitarian Assistance and Trade to Combat COVID-19.
OFAC remains committed to ensuring that humanitarian assistance can flow to the people of Syria and maintains a favorable policy supporting the provision of humanitarian assistance. Treasury continues to support the critical work of governments, certain international organizations, NGOs, and individuals delivering food, medicine, medical supplies, and humanitarian assistance to civilians in Syria. In an effort to ensure assistance reaches those in need, we encourage individuals, companies, or financial institutions who have questions about engaging in or processing transactions related to these authorizations, to contact OFAC's Sanctions Compliance and Evaluation Division at (800) 540-6322 or (202) 622-2490.
934. Are the United Nations and the U.S. government permitted to conduct stabilization and early recovery-related activities and transactions involving Syria? Does this apply to their contractors and grantees as well?
Yes. The Syrian Sanctions Regulations (SySR) § 542.513 authorize, subject to certain conditions, the United Nations, its Specialized Agencies, Programmes, Funds, and Related Organizations and their employees, contractors, or grantees to engage in all transactions and activities in support of their official business in Syria, including any stabilization and early recovery-related activities and transactions in support of their official business. This authorization applies to all employees, grantees, and contractors carrying out the official business of the United Nations, its Specialized Agencies, Programmes, Funds, and Related Organizations, including nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and private sector entities that are acting as grantees or contractors. Please be aware that grantees or contractors conducting activities and transactions authorized under § 542.513 must provide a copy of their contract or grant with the United Nations, or its specialized Agencies, Programmes, Funds, and Related Organizations to any U.S. person, including U.S. financial institutions processing funds transfers in support of the authorized activities, before the U.S. person engages in or facilitates any transaction or activity.
In addition, § 542.211(d) and the general license at § 542.522 exempt and authorize, respectively, subject to certain conditions, the Federal Government and its employees, grantees, or contractors to engage in all transactions in support of their official business in Syria, including any stabilization and early recovery-related activities and transactions in support of their official business. This exemption and authorization apply to all employees, grantees, and contractors carrying out the official business of the Federal Government, including NGOs and private sector entities that are acting as grantees or contractors. Please be aware that grantees or contractors conducting transactions authorized under § 542.522 must provide a copy of their grant or contract with the Federal Government to any U.S. person, including U.S. financial institutions processing funds transfers in support of the authorized activities, before the U.S. person engages in or facilitates any transaction.
For NGOs that are not acting as grantees or contractors of the aforementioned international organizations or the Federal Government, please see § 542.516 for authorizations under the SySR related to the export or reexport of certain services to Syria in support of certain NGO activities.
Separately, non-U.S. persons, including NGOs, private sector entities, and foreign financial institutions facilitating or assisting in the aforementioned activities, do not risk exposure to U.S. secondary sanctions pursuant to the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 for engaging in the above activities that are authorized or exempt for U.S. persons under the SySR. Please see FAQ 884 for additional information.
Please note that this guidance does not apply to transactions and activities that may be subject to sanctions under other sanctions programs administered by OFAC (e.g., transactions with persons blocked under OFAC's counterterrorism authority (E.O. 13224, as amended) or OFAC's Syria-related authority (E.O. 13894)), unless exempt or otherwise authorized by OFAC.
Released on November 8, 2021
937. What does the general license (GL) at § 542.516 of the Syrian Sanctions Regulations (SySR), as amended on November 26, 2021, authorize with respect to nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)?
The GL at § 542.516 of the SySR continues to authorize, subject to certain limitations, NGOs to engage in certain transactions and activities that would otherwise be prohibited in support of the following not-for-profit activities in Syria:
Humanitarian projects that meet basic human needs;
Democracy-building;
Education;
Non-commercial development projects directly benefitting the Syrian people; and
The preservation and protection of cultural heritage sites.
The transactions and activities that NGOs are authorized to engage in include:
Transactions with persons who meet the definition of the term Government of Syria, as defined in § 542.305(a) (i.e., the state and the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including the Central Bank of Syria), that would otherwise be prohibited by § 542.201(a)(1);
New investment (i.e., a transaction that constitutes a commitment or contribution of funds or other assets, or a loan or other extension of credit) in Syria that would otherwise be prohibited by § 542.206;
Exportation or reexportation of services that would otherwise be prohibited by § 542.207; and
Purchase of refined petroleum products of Syrian origin for use in Syria that would otherwise be prohibited by § 542.209.
Early-recovery-related transactions and activities that fall within the categories of transactions and activities listed above are authorized. For transactions and activities not otherwise authorized or exempt from sanctions, OFAC considers license requests on a case-by-case basis.
Additionally, this GL authorizes U.S. financial institutions to process transfers of funds in support of the authorized transactions and activities outlined above.
Separately, non-U.S. persons, including NGOs and foreign financial institutions, do not risk exposure to U.S. secondary sanctions pursuant to the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 for engaging in or facilitating transactions and activities that are otherwise authorized or exempt for U.S. persons under the SySR. Please see FAQ 884 for additional information.
938. What early-recovery-related transactions and activities are nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) authorized to engage in pursuant to the general license (GL) at § 542.516 of the Syrian Sanctions Regulations (SySR), as amended on November 26, 2021?
The GL at § 542.516 of the SySR authorizes NGOs to engage in activities in support of certain not-for-profit activities in Syria, including: humanitarian projects that meet basic human needs; democracy-building; education; non-commercial development projects directly benefitting the Syrian people; and the preservation and protection of cultural heritage sites. This includes early-recovery-related transactions and activities by NGOs in support of transactions and activities that fall within the categories listed above, including:
the provision of healthcare and health-related services (such as the restoration of health facilities; the distribution of medical equipment, supplies, and pharmaceuticals; and technical training for and supervision of healthcare workers);
the provision of educational support and training services (such as the rehabilitation of local schools, the provision of training and equipment support to local educators, training and equipment support to local officials on the operations and management of critical infrastructure, and the provision of vocational and business management training);
the provision of agricultural-related services (such as the refurbishment of mills, silos, and bakeries to improve food security; the provision of veterinary health services and pharmaceuticals to promote the health of livestock; and training and distribution of agricultural related items); and
activities related to shelter and settlement assistance, and clean water assistance (such as the rehabilitation and restoration of conflict-damaged water systems, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure; supplying associated spare parts, training, and support for maintenance of equipment; and rehabilitation of irrigation pumps and canals).
For transactions and activities not otherwise authorized or exempt from sanctions, OFAC considers license requests on a case-by-case basis. Individuals, NGOs, companies, or financial institutions with questions about engaging in or processing transactions or activities related to this authorization can contact OFAC's Sanctions Compliance and Evaluation Division most efficiently via email at OFAC_Feedback@treasury.gov. Sanctions Compliance and Evaluation may also be reached via phone at (800) 540-6322 or (202) 622-2490.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The Athlete Development Matrix (ADM) is an outline of the skills and attributes of athletes progressing through each stage of development to provide the greatest probability of success to the individual as they mature - not just with athletic success but also participation for health and social benefits.
Softball Canada's ADM is a document to help guide athletes, parents, coaches, local associations and steer softball's National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) content. It lays out in great detail what an athlete should be able to do at each stage of their Long-Term Player Development (LTPD). Softball's ADM ensures that athletes do not miss critical skills early in learning the game therefore leading to more successful softball development.
The ADM is a roadmap of what athletes need to learn, develop and build as they advance and become more skilled in softball.
To access Softball Canada's ADM visit https://softball.ca/ltpd/resources and register to download this and other LTPD documents.
The ADM will be improved as the Softball community continues to identify different or new needs. This document will evolve to better serve the softball community in Canada with your feedback so please visit https://softball.ca/ltpd/feedback to tell us your thoughts.


Playful,Smart, Cheeky yet very adorable.
I have my vaccinations with no bother at all and looking forward to exploring the great outdoors, counting down the days. Loving my meals too I always have an empty bowl along with my treats for being smart.


text:
SportsJournalists.com
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Bobby Kennedy Jr.'s voice
Discussion in 'Anything goes' started by hungryhungryhippo, Jun 13, 2006.
hungryhungryhippo Member
He's on Colbert now (f-ing hilarious, btw) and I've heard him on the local Air America radio. Even if I don't agree with all he says, the man is smart but has one of the worst voices on earth. If nothing else, it makes him sound nervous all the time.
hungryhungryhippo, Jun 13, 2006
Jake_Taylor Well-Known Member
Does he er uh, sow-und anything-uh like-uh his fawtha or uncle-uh?
Jake_Taylor, Jun 13, 2006
Jeff Gluck Member
He always sounds like that. It's pretty terrible. Sort of like he yelled too much the night before.
Jeff Gluck, Jun 14, 2006
micropolitan guy Well-Known Member
RFK didn't have a particulary great voice, either. Very nasal, Boston accent.
But in those days I think we listened to what he was saying, and not how he sounded when he said it.
I'm no great fan of the Kennedys. Amid the tragedies, they've also squandered some tremendous opportunities. But I often believe this country would have been much better off, in the short and the long run, had RFK not been killed because he would have won the nomination and beaten Nixon in 1968.
I remember vividly waking up that morning learning he'd been shot, and the overwhelming sadness of the funeral train from NYC to Arlington.
micropolitan guy, Jun 14, 2006
Double J Active Member
Bobby suffers from spasmodic dysphonia, which is characterized by involuntary spasms of the vocal cords. This affects a person's ability to speak as well as the quality of their voice, making it sound strained or strangled. That's what you're hearing.
All that aside, I'd like to see him enter politics. Not that he'd have to have a lot on the ball to be more qualified for politics than many others in his family who have run for and won office, but he is a highly intelligent man with a relatively clean background (since he kicked drugs, anyway), a passion for environmental issues and a reputation for getting things done.
Double J, Jun 14, 2006
djc3317 Guest
if my name's robert kennedy jr., the last thing in the world I want to do is run for office.
djc3317, Jun 14, 2006
He has considered it in the past. He did contemplate a run for attorney general in New York, where his main opponent for the Democratic nomination would have been his ex-brother-in-law, Andrew Cuomo.
Double J said:
Bobby suffers from spasmodic dysphonia, which is characterized by involuntary spasms of the vocal cords.
OK, now I feel like a prick.
And so you should.
Just kidding. It's probably not well known that he has this disorder. I learned of it a year or two ago when he paid an environment-related visit to the area where I live and gave a speech.
Baloo Member
Thanks for this thread, hhh - I wondered the same thing when I saw him on CR last night - I wondered if something was medically wrong, because he doesn't sound like a typical kennedy - or mayor quimby.
What a hilarious interview, though - I loved the end where Colbert called him on wanting to leave a paper trail - "and I thought you were an environmentalist - I nailed you."
Baloo, Jun 14, 2006
85bears Member
Random thought - does Bruce Weber have the same condition?
85bears, Jun 14, 2006
Fenian_Bastard Guest
Thanks, Double.
I thought the poor bastard had emphysema or something.
Fenian_Bastard, Jun 14, 2006


text:
Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush Share Stories About Their Wild and Wonderful Life in Sisters First
What was it really like to grow up in the Texas governor's mansion and the White House? And what was it like to do that with your twin sister? Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush, the daughters of 43rd U.S. President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush, share their touching and funny stories in their new book, Sisters First: Stories From Our Wild and Wonderful Life(Grand Central).
Here is an excerpt from the book, where Jenna shares some really good reasons for never googling yourself.
Accidentally Famous
Our lives were not dysfunctional, but they were at times strange. We were photographed from the moment we were born, not cute family snapshots, but photos taken by real photographers with camera bags and telephoto lenses. Less than an hour after we were born by Cesarean section, my mother, swollen with edema from her failing kidneys and preeclampsia, was being wheeled back from the operating room and a photographer jumped out from behind a wall in the Baylor Hospital maternity ward. He started taking pictures of her exhausted, bloated face, and she was so stunned that she tried to smile. Fortunately, it was the photo of my smiling father, balancing two swaddled bundles in his arms, that flashed across the country on the wire services with a headline about Vice President Bush's new twin grandbabies. We were "accidentally famous" from the moment we were born.
Our first baby photo, which went out on the wire services, with the caption, "The Vice-President's newest twin granddaughters."
When our dad's parents came to visit us in Midland, Texas, it was not for Father's Day or Thanksgiving, but for public events like campaign rallies. In 1984, when we were not yet three, we were given "grown-up" seats on a stage and decked out in matching blue polka-dot dresses with white collars and white pinafores. Barbara sat in her seat, but I ended up down on the stage floor, scooting around under my grandmother's watchful eye. At one point, I lifted up my dress right as my grandfather was speaking, and the cameras went wild. I don't remember any of it, but I know it happened—the afternoon superimposed into my childhood memory album—because photographers captured it all.
We wore our fancy clothes to events like the White House Easter Egg Roll, where we stood with our grandparents and a massive rabbit in a gingham dress on the perfectly clipped green White House South Lawn. When we had playtime with our cousins, it was captured by TV cameras for live television as we ran around on a brightly lit stage after a balloon drop at a Republican National Convention.
But there were also times when being famous, even accidentally, hurt. I first heard the word "wimp" on the playground during recess when I was a kindergartner at an elementary school in Washington, D.C. I knew from the sound of it that I did not want to be a wimp at any cost. When a sixth grader said to me, "I bet you can't do an apple flip off the monkey bars," I climbed right to the top. I didn't know what an apple flip was; the only gymnastics move I could do was a somersault, on the ground. But I wanted to be the courageous girl who could stand on the top of the monkey bars and dive off, so I did. I don't recall anything about my brief moments of flight, only that I crashed to the hard ground beneath and broke my jaw. Barbara says that all she remembers was seeing my teal-and-white-striped T-shirt with a bloody handprint on the front.
I didn't realize that the word "wimp" existed beyond the school playground until I stood in the supermarket checkout line with my mother in Washington, D.C. I saw a Newsweek magazine with Gampy on the front cover and the word "wimp" next to his face. I was confused. My grandfather, who babysat us, who kept in continual touch with his children and grandchildren, first through letters and later via e-mail, who had fought in World War II, was anything but a wimp. Staring at that cover, I felt embarrassed. I wanted to turn over the magazine, to look away. Because on some level I realized that if my mom and I could see it in the supermarket checkout line, so could everyone else. I asked my mom why Gampy's photo was next to the word "wimp," and she gave me whatever reassuring answer she could. The next time I saw Gampy, I was ashamed to associate him with the magazine. Even if the public figures in my family—Gampy and Ganny, and later my dad and my mom—were going to appear on the pages of magazines, as an elementary schooler it never occurred to me that I would be anything but anonymous. Sometimes I managed to remain out of the public spotlight in spite of myself.
When I was seven and staying at my grandparents' house in Maine, my older cousins convinced me that maxi-pads were used for underarm sweat. After I stuck them to my armpits, those same cousins dared me to walk downstairs to say hi to all the grown-ups gathered in the living room. But it was not just the usual family and close friends. Deng Xiaoping, the paramount leader of China, was visiting Gampy, along with his aides and an unusually large contingent of international photographers, ready to snap away. Luckily for me, as I made my grand entrance, the cameramen must have realized there are some photos that are just too awful to take.
By the time my dad was in the White House, my luck with anonymity was gone. In retrospect, where it hurt the most was in the classroom, my classroom. At the start of 2005, after my dad won reelection, I began working as a teacher at the Elsie Whitlow Stokes Charter School in Washington, D.C. At school, I was "Miss Jenna," no last name. I began my day in the multipurpose room where teachers graded papers and the kids ate breakfast, rewarmed pancakes or cereal. The staff put out newspapers around the room to encourage the kids to read.
I had a student, Yvonne, who was smart and observant. On a Monday morning after the inauguration, she came up to me with one of those newspapers and pointed to a photo of Henry Hager, now my husband, and me dancing at one of the balls. The angle of the photo made it look like an over-the-top, sexy dance, and although I was holding a Diet Coke in my hand, in the photo it looked like it was an alcoholic beverage. Yvonne said, "What are you doing in this picture?" as if she were asking me for confirmation.
Up until a minute before, I had been standing in a room that smelled vaguely of syrup, thinking about my lesson plan and ways to get to know the kids and for them to get to know me. Then my cover was blown.
I understood Yvonne's curiosity, though. When I was her age, I had a deep fascination with the printed page, particularly with magazines, and for years, I, too, believed the stories told by the glossy pictures and the beguiling words. It was only as a young adult that I came to really understand what it can be like for those standing on the other side.
Before there was the term "fake news," there was, well, fake news—snippets of outrageous stories that made the press or ended up on the Internet. I read stories in the tabloids that I was dating men I had never met; some people sold the made-up stories for money. My Wikipedia page was changed every month to report that I was pregnant when I wasn't—my mom blamed my love of bohemian tops. I saw press reports that Barbara and I had run naked through a hotel in Mendoza, Argentina, when we have never set foot in the city. When I flashed the symbol of "hook 'em horns" for University of Texas during my dad's inauguration, a Danish paper showed the photo and reported that I was a devil worshipper. I've learned to never google myself.
At this point of my life, though, I have become fair game for all kinds of tabloid fodder. Indeed, you could argue that everything that happens to me in print, online, and on film is entirely my doing, because I'm the one who chose a job in television.
Excerpted from the SISTERS FIRST: Stories From Our Wild and Wonderful Life. Copyright © 2017 by Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush. Reprinted with permission of Grand Central Publishing. All rights reserved.
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text:
_________shire
"A two-month engagement is hardly proper at all," said Lady Winifred. "Don't you agree, Susannah?"
"Perhaps they are truly in love," replied Miss Morton. "That's always a possibility."
"It is, but it's not a probability, my dear." Lady Winifred sniffed as she raised her teacup and took a sip. Then she wrinkled her nose and placed the cup on the small table beside her chair. "I've told my granddaughters that affection should not be the prime consideration when choosing a husband. Not to say that it shouldn't play a role at all, but to give it more importance than it merits is usually a grave error."
Lady Winifred Ramsay had not made such an error herself; she'd had the foresight when she married to select a husband whose fortune and advanced age assured her a mercifully brief sojourn in the state of conjugality, and a much longer and more satisfying one as a rich widow. After siring their two sons, her late husband, the Earl of Brompton, had had the good sense to perish after a short bout of scarlet fever. Her ladyship was grateful that the Fates had favored her so generously, and hoped that her granddaughters had made equally fortuitous matches.
Miss Susannah Morton regarded Lady Winifred over the rim of her teacup. Her ladyship cut an impressive figure for a woman of her years: her gown was of the utmost propriety—no frivolous crinolines, and a neckline higher even than the fashion of the day dictated for day wear. Her bearing was that of a woman who knew her exact worth in the world and intended to let all those who surrounded her know it as well. She had certainly conveyed it to Miss Morton.
Although she had already heard most of the details from Evie and Ginny, Miss Morton asked Lady Winifred, "What do you know of the lucky young gentlemen who will be marrying our girls?"
"Virginia has made the far better match. She will wed Lord Paul Stanwell, the younger son of the Marquess of Weathersby. Eveline, unfortunately, has chosen to align herself with the son of a man of trade. I believe his name is Hedspeth. From Manchester. He does have a vast fortune, however." Lady Winifred sighed.
"Hedspeth as in Hedspeth Mills?" asked Miss Morton.
"Yes. I suppose if one must marry a tradesman, it's an advantage if he is known for his dominance of the industry. Still, I had hoped for better for Evie. I cannot understand why she consented to this arrangement." Lady Winifred shook her head sadly. "Susannah, please pour me a spot more tea. Thank you, dear."
Miss Morton did as she was asked, then said, "I can't help but think there must be some bonds of affection between Evie and Mr. Hedspeth. Surely some marriages are based upon more than strict calculation of mutual benefit."
"My dear Susannah, you are not a married woman yourself and cannot know what is most desirable for a felicitous marriage. If you did, you would not be in the straits in which you currently find yourself."
Miss Morton felt heat rise to her face. After the weddings next month, she would lose her place in the Ramsay household and need to find a new position—not be an easy prospect for an unmarried gentlewoman of three-and-thirty.
"Well," she said, helping herself to a biscuit, "I suppose we shall see how our girls fare soon enough. The gentlemen are due to arrive at Aldergate tomorrow, I believe."
"They are," said her ladyship. "Heaven help us all."
Mr. Graeme Hedspeth stepped out of the train at Brompton station. While the driver from Aldergate loaded his trunks into the carriage, he observed the rural landscape surrounding them. The low, dun-colored hills were shrouded in a thin fog, and his overcoat did little to keep out the damp chill. He rubbed his ungloved hands together and started to climb into the carriage.
"Mr. Hedspeth, sir, I need to find the other guests. Would you mind waiting a moment?"
Graeme turned to look at the driver, a middle-aged man wearing an oilskin coat. "No, not at all," he replied. "Take your time." As the man strode off towards the platform, Graeme fell back against the cushioned seat in the carriage.
He had to admit that he was a bit nervous about this house party. Not due to Evie, not at all; she was the one part of this whole business that didn't make him nervous. It was the rest of it: her family, the other guests, and his own regrettable self. These were things he couldn't change, at least not within the space of a few days.
He reminded himself that he wasn't here for them, but for her. Yet they—the Ramsay family, with their titles and their land—were inextricable from Evie. He couldn't have her without them. And he did want her, so he must resign himself to accepting them as well.
Was accepting the correct word, though? It implied a sort of approval. He could never approve of the system of landed aristocracy that had made his life, and the lives of others, miserable in so many ways. He remembered the teasing at school, the barely concealed sneers at Oxford, and the subtle snubs of ladies at balls who had consented to a dance with him—one dance, no more—before they turned their attention elsewhere. It had been nearly enough to make him give up the pursuit of a wife entirely, no matter what his father wanted for him.
But then he had met Evie. She was a lady, the daughter of an earl, with enough family money to assure him that she wasn't a fortune hunter. And she had looked at him as no woman had ever looked at him before. As if she saw him, not just his money, and liked what she saw.
When he had proposed and been accepted, he knew that the gossips had gone quite out of their heads. Half of them believed Lady Eveline Ramsay was lowering herself by consenting to wed the younger son of Thomas Hedspeth, founder and owner of one of the most prosperous textile mills in the country; the other half believed she had made the best match possible. After all, the times were changing, and lack of generations of gentility could be counteracted by a certain amount of wealth.
It was unfortunate that Graeme himself wanted little to do with that wealth, now that he had seen another path for his life, one far more appealing than serving as part of his father's textile empire.
The door to the carriage creaked open, and the driver helped a lady in a wide-brimmed bonnet and paisley shawl climb into the seat opposite Graeme. He gave her a little bow and said, "Good afternoon. I'm Mr. Graeme Hedspeth."
The lady was followed by a gray-haired gentleman with the longest, bushiest sideburns Graeme had ever seen. Graeme himself had a pair of sideburns, but he took care to keep them neatly trimmed. The recent mania for ostentatious facial hair perplexed him.
"Ah, it's the suitor himself! Pleased to meet you, dear boy." The gentleman smiled and nodded at him. "I'm Lord Alfred Harrington. And this is my wife, Lady Margaret."
She held out her gloved hand to Graeme.
He took it and made another slight bow, saying, "You are uncle and aunt to the Ramsay siblings, as I recall?"
"Yes," said Lady Margaret, settling back as the carriage started to move. "Their mother was my dear sister, God rest her soul."
Graeme nodded gravely. Evie had told him that her mother had died when she and Ginny were still practically infants. Thankfully, Miss Morton had been quickly engaged as their governess, becoming, so Evie had told him, the closest thing to a mother they would know for the next fifteen years.
"I do regret that I was never able to meet Lady Brompton," he said. "She must have been a wonderful woman."
"Oh, she was." Lady Margaret smiled sadly.
There was a silence, which made Graeme acutely aware, as always, of his inability to think of appropriate remarks.
Lord Alfred asked, "So, Mr. Hedspeth, are you looking forward to the hunt?"
"Ah, no. I'm afraid I don't hunt."
"Really? And why is that?" Lord Alfred looked affronted.
"I am morally opposed to hunting. I believe it is cruel."
Another silence. Graeme looked out at the passing countryside and thought that this coming week would probably include many such silences. He elaborated, "I believe there are better ways of culling the fox population than torturing them into the ground for sport."
Lord Alfred grunted. "In that case, you can stay with the ladies in the drawing room, while we men enjoy ourselves."
"Oh, Alfred, stop it." Lady Margaret swatted her husband's arm. "Mr. Hedspeth, I think it's admirable that you have principles and are standing by them."
"Thank you," said Graeme.
Lord Alfred was looking at him strangely, and Graeme recognized the look. He'd seen it from his father and brother often enough. He knew he wasn't what other people expected of a man of his station. He did not hunt, and rode only competently. He much preferred the company of his books to the pleasure of sport. He didn't even enjoy participating in the business dealings of his father. And these oddities, compounded with some of his other interests, had made him feel that there was no place where he belonged, until he met Evie and she put his fears to rest.
"Oh, look," cried Lady Margaret, "there's Aldergate!"
They were coming up the long drive that approached the Ramsay estate, and Graeme felt his heart skip as he caught his first glimpse of it. Unlike his own family home, a Georgian manor purchased fifteen years earlier, Aldergate had been in the Ramsay family for centuries. Its Gothic arches and tendrils of ivy spoke of a permanence and solidity that Thomas Hedspeth could never purchase. Graeme smugly reflected that he had, at last, achieved something his father never could: access to true aristocrats.
It was a pity they didn't interest him in the least.
Lord Paul Stanwell observed the carriage as it approached the front entrance of Aldergate. He had arrived an hour before and was taking tea with Ginny, Evie, and Lord Brompton when Evie sprang up and cried, "They're coming!" She and her sister crowded to one of the windows, and Paul strolled over to another. He watched as a gray-haired gentleman and his stout wife emerged from the carriage, followed by a tall, somberly clad young man with a mop of dark hair and a heavy brow.
Evie turned and ran out of the room. Lord Brompton, sitting on a cushioned chair with his gouty foot resting on a low stool, called after her, "Evie, do slow down! You'll hurt yourself!" He shook his head and clucked. Paul offered his arm to Ginny, and they followed Evie out to the drive.
The butler, Mr. Graves, was supervising the footmen, who were carrying in the guests' luggage. Evie stopped short in front of the young man and smiled. She said, "Graeme," and he took her hand and kissed it reverently.
Paul resisted the temptation to roll his eyes. He was not as great a cynic as most people thought him to be. However, such public demonstrations of affection struck him as needlessly performative. Moreover, he found it hard to believe that what lay between Evie and Mr. Hedspeth was true affection. Lust, perhaps? He had nothing against lust, of course. And yet, as he watched Evie and her betrothed stare into each other's eyes, he was skeptical.
He had to remind himself that not everyone shared his predilections. Sometimes it seemed as if they did; sometimes it seemed that three-quarters of the men in London were his strange bedfellows. That was why it felt so monumental to be giving it all up to wed Lady Virginia Ramsay.
Many men would not consider such an outcome a sacrifice. And Paul didn't either, truth be told, because he did not intend to make a sacrifice. He saw no reason why he couldn't carry on with his habits after the wedding, so long as he and Ginny were able to produce a few children. And surely they could manage that. She was a beautiful, high-born girl; even a man like Paul could no doubt rise to the occasion for her.
Evie was clinging to Mr. Hedspeth's arm as they walked toward the front door, and Paul felt Ginny tighten her grasp on his. Of course, sisterly rivalry would rear its head now that the two suitors were meeting for the first time.
He offered his hand to Mr. Hedspeth. "At last we meet. Paul Stanwell."
Ginny added, "Lord Paul Stanwell. Son of the Marquess of Weathersby." She gave Paul a reprimanding look.
"Of course, my dear." Paul met the other man's gaze as they clasped hands. Mr. Hedspeth's eyes were a deep brown, almost black, and they surveyed Paul with a quick, discerning glance. That was unexpected.
"Mr. Graeme Hedspeth. Of the Manchester Hedspeths. At your service." He gave a slight bow and smiled faintly.
Paul withdrew his hand and said, "Please call me Paul. After all, we are to be family, are we not?"
"Yes," said Ginny, "and it will be so wonderful, won't it, Evie?" She turned to her older sister expectantly.
Evie answered, "I certainly hope so." She smiled serenely at her fiancé, who returned the smile with softening eyes.
Paul's impatience returned. "Shall we go in and finish our tea?"
The two couples walked back to the drawing room where Lord Brompton awaited them. He hoisted himself on his cane to greet Mr. Hedspeth, but the younger man urged him to sit back down. "Your lordship, please don't exert yourself for me."
"Thank you, dear boy. I'm afraid I've had another attack of gout. Rotten timing, but I'm hoping I'll be ready to ride again in time for the hunt."
The young people resumed their previous seats, Mr. Hedspeth settling on the divan next to Evie. A maid brought in another teacup for him, and he leaned back carefully and crossed his legs at the knee.
"So," he said, taking a sip, "what is the plan for this week?"
"Tonight we'll have a small dinner at home, just us and the Harringtons," said Lord Brompton.
"Tomorrow Robbie will be arriving, and we'll have a ball in the evening to honor the happy couples." He nodded at them; the ball was technically an engagement party. "The day after is the hunt. Beyond that, I don't think we have anything definite planned."
Paul said, "I'm sure we can find ways to entertain ourselves. It's such a lovely countryside. Such a nice change from the city."
"Do you spend much time in the city, Paul?" Mr. Hedspeth emphasized the Christian name, and Paul remembered that he had not been given the same permission.
"I do, Mr. Hedspeth," he replied, "but I'm finding the country much more congenial since I met Ginny." He tilted his head toward her, making her giggle. "Do you spend most of your time in Manchester?"
"Not at all. I've been at Oxford lately." Mr. Hedspeth took another sip of tea and added, "You may call me Graeme, Paul."
Was the man mocking him? For what reason? Paul decided to sharpen his blade. "How fascinating, Graeme. Yet you managed to drag yourself away from your studies long enough to capture the attention of Lady Eveline. However did you do it? She has long been pursued by likelier suitors than you."
Graeme narrowed his eyes. "I'm still trying to figure that out myself. I have no idea why a woman of such grace and intelligence as Eveline would ever accept the hand of a man like me. Perhaps you should ask the lady herself?" He turned to Evie.
"Isn't it obvious?" she answered. "I was wooed by your devastating good looks and blazing wit." She pursed her lips and suppressed a laugh.
Paul wouldn't have said that Graeme was good-looking, at least not in the way Paul knew himself to be. Yet there was something compelling about him. He exuded an intensity that Paul found both infuriating and challenging. And that was a relief; he'd been afraid he might need to tolerate a dullard in the coming years.
It washed over him again, the marriage and all it would entail. Could he really do it? Could he be what his family had been waiting for him to become: a respectable husband and a father? His own father had believed that Paul was entitled to some oat-sowing; what gentleman wasn't? But his gambling debts had racked up while his reputation wavered, especially after the Figaro scandal. Paul knew that before much longer his clandestine activities would become too difficult to conceal. A marriage, particularly to a young lady of Ginny's standing, would quell any rumors that arose. After all, he wouldn't be the first man of his inclinations to seek a wife. If he'd been given the choice, of course, he would have continued on as before, but he had learned that younger sons of marquesses don't have such freedom.
I became a fan of the romance genre almost three years ago, when I discovered the work of K.J. Charles. Before that, I had disdained romance as "bodice rippers"—trashy paperbacks for bored housewives. Once I started reading widely in the genre, however, I saw that romance novels were, in many cases, as well written as those in literary fiction (and, in some cases, better written). Not only that, but they dealt with serious topics, such as politics, gender roles and relations, mental health, and social class.
With my romance novel Second Sons, I hope to provide not only an engaging, entertaining story, with the requisite happily-ever-after (or HEA, as it is called in the genre) but also a critique of the hierarchical, capitalistic society in which it takes place. The main characters, Graeme and Paul, are respectively the son of a prosperous mill owner and the son of a marquess. Given their high status in the society of mid-19th-century England, their romantic and sexual relationship functions as a rebuke of the hierarchy of which they are a part. Graeme, in particular, has a growing sense of the inequities of capitalism, and has been participating in socialist and Marxist groups. Paul is an aspiring singer, but has been forbidden by his aristocratic family from pursuing a career as a professional musician.
Queer historical romance is often radical in its politics, since it is usually impossible for its protagonists to get married, the most typical outcome for heterosexual hist-roms. As a result, it questions the status quo and needs to find ingenious ways for its main characters to reach their HEA. I hope that my novel will be a notable addition to this canon.
Kit Carmichael writes queer historical romance. She read far too many Victorian novels at a formative age, and is now destined to wander the moors in a hooded cloak. She lives with her family in New England, where, though there are no moors, there is plenty of old-timey stuff for her to geek out on. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@kitcarwriter) or visit her website, kitcarmichael.com.


After a 19 year run Cirque du Soleil La Nouba has closed permanently. It is unknown at this time what may replace it.
This spellbinding show, created exclusively for the Walt Disney World Resort, is a must-see for anyone who wants a truly dazzling evening of spectacular entertainment that features an avant-garde blend of circus, art, theater, and absolute whimsy.
Dive deep into the world of the enigmatic Cirques, with their vibrant and dreamlike creativity, and experience over 60 talented performers as they bring a world of fun and fearless fantasy to life right before your very eyes! At the Cirque du Soleil La Nouba, the mundane meets the marvelous, and you can take this unforgettable journey into a world that is both threatening and exhilarating at once with the amazing acts and characters of this fantastical experience! The theater takes you into the world of the mysterious and dreamy Cirques and their encounters with their exact opposite, the Urbains, who are monochromatic.
Take in the experience with the many fun and exciting characters like the hilarious clowns Balthazar and Sergei. Join the four Nuts, Les Cons, as they mind everyone's business but their own and take you along for the ride! Imagine the classic love story of passion and intensity of the Dancers, a Pierrot clown and a lost ballerina. Their love, like their dance, is a never-ending story filled with desire, fear, and a longing for more. Experience the power of the Titan, a solitary figure, unfriendly and potentially threatening. Take on the dust and cobwebs alongside the Cleaning Lady, and enjoy the acrobatics on the wall at the End of the World with the Acrobatic Pierrot. See the beautiful Green Bird, who has escaped her cage and desperately wants to fly but is too awkward. Learn about the lonely little Walker as he goes back and forth, never stopping except at specific moments for reasons known to him alone.
The Juggler - Join the juggler as balls, hoops, and clubs fly in unprecedented numbers and at speeds that the eye and brain cannot easily comprehend. They don't just pass from hand to hand – they arc and fly into waiting props with seemingly impossible accuracy.
High Wire – Admire the high wire that takes place on a 90-foot long, half-inch wide steel wire. With remarkable balance and precision, the high wire walker ascends to a height of 34 feet above the stage as his partner descends from the theater's eighth level to the fifth on a diagonal wire. The performers' breathtaking maneuvers include head balancing and death-defying somersaults.
Diabolos – The diabolo, or Chinese yo-yo, is a children's game first introduced into the realm of the arts in Cirque du Soleil's Quidam. Holding two sticks linked by a string, the four young performers slide, juggle, and toss a musical wooden spool while performing flips in the air. Demonstrating increasingly difficult maneuvers, the artists attempt to outdo each other in dexterity and ingenuity.
Cycles – This act gets rolling with a BMX wizard whose difficult maneuvers never fail to mesmerize the public. His technical twists, gymnastic turns, and spins on one wheel are highlighted in incredible tricks accompanied by lots of footwork. The second half of the act features yet another artist whose feats are equally astonishing. His hard-to-believe stunts include riding over obstacles without ever putting his feet down, jumping off high platforms, hopping up and down steps and into the audience on one wheel, and more!
Aerial Cradle – The aerial cradle looks like a door and is a perfect example of equal opportunity strength and agility. This amazing athletic display features elements of traditional circus aerial cradle with a unique and special difference – the male and female artists take turns supporting one another 34 feet above the stage.
Aerial Ballet in Silk – In a stunning display of grace and strength, the artists become one with the ribbon of red fabric that cradles them. This breathtaking aerial dance requires immense agility and flexibility, and allows the performers a wide latitude of acrobatic and artistic expression.
Flying Trapeze – Four pendulum-like swings carry a team of perfectly synchronized aerialists 53 feet above the stage. This innovative bi-level rigging enables the trapezists to create a visually arresting exhibition of rhythm and athleticism. Timing is key when all four trapezes are swinging in tandem and the aerialists switch places.
Power Track / Trampoline – This act takes ordinary trampoline and power track performance to a new level! The stage is set on fire in this high-energy acrobatic display of phenomenal timing and spatial awareness.
Skipping Ropes – Inspired by the playfulness of our youth, this act begins with the Urbains performing rigid rhythms in monochromatic tones, giving way to vibrant dancing and acrobatics in a steady stream of solo, duo, and group jumps and formations. The featured Skippers combine artful moves, exceptional agility, and impressive speed that far exceed child's play.
Browse options for vacation packages for Orlando Florida!
"Well worth the extra cash."
Well worth the extra cash. More than just a show- it really was an experience.
One pair of eyes aren't quite enough to keep up with all the dazzling and breath-taking excitement. It's a must show for anyone!
One of the best shows we have ever seen & we were very surprised that vacations made easy got us such great seats!!
Superb show, high level talent ... Actually better than a previous cirque show we saw.


The New Hampshire Institute of Art (NHIA) announced today that its collection has been enriched by the donation of more than 500 original photographic prints featuring the work of many of the leading lights of 20th century photography thanks to the generosity of collector and philanthropist John Teti.
The John Teti Rare Photography Book Collection is one of the finest collections of photographic resources in the United States. The Collection, established in 2007 through a generous donation by Mr. Teti, contains over 2,000 rare books, periodicals, prints and documents illustrating the history of photography, including Edward Steichen's personal copies of Alfred Stieglitz's Camera Work.
This new donation adds another 500 rare and out-of-print books, plus almost 500 original photographic prints to the Collection. Artists represented in this most recent donation include Harry Callahan, Paul Caponigro, Imogen Cunningham, Lee Friedlander, Kenneth Josephson, Andre Kertesz, Sally Mann, Elliot Porter, Man Ray, Edward Steichen, Jock Sturges, Brett Weston, Edward Weston, and Minor White, among others.
Additionally, as part of this new donation, NHIA will benefit from an further gift of funds that will allow the college — already known for its strong undergraduate and graduate programs in photography — to establish a new Teti Fellowship program to make the Collection more accessible to scholars and artists from around the world.
The new Teti Fellows program will award four to six fellowships annually to scholars, artists, writers, and educators wanting to travel to NHIA's campus in Manchester, New Hampshire to make use of the Collection housed in the college's Teti Library.
Fellowships awards will range from $2,500 to $5,000 and are intended to cover the cost of roundtrip transportation to/from Manchester, lodging and meals while in residence in Manchester to use the Teti library, expenses related to the primary research or arts project for which the Fellowship was awarded, and a small stipend for the Fellowship recipient.
Photography scholars, artists, writers and educators may apply for a Teti Fellowship at any time, but submissions will be reviewed only twice per year with the first application deadline this October 1st for individuals wishing to be considered for projects occurring during the first half of 2018.
All Fellowship recipients will be required to present a talk on their current artistic or scholarly project while in residence at NHIA and any articles, books, exhibition catalogs, or other publications must credit the New Hampshire Institute of Art and the Teti Fellows program.
For more information about the Teti Fellowship, visit nhia.edu/TetiFellowship or email TetiFellowship@nhia.edu.


Today I was initially going to write about my Christmas shopping, but alas I left my purse at home this afternoon, and although the Swiss are very generous, not even my boss would let me have stuff for free. But that's okay, because this time last year I was feeling a bit nostalgic and I wrote a poem about Honduras and the book shop I'm working at. Maybe it's being around books that always makes me miss things, but I'm in that same sort of state at the moment, and I hope you like my poem.
The «It's going to be okay» side.
Lots of Love from the Roots of my Heart!
Hahahahaha! I'm not even sure I can afford you as my future PA! :p But if you accept payment in baked goods, then you're hired!
This was beautiful. I can feel the loss of moments and it's so sad and so pretty at the same time.


Fist of the North Star Season 1 Episode 17 – A Man Lives to Fight! The Door to the Showdown Opens!
Episode 15 Try Counting to Three! You're the One To Die!!
Episode 16 Villains, Want to Try Singing? Hell's Counting Rhyme!!
Episode 17 A Man Lives to Fight! The Door to the Showdown Opens!
Episode 18 Life of Death!? Beyond the Wasteland Lie the First Avenue of Hell!
Episode 19 Villains! Have Your One-Way Ticket to Death!
Shin gathers his entire elite King Army in order to consolidate his power to defeat Kenshiro.


A stylish designer bed for your cat which offers the ultimate sanctuary. The Herringbone Hepper Pod Bed, the ultimate in luxury, is perfect to curl up in, hideaway from the world, or just reign supreme! This is truly eye-catching modern design meets comfort and luxury!


Tripwire announced the results of a survey of 1,000 U.K. consumers on smart meter privacy. The research revealed that British consumers believe utility companies will only install smart meters in high-earning households, creating a class division, despite widely publicized benefits that include reduced energy bills and improved environmental consciousness.
"Smart grids – the energy infrastructure connected to smart meters – comprise an enormous range of technology, each of which introduces many potential vulnerabilities that may be susceptible to cyber attack, and we are adding new technologies all the time. This ever-increasing rate of network complexity, combined with the lure of easily monetized consumer data, will inevitably draw the attention of a wide variety of cyber attackers," Melancon continued.
Smart meters are electrical meters that record consumption of electric energy in intervals of an hour or less. They communicate information back to the utility for monitoring and billing purposes at regular intervals. They were launched in the UK in 2009 in a bid to help consumers save money on energy and be environmentally friendly.
More information on the smart meter privacy survey is available at https://www.tripwire.com/company/news/smart-meters-privacy/. The Tripwire survey was conducted by One Poll amongst 1,000 consumers across the U.K. in April 2013.