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You are here: Synergies > Implementation > Gender > Gender Heroes > Shipbreaking
BRS Gender Action Plan
Gender Heroes
Gender Pioneer Awards
Geneva Gender Parity Pledge
Shipbreaking
eXXpedition
From Toxics to Green
Working to get shipbreaking "off the Beach"
Interview with Patrizia Heidegger & Ingvild Jenssen
NGO Platform on Shipbreaking
The NGO Platform on Shipbreaking is a coalition of 19 environmental, human and labour rights organisations working to prevent the dangerous pollution and unsafe working conditions caused when end-of-life ships containing toxic materials in their structure are freely traded in the global marketplace. Through their "Off the Beach" campaign, they aim to raise public awareness of the human rights issues and pollution caused by shipbreaking practices in South Asia and to promote marketplace incentives to divert traffic away from the beaches.
A representative of the Secretariat recently sat down with their Executive Director, Patrizia Heidegger (a German national), and Ingvild Jenssen (a Norwegian and French national), who is the founder and a Policy Advisor with the Platform, to find out about their main motivations for undertaking this challenging work.
Tell us a little bit about yourselves and how you ended up where you are today
Ingvild: After finishing my Master's degree in Political Science in Oslo, moving to Brussels made sense to me as it is the epicenter of European politics and an exciting place to be for a political scientist. I became involved in the shipbreaking issue over 10 years ago when there was an effort from NGOs in Europe to persuade the European Union (EU) to work on this issue, which sparked the interest of the EU Commissioner at the time. With shipbreaking having been successfully implanted into the EU agenda, the decision was taken to form a coalition of the NGOs working on this issue which became known as the NGO Platform on Shipbreaking. The first high-profile case the Platform was involved in was the export of the decommissioned French aircraft carrier, the Clémenceau, to India for breaking. As a result of our and partner's campaigns, President Chirac ordered the vessel be returned to France in early 2006. The ship was eventually dismantled at a facility in the Northeast of England in 2010. This incident also provided the impetus for the Supreme Court in India to develop specific rules on the issue of shipbreaking. Seeing the successful outcome of this case gave me a strong motivation and momentum to continue this work.
Patrizia: I'm also a political scientist by trade, and have always had an interest in South Asia, having travelled there extensively. My work prior to joining the Platform was human rights based: I even had the opportunity to work for a human rights NGO in Bangladesh for a year and a half. It was during this time that I became aware of the ship breaking issue. I joined the Platform in October 2012 and was immediately absorbed by the complexity of this industry which has implications for human rights, labour rights, the environment and in particular, the dangers associated with toxic chemicals and wastes. Beyond the issue from a developmental standpoint is the definitive link between what happens on the beaches of Chittagong (Bangladesh), Alang (India) and Gadani (Pakistan) with the global shipping industry, which we know has many ties within Europe. It was hard not to be drawn into such a fascinating and challenging issue.
What are your main inspirations and passions in doing the work that you do?
For both of us, a huge inspiration is being able to work with such a wide array of organizations and with people of differing backgrounds. This gives us a real insight into the motivations of the main stakeholders involved in shipbreaking. The breadth of our work spans from persuading European shipowners to adopt, and cargo companies to insist, on responsible ship recycling practices (i.e. away from the beaches of South Asia) to defending workers and their families in the case of injury, and even death, at the shipbreaking yards. Our partner NGOs in developing countries are also a source of great inspiration – in some developing countries, working as an environmentalist can be a dangerous profession, some have even received death threats. Nevertheless, they carry on with their mission regardless, these are the true heroes.
In what situations do you really feel you've made a difference?
The Platform has brought cases of certain ships being illegally exported to Bangladesh and India before the courts in these countries. As a consequence of the courts' involvement, there are now sector specific regulations on shipbreaking in Bangladesh and India. In India, authorities have also set up a hazardous waste disposal and treatment facility. Something we continue to work on is the implementation of shipbreaking regulations in these countries, which to date remains quite weak. Our work, which also includes research and cooperation with other experts, has resulted in a significant increase in the coverage of the shipbreaking issue on the media, particularly in South Asia.
Describe your "best day" doing the work that you do
Recently we had a great week, during which the European Commissioner for the environment clearly stated that the practice of European vessels being broken on South Asia's beaches needs to end. That same week we also confirmed that funding was available for us to be able to continue our valuable work (the European Commission is our main donor). Another major coup was our role in ensuring that 11 major cargo companies will insist that responsible ship recycling practices be adopted in the annual contracts they sign with shipowners. Corporate social responsibility is obviously a huge concern for companies who suffer greatly from negative publicity.
In addition to these 3 success stories, this week really stands out for us as it was one of the rare occasions when we had both policy makers and business stakeholders "on our side"!
How do you perceive working in a male dominated setting?
The shipping industry is largely a male domain. This, coupled with the fact that we are viewed as critics of the industry, makes for interesting dynamics. Having said this, while you can't help but notice when you attend shipping conferences and address audiences which are over 90% male, at the end of the day, we don't necessarily feel that our impact would be any greater if we were men. After all, some of our strongest partners within the Platform are female. Rizwana Hasan, Director of the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) and a partner in the Platform, created great publicity for our cause when she won the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2009.
Read more about these inspirational women and the work they do on the website of the NGO Platform on Shipbreaking: http://www.shipbreakingplatform.org/.
version available
Review of Arrangements
Synergies Activities
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Status of Ratifications
InforMEA
Secretariat of the Synergies - UNEP
Office address: 11-13, Chemin des Anémones - 1219 Châtelaine, Switzerland
Postal address: Avenue de la Paix 8-14, 1211 Genève 10, Switzerland
Tel.: +41 (0)22 917 8271 - Fax: +41 (0)22 917 8098
Email: brs@un.org
Secretariat of the Synergies
Secretariat of the Synergies - FAO
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy
Tel.: +39 06 5703 3765 - Fax: +39 06 5703 3224
Email: pic@fao.org
Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
Copyright 2012 by Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions


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Edie.net (UK): Flash flooding like that which hit the South West at the weekend will never be stopped, the Environment Agency's top water expert has told edie, but a lot can still be done to help alleviate the problem. David King, director of water management at the agency, said that flash flooding was, by its very nature, hard to counter but with a greater understanding of how specific water courses work and co-operation between responsible bodies, the impacts can be minimised.
Although it was known that the rain was coming at the weekend and flood warnings had been in place, the sheer volumes had meant problems were bound to occur. "We had about two inches of rain in probably less than 12 hours," said Mr King. "The drainage system is not able to cope. There are things we can do going forward, which were highlighted by Sir Michael Pitt, that will help alleviate it but you'll never stop it."
There are things that many organisations can do, including the Highways Agency, water companies, local authorities and the EA itself, he said, and top of this list is learning to work better together. "It's about combining the efforts of all these bodies, and having a real understanding of where the hot spots are," he said.
...."You can't stop flooding, you can only prepare for it and negate the impact, there's a whole series of things you have to put in place and building defences and maintaining defences is one part of that."
The River Garnock in flood at Dalgarven Mill weir, North Ayrshire, Scotland, shot by Roger Griffith, Wikimedia Commons
Posted by Brian Thomas at 12:47 PM
Labels: flood, infrastructure, resilience, UK

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Thank you to all of the faculty and students who spent part of their September with us!
Back for the third consecutive year, Carmen Oliver and Don Tate and their special guests Matthew Winner, James Ransome, Lesa Cline-Ransome and Kelly Light shared many insights with the group. Everyone took pages of notes, and we expect we'll be cheering them on as they move further down the path to publication!
It appears that the always-energetic Debbie, her students, and her special guests Heidi Stemple, Lisa Cinelli, Rubin Pfeffer, Jake Bazel and Kelly Light had even more fun than we thought they would. Plus: they were the first group to have their photo taken by drone!
""Everyone's presentations and the week as a whole was just so beautifully crafted and I enjoyed every second of it. I came in just hoping to have time to work on a few personal projects and I'm leaving with soooo much more–fixing past projects, so many ideas for new projects and just a deeper understand of what I want to create!""
Susan Campbell Bartoletti gets our faculty appreciation award for her "the show must go on" attitude after suffering a podium accident…she and co-faculty Mitali Perkins are a great team! Visiting editor Kat Brzozowski was fascinated by the bottomless ice cream freezer. Thanks to Mindy Yuksel for sharing great pictures with us!


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REPORT: Media Plays On Emotion as Ousted Myanmar Leader and Clinton Pal, Aung San Suu Kyi, is Sentenced to Prison
Source: NBC News
By: Rachel Elbaum
Myanmar's ousted democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi was found guilty Monday of charges including incitement and sentenced to four years in prison, a source with direct knowledge of the case confirmed to NBC News.
The source expressed concern for Suu Kyi's safety. When asked what's next for the country's democracy movement, the source said "hoping for the best, but prepared for the worst."
Ousted President Win Myint was also sentenced to four years, according to the source. There was no indication given of where the two will serve their sentences.
RELATED: FLORIDA: Top Prosecutor, Ashley Moody, Sues Biden 'Admin' Over Destructive Immigration Flights Into State
Hours after the conviction, state TV reported that the sentences would be reduced to two years.
The military ousted Suu Kyi, the leader of the country's civilian government, in February. At the time, she had urged people to oppose the military takeover.
The United States, the United Kingdom, as well as the European Union, which have previously called for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar, condemned the verdict.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the convictions an affront to democracy and justice in a statement released Monday.
"The regime's continued disregard for the rule of law and its widespread use of violence against the Burmese people underscore the urgency of restoring Burma's path to democracy," the statement said, using the former name of Myanmar. "We urge the regime to release Aung San Suu Kyi and all those unjustly detained, including other democratically elected officials."
The E.U.'s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, called the trial and sentencing "another step towards the dismantling of the rule of law and a further blatant violation of human rights in Myanmar."
RELATED: INVESTIGATION: Durham Reveals He in Now Scrutinizing the 2016 Clinton Campaign Directly
That was echoed by British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who said in a statement that it was an "appalling attempt by Myanmar's military regime to stifle opposition and suppress freedom and democracy."
United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, meanwhile, called the trial a "sham" and said it was "politically-motivated."
"These cases cannot provide a legal veneer to the illegitimacy of the coup and military rule," she said.
In a closed hearing, Suu Kyi, 76, was found guilty of inciting public unrest against the military and breaching Covid-19 rules. Authorities imposed a gag order on Khin Maung Zaw, her lawyer, in October, saying his communications could cause instability.
The incitement case involved statements posted on her party's Facebook page after she and other party leaders had already been detained by the military, while the coronavirus charge involved a campaign appearance ahead of elections in November last year which her party overwhelmingly won.
These aren't the only charges against Suu Kyi, who was taken into custody after the takeover. Verdicts in two cases related to her alleged ownership of walkie-talkies, allegedly found when soldiers raided her home early Feb. 1, are due later this month. She has also been charged with a list of other offenses, including illegally importing and violating the official secrets act.
RELATED: REPORT: Ukraine Accuses Former President Poroshenko of Treason
The cases against her are widely seen as contrived to discredit her and keep her from running in the next election. The Constitution bars anyone sent to prison after being convicted of a crime from holding high office or becoming a lawmaker.
Australia, New Zealand and South Korea have also opposed the military takeover and called for a return to democracy.
Suu Kyi led a civilian government after her party won in a 2015 election called after the military stepped back from half a century of direct rule. That ended in February when the military detained Suu Kyi and other officials in the National League for Democracy party after a November 2020 election that saw the military lose seats.
Protesters take part in a demonstration against the military coup in the city of Yangon on July 7. AFP via Getty Images file
Military leaders claimed at the time that the election was fraudulent, but the U.S. has said that it was credible. The country's military leader said this summer that new elections would be held in the next two years.
In the days that followed the takeover, protesters across the country took to the streets, facing off against security forces who used deadly force against them.
The U.N. has said that more than 1,300 people have been killed in political violence since the military seized control.
Read more at: NBCNews.com
Labels: Corruption, Crime, Deep State, Justice


Our Kickstarter campaign to raise money to support this year's Make Music Upper Perk went live on March 1st, 2016. We have just 31 days to raise $1000 (or more). This is the third year that we will be asking for financial support for this all volunteer, all free, all day celebration of live music in public spaces throughout the Upper Perkiomen Valley. There is no admission fee for any of the concerts or performances that take place on June 21st as part of Make Music Upper Perk. We need your help!
Thanks to last year's supporters, we were able to print our program in the local newspaper, and set up recycling bins and water stations at the outdoor venues, in addition to printing programs, family fun handouts, and maps to be distributed at the local library, senior center, and other places around town. Once more we will need to print programs and maps (on recycled paper), and we'd like to get some yard signs so we can expand the area covered and continue to spread the word about the event. We also would like to get banners (that can be reused each year) for placement at each performance area.
And just like public radio and public tv, we'll give you a gift to thank you for your pledge; gifts range from a pat on the back, to your name listed online, in the printed program, MMUP water bottles, MMUP bumperstickers, and more – depending on your level of financial support.
So don't wait, go to the Kickstarter Make Music Upper Perk 2016 page now, and be a part of making this year's music festival great!
This entry was posted in Kickstarter, Make Music Upper Perk, volunteers. Bookmark the permalink.


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Delaware toddler shot in the head
Mark Eichmann
New Castle County Police at the Claymont home where a two-year-old boy was shot. (Shirley Min/WHYY)
A 2-year-old boy is listed in critical condition after he was shot inside his Claymont home.
New Castle County Police received a 911 call for a 2-year-old shot at 10:05 a.m. in the Valley Run apartment and townhome complex on Cliffside Court. NCCPD Public Information Officer Tracey Duffy said when officers arrived, they attempted life-saving measures on the little boy who suffered a gunshot wound to the head.
Police do not know the caliber of the gun or the specifics and the severity of the toddler's injuries. The child was airlifted by Delaware State Police helicopter to nearby A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children for treatment.
The boy and his mother were alone in the home at the time, Duffy said, and investigators are not sure whether the mother or a neighbor called 911. Police also don't know if other children live in the townhome.
"We're just trying to find out everything and anything," Duffy said. "We're not sure who owns the weapon, we're not sure where it was, how the two-year-old gained access to it. We have a lot of unknowns right now."
Investigators remain on scene; a news briefing is expected at NCCPD headquarters later this afternoon.
The governor had been reluctant to put the indoor mask rule in place again, but few were seen flouting it at New Castle County businesses.
Listen 3:54
Frustrations boil over for Wilmington residents still homeless after Hurricane Ida
Wilmington residents forced from their homes by Hurricane Ida met with state agencies and local nonprofits to say they still haven't received much help.
A fourth Delaware man is charged in Jan. 6 Capitol riot
More than a year after the attack on the U.S. Capitol, a Millsboro man has been charged with trespass and disorderly conduct inside it on Jan. 6, 2021.
About Mark Eichmann
@markeichmann meichmann@whyy.org


Received too late for review: Vol. II of Caro's monumental history of LBJ. Through what the publisher calls "a special distribution arrangement," books will arrive in bookstores around the country on one day only, 3/14--possibly to orchestrate interest in what the publisher describes as "the heart of this book," Caro's revelations about exactly how Johnson won--by 87 votes, in a runoff campaign that's been tainted by rumor for 40 years--the Texas senatorial election of 1948. Even those revelations aside, this volume--with a first printing of 250,000--is likely to be extraordinary: Vol. I, The Path to Power, was named best nonfiction book of 1982 by the National Book Critics Circle, while Caro's 1974 biography of Robert Moses, The Power Broker, won a Pulitzer.


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Q: how to implement async method using Task Parallel Library for I/O operations I found that for expensive IO bound operation I can use TaskCompletionSource
as shown here http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh873177.aspx#workloads
But the example shown is only waiting for some time and return DateTime.
public static Task<DateTimeOffset> Delay(int millisecondsTimeout)
{
 TaskCompletionSource<DateTimeOffset> tcs = null;
 Timer timer = null;

 timer = new Timer(delegate
 {
    timer.Dispose();
    tcs.TrySetResult(DateTimeOffset.UtcNow);
 }, null, Timeout.Infinite, Timeout.Infinite);

 tcs = new TaskCompletionSource<DateTimeOffset>(timer);
 timer.Change(millisecondsTimeout, Timeout.Infinite);
 return tcs.Task;
}

Above code waits for timeout. I have a database call  which I want to fire in the above way, but little confused in how to write it:
   using (var context = new srdb_sr2_context())
   {
      return context.GetData("100", "a2acfid");
   }

I wrote the function as below, but not sure if this is correct way of doing it:
TaskCompletionSource<IList<InstructorsOut>> tcs = null;
        Timer timer = null;

        timer = new Timer(delegate
        {
            timer.Dispose();

            //prepare for expensive data call
            using (var context = new srdb_sr2_context())
            {
                var output = context.GetData("100", "a2acfid");

                //set the result
                tcs.TrySetResult(output);
            }

        }, null, Timeout.Infinite, Timeout.Infinite);

        tcs = new TaskCompletionSource<IList<InstructorsOut>>(timer);
        timer.Change(0, Timeout.Infinite);
        return tcs.Task;

Any help would be appreciated.

A: Your code doesn't make much sense to me. Timer is useful if you want to execute the code after some time, but that's not what you need here.
If you want to execute an operation on a background thread, you can use Task.Run():
Task<IList<InstructorsOut>> GetDataBackground()
{
    return Task.Run(() =>
    {
        using (var context = new srdb_sr2_context())
        {
            return context.GetData("100", "a2acfid");
        }
    });
}

Using a background thread this way can be useful in UI apps, where you don't want to block the UI thread. But if you have something like ASP.NET application, this won't actually give you any performance or scalability improvements. For that, the GetData() method would have to be made truly asynchronous.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Top 5 free-agent big men
Andrew Joe Potter
Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / Getty
The free-agent market for traditional big men isn't what it once was. Teams have largely moved away from plodding interior titans, opting for small-ball centers with shooting range and defensive versatility.
There are still a few impact free-agent big men available this summer. Here's a preview of the top five - and a look at where they could end up.
Al Horford, Celtics
Al Horford still has plenty to offer.
He's a deft distributor for his size, posting an assist rate (21.2 percent) on par with traditional guards such as Donovan Mitchell, Zach LaVine, and Dennis Schroder last season. He shot 37 percent on above-the-break 3-pointers and is central to any offense without getting in the way of score-first teammates.
And despite his age, he remains one of the prototypical centers for today's switch-happy defensive schemes.
Horford's decision to pass up a $30.1-million player option for next season is a strong indicator that he expects one final big payday as he approaches his third act. Most signs point to a departure from the Boston Celtics, who have averaged just over 52 wins across Horford's three seasons in Beantown.
If he does leave, it's easy to envision Horford fitting in nicely with several young teams on the ascent. Two options could be joining Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis on the Dallas Mavericks or De'Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, and Marvin Bagley on the Sacramento Kings.
Fernando Medina / National Basketball Association / Getty
Nikola Vucevic, Magic
After the Orlando Magic invested serious capital in their stable of young frontcourt players, Nikola Vucevic's surprise All-Star year puts the club in an uncomfortable position.
Vucevic posted career numbers across the board - 20.8 points, 12 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.1 blocks, and one steal per game plus 36.4 percent 3-point shooting - and he undoubtedly wants to cash in. He probably won't be anyone's first choice, but look for teams other than Orlando to loosen their purse strings. The Celtics would be a nice fit.
DeAndre Jordan, Knicks
DeAndre Jordan's style of play has largely fallen out of favor among big men in recent years. Unlike centers such as Marc Gasol and Brook Lopez, he hasn't been able to add range to his offensive repertoire. The market might not favor a soon-to-be-31 rim-runner whose game relies so heavily on athleticism.
Still, teams know what they're getting in Jordan: a big body capable of making things difficult for opponents on the defensive end, and a plug-and-play pick-and-roll player.
The Kings, who finished 24th in the NBA with a team rebounding rate of 48.9 percent, could use 25 minutes of Jordan's interior strength every night. A short-term deal with a relatively high average annual value - say, $30 million over two years - could serve both parties well.
Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport / Getty
DeMarcus Cousins, Warriors
DeMarcus Cousins' season with the Golden State Warriors was a mixed bag, complicated by a quad injury in April. Yes, he finally made his career postseason debut, but the Dubs failed in their title bid, and Cousins did little to re-establish his case as someone worthy of max money.
Still, he did tally 16.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game upon making his return from a torn Achilles - not bad, considering the severity of his initial injury.
No competent organization will extend an offer approaching nine digits. It would behoove Boogie to sign another short-term deal with a team willing to give him some leeway. The Celtics or Los Angeles Clippers could have ample cap space; if they miss out on the top-flight free agents, a short-term pact with Cousins could become more palatable.
Jonas Valanciunas, Grizzlies
The market is a little different today than when Jonas Valanciunas signed a four-year, $64-million rookie extension prior to the 2016 offseason, but at 27 years old, this still stands to be the biggest contract of his career.
Valanciunas' brief audition with the Grizzlies toward the end of last season hinted at the sort of force he could be if afforded a larger role. In 19 appearances down the stretch, the Lithuanian averaged 19.9 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 blocks.
The Memphis Grizzlies would be smart to re-sign Valanciunas, as his stable presence would aid in the development of Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant. But after spending the first half of his career on a slowly developing Toronto Raptors club, perhaps he'd rather take his talents to a team with short-term title aspirations. Like Cousins, the Celtics or Clippers would be a fit for JV, as would the Kings.
Got something to say? Leave a comment below!
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text:
Q: How to print hexadecimal value in C++ directly? We have %x in C to print any decimal value as hex value  like this
printf("%x",a); // here a is having some integral value

Similarly, can we print this directly in C++ without any much extra effort or without addition of extra header file like <iomanip>?

A: #include <iostream>
std::cout << std::hex << a;

You need <iostream> for C++ style output anyway, so it's not an "extra" header.

A: printf is available in C++ as well, so you can use the same technique.
(I'm not recommending std::cout or std::hex because you said you don't want that include)

A: cout << (void *)a << endl;


text:
Tue 15 May 2018 04:36 PM
US hedge fund eyes Bahrain as next distressed-debt target
Greylock Capital Management, which holds the distressed bonds of Mozambique and Venezuela, says Bahrain is its next potential target
Greylock Capital Management, a hedge fund that holds the distressed bonds of Mozambique and Venezuela, says Bahrain is its next potential target.
The cash-strapped Gulf nation has been slow to implement reforms compared with its richer neighbors, including Saudi Arabia, after the slide in oil prices that began in 2014 eroded their wealth.
Bahrain will have to revive its financial fortunes to prevent its debt from slumping to distressed levels, according to Bashar Zakaria at the California Public Employees' Retirement System, the largest US pension fund.
"There's been a lot of chatter around some of their fiscal stresses," said Hans Humes, the chief executive officer of New York-based Greylock Capital Management, which specializes in emerging-markets distressed debt.
The central bank's foreign assets dropped in March to the lowest level in seven months and the International Monetary Fund expects the island kingdom's debt to exceed 100 percent of economic output in 2019. Bahrain has enough net foreign assets to last it for up to three years, fueling concerns it may struggle to keep its currency's peg to the dollar, according to Bloomberg Economics.
Still, Central Bank Governor Rasheed Al-Maraj said last week the country has enough foreign reserves to maintain the currency's peg, as a recovery in oil prices help ease pressure on its public finances. In addition to spending cuts and the reduction of subsidies, Bahrain will impose a value-added tax next year to help generate revenue, he said, following Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
"The current macroeconomic situation in Bahrain is not sustainable," said Zakaria, a senior emerging-markets strategist at Sacramento, California-based Calpers. "They must act swiftly to turn things around on the fiscal front. If they can do that, then we will see some retracement. Removing the currency's peg to the dollar could have "serious negative results for Bahrain" and potentially for others in the region, Zakaria added.
Bahrain's dollar-denominated bonds plummeted this year, with the debt maturing in 2029 touching 87.2 cents on the dollar. The cost to insure Bahrain's bonds against a default for five years climbed last week to 361 basis points, the highest since 2016, based on credit-default swaps.
"My personal bias is to start looking when it gets to 25 cents to the dollar, but that doesn't happen that often," said Humes, a veteran of debt deals in Argentina and Greece. "In general, we don't tend to pile when it goes to 65, 70 cents to the dollar."
Bahrain, the Gulf's smallest economy, has been relying on debt sales to finance budget and current-account deficits. It scrapped an offering in March after investors sought higher yields, but raised $1 billion from Islamic securities. The nation's debt is rated junk by the three major rating companies.
"It doesn't necessarily look like the debt levels are sustainable, but things could work out," Humes said. It's a question of market access, he said.
In November, Bloomberg News reported that Bahrain had asked Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait for financial assistance. Al-Maraj said he wasn't aware of any current talks between Bahrain and its Gulf Arab allies over financial support that could help the country avoid devaluation.
"Saudi Arabia is often considered the lender of last resort for Bahrain due to converging political interests," Regis Chatellier, an emerging-market strategist at Societe Generale in London, wrote in a note dated May 10. "In 2003, the Saudi kingdom granted Bahrain 50,000 barrels per day of oil in order to boost government revenues; we believe similar aid is possible in the future."
For all the latest banking and finance news from the UAE and Gulf countries, follow us on Twitter and Linkedin, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube page, which is updated daily.
Bahrain economy
Bahrain debt
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Central Bank of Bahrain
Bahrain's Investcorp makes first foray into German dental sector, more planned
Cobrands: How Visa can add value to your business
Dubai's Abraaj said to reassure banks on liquidity concerns
UAE digital bank attracts 10,000 new customers per month
Gulf Finance Saudi Arabia appoints new CEO
Goldman eyes multibillion dollar deal to fuel Saudi expansion


We talked about Turin, Italy with Gennie, who lives there.
A stunning view in the picture below represents a gorgeous horizon looming over the Italian Alps. It is difficult to guess what is the tallest building in this photo if you don't know the answer. This is the oldest Cinema Museum and it looks like a big tower, which is the highest structure in Europe (167,5 m).
The North of Italy where Turin located is one of the most developed parts of Italy. Fiat Automobiles Factory is based in Turin, and it is the largest automobile manufacturer in Italy.
The next great tourist attraction is an Egyptian museum. It is the second biggest Egyptian museum in the World after the Cairo's museum.
There is also some very famous Christianity sightseeing in Turin: The Shroud of Christ. Many people come from around the World to see this.
The Turin Shroud is a length of linen cloth with the image of a man, that is believed by some to be the burial shroud of Jesus of Nazareth. The shroud is kept in the royal chapel in Turin. The Catholic Church has neither formally endorsed nor rejected the shroud.
The Shroud of Turin: modern photo of the face, positive left, digitally processed image right.
In 2006 Turin welcomed the Olympic Games. Before the year 2006, Turin was known mostly as an industrial city, rather than a holiday destination, but the 2006 Winter Games helped change that image. Turin became the fourth-most visited Italian city, after Rome, Florence, and Venice.
Sardinia is great but it is a very expensive place. Gallipoli is a southern Italian town and comune in the province of Lecce, in Apulia. This is a great place and not expensive at all.
We had this conversation in online school engoo.com with the teacher Gennie.
Great job! I hardly had to make any corrections. Some phrases didn't sound natural and there were minor grammatical errors, which I highlighted, but overall very good! :) I never had an issue understanding what you were writing.


text:
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2013 | A Rough Year for Iran
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Elections | Senior Ayatollah: No Free Vote in Sight, Iran Ruled with 'Lies'
Analysis | Iran's Nuclear Program: A Shift in the Winds?
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Press Roundup
Historic Kerman Church in Ruins; Handouts, Maseratis for Iranians
by MUHAMMAD SAHIMI in Los Angeles
04 Sep 2011 04:34Comments
Press Roundup provides a selected summary of news from the Farsi and Arabic press and excerpts where the source is in English. Tehran Bureau has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. Please refer to the Media Guide to help put the stories in perspective. You can follow breaking news stories on our Twitter feed.
Nuclear Program
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has issued its latest report on Iran's nuclear program. The new report certifies once again that the agency has found no evidence of diversion of nuclear materials for nonpeaceful purposes, but it is also critical of Iran for its lack of cooperation. It expresses the agency's concerns about a possible military dimension to Iran's nuclear program, and claims that it has received reports about it from several countries.
In response, Dr. Ali Asghar Soltaneih, Iran's ambassador and permanent representative to the IAEA, said that the new report, in addition to certifying the peaceful nature of Iran's program, also contains positive aspects about Iran's cooperation with the agency.
On Thursday, China called for more efforts to resolve the dispute over Iran's nuclear program. Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said at a regular briefing that "under the current circumstances, relevant parties should ratchet up diplomatic efforts, continue to commit to dialogue and negotiation, take new measures to deepen trust, and create new conditions to properly resolve the Iranian nuclear issue." He added that as a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran has the right to peacefully utilize nuclear power.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy warned Iran on Thursday that its attempts to build long-range missiles and nuclear weapons could lead to a preemptive attack. He did not indicate which country might launch such a strike. Iran has repeatedly said that it has no intention of building a nuclear weapon and is enriching nuclear fuel for medical research and a domestic atomic energy program.
"Its [Iran's] military nuclear and ballistic ambitions constitute a growing threat that may lead to a preventive attack against Iranian sites that would provoke a major crisis that France wants to avoid at all costs," Sarkozy said. "Iran refuses to negotiate seriously. Iran is carrying out new provocations in response to the challenge from the international community for it to provide a credible response."
In a swift response to the French president, Hassan Tajik, the Foreign Ministry director for Western European affairs, said that the Islamic Republic's nuclear program is meant for peaceful purposes and its defense program is aimed at improving the country's military deterrence capability. "Obviously, making comments based on unrealistic information will set the stage for the instability of the region, so [Sarkozy] is advised to avoid making such remarks in view of the realities on the ground."
An interview broadcast live on Iranian state television with an Afghan expert has become hugely controversial. On Monday, a political program featured Fazolrahman Oria, who was to comment on the security situation in Afghanistan. When asked about the role that Afghanistan's neighbors could play in its stability, Oria responded, "Under the current conditions, in which the globe has become a small village, Afghanistan is only a small house in this village. Our neighbors, including Iran and Pakistan, have never wanted, and still do not want Afghanistan to become a democracy, to have a popular political system accepted by its people. Iran and Pakistan would like instability [in Afghanistan] and over the past ten years, and even the past 30 years, Iran's intervention has been destructive to Afghanistan's internal affairs. That is why Afghanistan's neighbors, including Iran and Pakistan, cannot play a role in the peace and security of Afghanistan."
In response, the interviewer said, "Of course, Mr. Oria, this is your personal view. I agree with you regarding Pakistan, but not Iran." Oria then said, "I respect your opinion about Iran, [but] Iran does not have friendly relations with any of its neighbors and is in deep isolation and crisis..." -- at which point the live interview, which was supposed to last 20 minutes, was cutoff after a little over two minutes.
This exchange on national television created a storm of criticism against Oria in Iran's conservative and hardline mass media (see here, for one example). Oria was even threatened at one point. But, in an interview with Deutsche Welle, not only did Oria refuse to retreat, he criticized Iran even more strongly. For example, he said that Iran and Pakistan did not allow peace to prevail in Afghanistan after the Soviet Union withdrew its forces. "Iran and Pakistan are the enemies of the people of Afghanistan," he said. When asked what evidence he had for these allegations, Oria responded, "I am an Afghan and live in Afghanistan. I am a completely independent journalist. I see Iran's interference in our cultural, political, military and intelligence [affairs] on a daily basis."
Prince Nayef ibn Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia's deputy prime minister and minister of the interior, said that his country is "a target of Iran." In comments published on August 29 by Al-Eqtissadiya newspaper, Nayef said that terrorism remains a threat to the Persian Gulf state. "We will continue to be a target for terrorists, who will continue attempting to attack us, supported by other parties. Evil surrounds us from all sides," he said, citing the unrest in neighboring Iraq and Yemen, as well as Iran's supposed "targeting," as examples.
Two days later, Iran dismissed the "vain claims" as totally baseless. Quoting an "informed source" at the Foreign Ministry, IRNA, Iran's official news agency, reported that Iran has always favored stability, tranquility, and progress in Saudi Arabia. He said that Iran was not targeting Saudi Arabia, the security of Saudi Arabia and Iran were intertwined, and that the Islamic Republic of Iran considered the Saudis' security as its own. IRNA reported that the source expressed shock over the media report, characterizing such claims as propaganda against Iran aimed at raising suspicions about it around the region.
The French conservative daily Le Figaro reported that Iran's representatives have met with members of the Syrian opposition in Europe, and that Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, the Lebanese Hezbollah leader, has also been in touch with them. This comes on the heels of recent comments from Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi that the Syrian government must listen to the legitimate demands of its people. Iran has appointed a new ambassador to Syria, reportedly because the previous ambassador, Seyyed Ahmad Mousavi's reports to Tehran on the developments in Syria grossly underestimated the strength of the opposition.
Voice of Russia radio reported on Friday that Iran and Russia will cooperate in fighting narcotics trafficking, as they both lie on the route of drugs going from Afghanistan to the European countries. The head of Russia's Federal Drug Control Service, Viktor Ivanov, has said that Iran and Russia are "key countries" in the campaign against drugs.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Friday that Turkey and Iran are not doing enough to protect civilians while carrying out military strikes against the Kurdish separatist groups PJAK and PKK in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region. According to HRW, both Iranian and Turkish officials say military operations are targeting armed groups operating out of Iraqi Kurdistan. But when HRW's representatives visited the area in August, Iraqi residents and officials said most attacks are occurring in "purely civilian" areas that are not being used by armed groups. Iran's attacks began in mid July, joined by Turkey on August 18. HRW's deputy Middle East director, Joe Stork, described the situation as "dire." He said Iran and Turkey should "do all they can" to protect civilians and their property from harm, "no matter what the reason for their attacks in Iraqi Kurdistan."
Cleric Ali Samari, a former senior adviser to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said that in the last meeting between the president's cabinet and Khamenei, the Supreme Leader essentially gave Ahmadinejad an ultimatum.
Khamenei has told Ahmadinejad to emphasize Iran since Islam, not the one before it; that the government should not make unrealistic promises to the people and that its promises should be compared to what has actually been delivered. This latter point was echoed by Kazem Sedighi in his Friday prayer sermon. A comparison must be made, he said, between the government's promises and what it has actually delivered.
Iran says it will soon send a satellite into orbit that will carry a trained monkey. According to Dr. Hamid Fazeli, head of Iran's national aerospace organization, the orbit will be 100 miles above the earth.
A historic church in the city of Kerman that had been registered for protection as a national historic monument has fallen to ruin (see photos). This comes a month after another historic site, Ganjalikhan Square, was also destroyed in Kerman.
Italian luxury sports car maker Maserati now plans to tap the "new, wealthy elite" in Tehran, according to Dow Jones, confirming a report in the Italian business daily Il Sole 24 Ore. It will open a dealership, through a representative, in the Iranian capital next year. According to the Wall Street Journal, "Maserati, whose models like the GrandTurismo cost more than EUR100,000 each, has made a push into new markets, bringing the number of dealerships it has worldwide to 250. The latest additions including those in Tel Aviv, Israel; Warsaw, Poland; and Damascus, Syria."
The government deposited its sixth round of "cash handouts" to citizens, payments to help buffer the hardships of eliminated or reduced subsidies. The payments are 45,000 tomans or about $38 each -- $4 of which is targeted for the increase in bread prices, and the rest for energy. Mohammad Reza Farzin, who leads the government office in charge of paying the handouts, said the handouts would not only continue, but also increase in the the near future. He did say however that the government continues to study ways of how to end payments to the well off.
Majles Elections
In his sermon for the special prayer for Eid al-Fitr on Wednesday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that elections in Iran have always been a challenge. "We should not allow elections to become a threat to the national security," he added. He went on to claim that compared to elections in other countries, even those referred to as advanced nations, elections in Iran are better. Referring implicitly to the June 2009 presidential election, Khamenei said, "You saw it, you felt it -- how the enemy wants to abuse elections against the security of our country."
Seyyed Mohammad Reza Mir Tajeddini, vice president for parliamentary affairs, said that the principlists believe that the reformists can run in the upcoming Majles elections -- slated for March 2, 2012 -- if they condemn the Green Movement. Otherwise, he said, they are not qualified to run. Meanwhile, every major reformist has declared that the reformists have no intention of running in the elections, unless the conditions set by former President Mohammad Khatami are fulfilled. Those conditions include the unconditional release of all political prisoners, a completely free press, freedom for all political groups, and the elimination of the vetting powers of the Guardian Council.
Political Prisoners and Human Rights
Mehdi Karroubi's wife, Fatemeh Karroubi, their son, Dr. Hossein Karroubi, and his family met with the elder Karroubi on Thursday.
Hossein Karroubi said that he had not seen his father since he was put under house arrest, but suddenly the security agents allowed him, his mother, and his family to visit the opposition leader. "In terms of both spirit and health, he is in good condition," the son said. "During the visit he spoke about what had happened and emphasized that he is still persisting in his past positions." According to the younger Karroubi, his father said, "Over the past seven months, the security forces have learned about my thinking and know what I believe in, and therefore do not try to change my mind." The security forces have apparently promised that Mehdi Karroubi will soon be transferred to a better place, and may even allow his wife to join him again.
That same day, Yaser Khomeini, a grandson of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, his wife, and his mother Dr. Fatemeh Tabatabaei (wife of the ayatollah's son Ahmad Khomeini) visited with Fatemeh Karroubi. Yaser Khomeini expressed his deep regret over what had been done to Mehdi Karroubi and said, "Mr. Karroubi has always shown that the interests of the people and the nation are always more important than a comfortable life for him."
Reports indicate that Milad Karimi, a Kurdish activist and secretary-general of Muslim Student Association of Islamic Azad University of Sanandaj, has been arrested. It is not yet clear why Karimi, who is also deputy secretary-general of the Democratic League of Kurdish Students, has been detained.
Since Tuesday, Ashkan Zahabian, a student at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, who was expelled from the school and arrested, has been on a hunger strike. Ten of his friends and relatives have sent a letter to judiciary chief Sadegh Larijani, asking him to take action before it is too late. Grand Ayatollah Asadollah Bayat Zanjani has also expressed his concerns over the hunger strike. Zahabian's health has deteriorated badly and he has been transferred to solitary confinement in a prison in Babol, in northern Iran. He has said that he is on hunger strike to protest his illegal arrest, as well as protesting the fact that he is neither released nor is put on trial. Zahabian's mother said that her son was arrested because he met with Grand Ayatollah Yousef Sanei, the popular cleric and supporter of the Green Movement, as well as Grand Ayatollah Hossein Vahid Khorasani, a traditional critic and father-in-law of Sadegh Larijani, who has been highly critical of what has been happening in the country.
Imprisoned university activist Mahdieh Golroo, who has been sentenced to seven years of incarceration, has written a letter to Sadegh Larijani and protested the pressure on the families of political prisoners. Golroo's husband, Vahid Lalipoor, was arrested and sentenced to one year of mandatory imprisonment and another year, suspended. He was recently arrested to enforce the sentence. Even the security agents have said that Lalipoor has not committed any offense, and his sentence and arrest are meant to pressure Golroo.
The health of political prisoner Misagh Yazdannejad, who is jailed in Rajaei Shahr Prison in Karaj has badly deteriorated, but the prison officials refuse to allow his family to take him to a hospital for treatment. Yazdannejad, 24, is a student at Payam-e Noor University. He was arrested in September 2007 after he took part in a memorial for the political prisoners that were executed in 1988, and sentenced to 13 years of imprisonment.
Reports by human rights sources in Iran also indicate that the health of attorney Homan Houtankia, who has been imprisoned in Tabriz, has deteriorated. He represented Sakineh Mohammadi, the woman who was sentenced to stoning for adultery and participating in the murder of her husband (the stoning sentence has apparently been set aside). He has been sentenced to 11 years in jail.
Farah Vazhan, another political prisoner, is also in poor health, and although the doctors in the prison where she is jailed have certified four times that she should be allowed to seek outside treatment, prison officials have refused to follow the doctors' recommendation. Vazehan, who resided abroad, traveled to Iran in late 2009 to visit her daughter. She was arrested in December after the large-scale demonstrations on the Day of Ashura. A court first sentenced her to death, but a higher court changed that to 17 years of imprisonment. She has never been granted a furlough.
Political prisoner Hossein Ronaghi Maleki has been under tremendous pressure to sign the document confirming the 15-year sentence that a court has issued against him.
Alborz Noorani, a computer science student at Sharif University of Technology, has been expelled from the school because he is an adherent of the Baha'i faith, which is not recognized by Islam.
Three major reformist figures incarcerated in Evin Prison have been granted three-day furloughs. They are Mostafa Tajzadeh, Ghorbanali Behzadiannejad, and Javad Emam.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


When you're seeking a Mexican restaurant near me in Austin for a red-letter occasion or the perfect meal to simply treat yourself, be sure the spot you choose is the Iron Cactus. You won't regret it.
Close your eyes and picture this delicious image. Top-quality skirt steak sizzles on the grill, while onions and peppers sweat down to the perfect texture and taste and fresh made guacamole, veggies and cheese are assembled for your enjoyment along with hot, fresh tortillas. Can you see it now?
All this culinary goodness is assembled atop a cast iron plate and brought right to you. The meat is still dancing from the heat of the grill. The aromas intoxicate your nostrils and beckon you to fill your mouth with all of these delicious flavors. But not too fast! This delectable dish is yours to enjoy, but it's piping hot from the kitchen, so why not bask in the moment first.
Let your eyes take in this bounty of a meal. The red of the tomatoes, green from the lettuce and peppers and white of the sour cream all harken back to the beautiful flag of Mexico, the home of the delicious recipes you'll find at the Iron Cactus Mexican Grill & Margarita Bar.
Here, you'll find Mexican dining redefined. All the flavors you love are right in front of you with a special Iron Cactus touch.
The Iron Cactus is so much more than the signature fajitas or the dazzling tequila bar. Here, you'll find dishes that wow the palette and dazzle the imagination.
Our Mexican restaurant near me in Austin will offer you a one-of-a-kind experience with a meal (and some delicious frozen drinks) that won't soon be forgotten! You will find the Iron Cactus located in Downtown Austin at 606 Trinity Street, Austin, TX 78701.
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Category Archives: Ethics & Values
How to Improve Your Colleagues' Ethics
Wednesday, 09 November 2016 03:30
Written by Kevin S. Bemel
2-½ minutes to read
Parsha [Passage of Scripture] Nugget [Precious Idea] Lech Lecha – Genesis 12:1-17:27
Americans believe that service members' ethics rank among the highest of any profession. Yet many service members have the opposite view of their fellow citizens. In fact, there are scoundrels in the military and civilian life. Holding to such a high standard causes service members to fall into a trap. Parshas Lech Lecha explains:
"Only what the young men ate and the share of the men that went with me; Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre, they will take their share." (Genesis/Bereishis 14:24)
In this Sabbath's parsha G-d tells Abram (later Abraham) to leave his land and relatives to go to the land of Canaan. Abram sojourns in Egypt during a famine then returns to Canaan. Abram and his nephew Lot part ways. Then G-d promises to give the Land of Canaan to Abram and his descendants. Abram wins a war and rescues Lot. But he turns down the booty that normally goes to the victor.
Next, the Almighty reiterates His promise to give Canaan to Abram and his descendants. Sarai (later Sarah) tells Abram to take her servant for a wife. Then G-d and Abram make the covenant of circumcision. Finally, G-d gives Sarai and Abram new names and the promise of a son to be named Isaac.
Stretch to Reach the Highest Ethical Standards
Abraham rejected the King of Sodom's offer to split the war booty. His refusal seems strange in light of America's practice of giving veterans benefits. Abraham earned his share. And it looks like he violated Henny Youngman's central tenet of Judaism, nem de gelt – get the money.
Shortly after the war Abraham and Sarah have a child. Then G-d tells them another will be coming a year later. Even though they didn't have to pay college tuition, some extra shekels would have come in handy.
While he appears arrogant, Abraham acted with a holy motive. Not long after this incident, G-d destroyed Sodom because of its depravity. How would it have looked for Abraham to take the booty? The King of Sodom could have said he enriched him. Abraham wanted people to know his wealth came from the Almighty not the ruler of a corrupt nation.
Be the Example Not the Enforcer
That being the case, why did Abraham allow Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre to take a share? If rejecting the spoils was the right thing to do, Abraham should have had his men do so too.
Morality is not the same thing as personal ethics. As the victor in a war, Abraham had a right to the spoils. Keeping them would not have violated any Biblical principle. Abraham's personal standard prevented his taking the loot. He wished to elevate himself above the minimum requirement.
Each person has a right to be strict with himself. But it's wrong to force others to be more stringent than the Bible requires. As praiseworthy as Abraham was, it would have been equally inappropriate to place that standard on his men.
Human nature seems to drive people to be tough on others and lenient with themselves. The opposite will build and maintain strong relationships. And, by insisting others live up to your standard you close yourself off from opportunity, like a great job.
Be careful to distinguish between someone acting immorally and not living according to your standard. If you judge someone from the outset you preclude any relationship. Let them find their own path to loftier principles. Show you value the relationship. Then you'll have the chance to positively influence a colleague's personal ethics.
Question – How do you show proper regard for another person without compromising your own standards? Please comment below.
Every year beginning on Simchas Torah, the cycle of reading the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, ends and begins again. Each Sabbath a portion known as a sedra or parsha is read. It is named after the first significant word or two with which this weekly reading begins.
What verse in the Old Testament would you like to know more about? Ask a question and I will answer it in a future Parsha Nugget!
Why You Should Care that Gene Wilder Died
Celebrities don't interest me. I don't aspire to live a life like theirs. Parties, jet-setting, and awards shows leave me cold. Most of the reporting about them falls into the category of gossip. Outwardly their lives appear glitzy. But the times I've seen the inside, they seem, like Thoreau's "mass of men," to "lead lives of quiet desperation." That being the case, why should you care that Gene Wilder died? Let me tell you a brief story.
The Test of Character
On a November weekend in 1977, my friend Rose Anna and I decided to attend a preview screening of The World's Greatest Lover. We went to the long since demolished Plitt Theatres in Century City. Rose Anna is Gene Wilder's most ardent fan. She loved him so much she never begrudged his love for Gilda Radner.
We were sitting in the theater waiting for the movie to begin. All day I had teased Rose Anna about Gene Wilder showing up for the screening. She pooh-poohed the idea. While waiting for the lights to dim, I sat facing the back of the theatre so I could watch people enter. (Note: 30 years ago movie theaters were like regular auditoriums. You could see the whole house.) About 10 minutes before show time I shocked her when I let her know he had just walked in.
Not one to miss an opportunity, I told Rose Anna we had to go and introduce ourselves. She declined. I pressed her. She absolutely refused. Undaunted, I made my way to where he was sitting, begged his pardon for intruding, and said hello. Mr. Wilder could not have been more gracious. He stood up, shook my hand, thanked me for coming to see him. I told him about my friend and asked if it would be all right for me to bring her by after the movie. He said he'd wait for us.
After the lights came up and most of the crowd had left, there he was, still in his seat, waiting, just like he promised.
I brought Rose Anna over to him. Again he stood, gently took her hand, and thanked her for coming by. She was literally speechless. Then he looked her right in the eye, smiled, and told her, I love your tailor. Rose Anna was wearing a shirt she had made that said, "I'd Rather Be Watching a Gene Wilder Movie." That broke the ice. We all laughed. And Rose Anna hugged him. Throughout, Mr. Wilder was kind, gentle, and warm.
Gene Wilder was a Mensch
If you're unfamiliar with Yiddish, a mensch is an honorable person. The term can apply to Jews and non-Jews alike, so my assessment has nothing to do with Mr. Wilder being of my faith. Rather, despite his fame and success, it appears he lived his public and private lives with integrity and decency. His longtime collaborator, Mel Brooks, often said so in spite of their creative differences.
Gene Wilder was lucky to play beloved characters like Willy Wonka and Dr. Frankenstein. He was fortunate to find an epic love with his wife Gilda Radner. But he was challenged by the whirl of Hollywood and his wife's painful death at a young age. Can you claim a less equitable mix of blessings and curses?
In the sweep of his life, Rose Anna and I were nothing. Two fans among millions. But Gene Wilder treated us as if we mattered a great deal. In this, he displayed the essence of what it means to be human. Every individual is significant. And we must treat each of our fellow human beings so as to acknowledge that significance.
Throughout it all, Gene Wilder remembered this central reality. In his last act of service, he imparts to you his example. There are no "little people" in your life. Until you can treat the most annoying person you know with respect, remember how Gene Wilder treated Rose Anna and me. I will.
How do you stop yourself from being irritated by bothersome people? Please comment below.
Think Sundae When Using Your Values
Parsha [Passage of Scripture] Nugget [Precious Idea] Eikev – Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25
Yes, the ice cream variety. It's not a typo in the headline. Remember, Jews celebrate the Sabbath on Saturday. What does making an ice cream concoction have to do with making moral decisions? Ah, Parshas Eikev will show you:
"…G-d will safeguard for you the covenant and the kindness that He swore to you…" (Deuteronomy/Devarim 7:12)
In this Sabbath's parsha, Moses talks about the reward the Children of Israel will receive for keeping the mitzvahs (usually translated commandments). He warns against letting prosperity seduce them and reminds them of their history.
Absolute Morality Versus Moral Relativism
Knowing the long list of ordinances they have to follow to earn their reward, can you imagine the Israelites might be a little scared? From the great patriarch Abraham, they learned the Almighty does righteousness and justice. With so many dos and don'ts, some must have thought, "Wow, I'll never remember, let alone be able to follow, them all." Despair could set in.
So G-d reminded the Israelites He would balance justice with kindness. The resulting blend, compassion, would be the standard.
No one value stands absolutely. We revere life. But when required to murder someone to save our own life we have to die. We honor truth. But when a killer asks where his victim is we should lie as convincingly as possible. In both cases, a sacred value must be balanced against the destruction that would be caused by upholding it.
Not there is no moral relativism in these cases. Nor is there an absolute moral principle. Rather, you must combine hallowed precepts to find the ethical, virtuous solution.
Finding Balance in Your Values
When you have to navigate your way through a difficult ethical issue, do it like you're making a sundae.
First, comes the foundation, the ice cream. It's tempting to choose your favorite. But with so many good choices, make sure you pick the best one for the moment. What core principle is at issue? It forms the base from which you'll build your response.
Second, comes the sauce. Choose the right flavor to counterpoint and enhance the ice cream. Ladle it with care. Laid on too thick or thin, it overwhelms or gets lost in the ice cream. What value contrasts with the core principle you've chosen? Apply it to your solution in just the right amount to balance and deepen your solution.
Third is the whipped cream. It takes a deft hand to bring it to a peak. What aspect of the person involved have you overlooked? Does he have a sensitivity that if taken into account will make your resolution more powerful? What value will connect him to your plan?
Fourth are the nuts. Sprinkle them so they dot the whipped cream adding a pleasing crunch amidst all the softness. Most of us have a difficult time facing the hard realities of life. We can swallow them more easily when they're enveloped by a more palatable presentation. Carefully communicate your response so it goes down smoothly.
Last comes the cherry, tasting tart and sweet. Perched at the pinnacle of the sundae, it embodies the totality of your ice cream creation. When crafting a solution to a moral quandary, make sure to unify all the crucial values and emotions.
Five steps may seem a lot. But consider the stakes: a relationship, your reputation, your connection to G-d. Taking the time to see all sides of an issue and fashioning a balanced, principled response will save you and others from a longer period of agony.
A well-built sundae is to be savored. Think how much more satisfying it will taste to use your values well.
How do you decide your response to an ethical challenge? Please comment below.
Do You Really Want to Be the Sovereign?
Parsha [Passage of Scripture] Nugget [Precious Idea] Pinchas Mattos-Masei – Numbers 30:2-36:13
"It's good to be king" is a line from Mel Brooks's movie History of the World, Part 1. It's also a lyric and song title from Tom Petty's 1994 Wildflowers album. Both rhapsodize about the joys of holding sovereign power. A king's life seems idyllic. He answers to no one, except the Almighty. But parshas Mattos-Masei points out the downside of supreme authority:
"For in the City of Refuge he will dwell until the death of the Kohen Gadol (High Priest)…" (Numbers/Bamidbar 35:28)
This Sabbath's double parsha begins with Mattos. It discusses how to take a vow. Next the Israelites go to war against Midian. In the aftermath they learn how to make utensils kosher. Then the tribes of Rueben, Gad, and half of Manasheh ask to have their portion of the land on the eastern side of the Jordan River.
The second parsha, Masei, reviews the journey taken by the Israelites from Egypt through the wilderness, ending at the border of the land of Israel. Then it gives instructions on how to divide the land and designate cities for the Levites and Cities of Refuge. It ends by designating who is eligible to seek safe harbor in them.
The Drawback of Being the High Priest
Few people have ever received the adulation of Aaron, the first High Priest. The Israelites loved him, especially for his ability to make peace between them. They esteemed the High Priests from Elazar, Aaron's son, to Shimon HaTzadik. Aside from the arduousness of their duties, it seems being the High Priest was a pleasant job.
But if someone unintentionally killed another person, the High Priest's life lost some of its luster. The killer could avoid being killed in revenge by the redeemer of the blood. He had to seek sanctuary in a City of Refuge. Once confirmed by the court, he lived there until the High Priest died.
What did the High Priest have to do with an unintended death? A person killed unintentionally reflected a lack of morality on the part of the Israelites. As the supreme moral authority, the High Priest bore responsibility. If he had been setting the proper example the death would not have happened. So he had to live knowing the killer was praying for his death so he could leave the City of Refuge.
Imagine more than one killer living out his days in sanctuary. This was not the discomfort you may experience knowing Islamofacists want to murder Westerners. It was directed specifically at him. How must he have felt knowing specific individuals and their family members prayed constantly that he would die?
How Do You Handle Being a Sovereign?
You may not realize it, but if you're an American citizen you're a sovereign. Not an absolute monarch like a king or queen, but part of the corporate body that holds ultimate power in the United States. The Constitution delegates authority to act on our behalf to the president, congress, and the Supreme Court. But they are agents. They do not remove sovereignty from us.
Over the years I've heard various people say, "He's not my president." They're wrong. Like it or not, the people elected to exercise the power of their offices act on behalf of all citizens.
You may be among the many people disturbed by the choices for president. You may have pledged not to vote for one or both candidates. Certainly you have the free will to do so. Though it is the duty of a citizen to vote you can refuse.
But you still bear your responsibility as a sovereign.
You need not die to escape it. But you'll have to terminate your citizenship to avoid it.
At times the High Priest led a burdensome life. Such is the nature of supreme authority. In some ways the load is as heavy for an American citizen.
How will you deal with being the sovereign? Please comment below.
Have You Accomplished Your Foremost Duty?
Parsha [Passage of Scripture] Nugget [Precious Idea] Pinchas – Numbers 25:10-30:1
My wife and I struggle about how to encourage our daughter's independence. My parents prodded me toward self-reliance from an early age. I'm doing the same for Madeleine. But Melanie gets a lot of satisfaction from taking care of her needs. And who doesn't like to be cared for? At times we confuse Madeleine. Watching the approach of her ninth year, my influence has become unmistakable. Perhaps our foremost duty, described in Parshas Pinchas, will be fulfilled:
…appoint a man over the assembly. (Numbers/Bamidbar 27:16)
This Sabbath's parsha begins with G-d rewarding Pinchas for his zealousness. Then censuses are taken prior to the Israelites entering the Land. Zelophehad's daughters petition to receive their father's inheritance. The laws of inheritance are detailed. Joshua is appointed as Moses's successor. Finally the Almighty establishes the offerings brought daily, on the Sabbath, and on holidays.
A Flock Needs a Shepherd
The generation G-d took out of slavery died off. But the younger one still needed guidance. The Children of Israel won't wander through the wilderness any longer. They must conquer the land. Then they must adjust to a settled, agrarian life.
Such a major transition is difficult. Many new questions will arise. Moses knew he would not be there to answer them. No longer could he delay his foremost duty. He had to find a successor to continue guiding the Israelites.
Moses taught Joshua the son of Nun for years. Having served the great man for so long, Joshua proved his character by not falling prey to the negativity of the spies. He could shoulder spiritual responsibility for the Children of Israel.
Your Foremost Duty in Life
You may not be responsible for the souls of hundreds of thousands of people. But you have a family. You're responsible for your loved ones spiritual wellbeing even after you're gone.
It's easy to pass along material wealth. A will or trust will distribute your physical property according to your wishes. What about your accumulated knowledge and wisdom? What will happen to it?
Children no longer spend decades serving their parents and learning at their feet the way Joshua did Moses. But that does not relieve you from making every effort at seeing they benefit from what you have learned in your life. Presumably during their childhood and teen years you passed on many lessons. Hopefully they took them to heart.
Imagine the impact on Joshua of Moses learning he not would be leading the Israelites into the land. His trusted mentor would die soon. At that moment, Joshua received the legacy. He would fulfill the Almighty's directive to bring the people to the land.
You can have a similar effect on your children. Show them spiritual matters are at least as important as monetary ones. Whether they're adults or still young, double down now on what you've done in the past. Consistently reach out to them. Demonstrate how to pursue a well-lived life. Write an ethical will. Give it equal importance to your property division. Nothing less than their future depends on it.
What have you planned to ensure your foremost duty is fulfilled? Please comment below.


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PG GYMKHANA
The Extra-mural or Extension wing, the "Prasaranga" is the publication and the Extension wing of the University. The Prasaranga was established in the year 1949. Within three years of the establishment of Karnatak University, its founders succeeded in launching Extramural or Extension activities of the University so that the knowledge generated by its teachers and researchers is carried to the door steps of the common man. A committee, with Shri Channaveera Kanavi, now a celebrated Kannada poet, as its Secretary was constituted and it started extension lectures in the mofussil areas. The first lecture camp was arranged at Gadag on 8th and 9th of November, 1952 marking the beginning of a worthwhile and long sustained activity. Very soon a publication wing was added and the two wings, Extension and Publication, merged to form the 'Prasaranga' with Shri Kanavi as its first Director.
The Publication division of Prasaranga has been serving as the medium for publishing the results of researches carried out in the Post Graduate Departments of the Karnatak University and the colleges affiliated to it. The books belonging to different subjects and areas of knowledge are being published by the Prasaranga. Books, theses, research papers, review, monographs, epics, text books, proceedings containing the lectures delivered under different series, periodicals in Science, Arts and Social Science both in English and Kannada are being published.
It has now emerged as one of the largest publishers in Karnataka. It has published nearly 2000 titles, some of which have gone into several editions.
There are five areas in which it has made a distinctive name.
Publication of pocket-size booklets on various useful subjects for the benefit of common people.
Publication of books in Kannada and English on Vachana literature, a distinct form of prose-poems composed by Shiva-sharana saints who heralded social and religious revolution in Karnataka. A few of the Vachanas are translated into Hindi, French, German, Marathi and Tamil in book form. There are nearly 100 titles belonging to this category.
Publication in the field of Kannada folk-lore, especially in two series Jeevana Jokali and Janapada Sahitya Darshana, the latter having its 25th volume in Press.
Ph.D. theses and other Research Publications, 57 by Prasaranga and 30 by others with our assistance;
Special Lecture Series publications - 45 Titles.
The main objective of Extramural or Extension Education wing is to conduct lecture camps not only in remote areas coming under the jurisdiction of the Karnatak University (7districts) but also outside the four walls of the University Campus. The idea behind this activity is to share the treasure of knowledge generated inside the University with the common man. The University has the unique honour of conducting largest number of lecturers in rural areas, when compared to other Universities in Karnataka State or any other state in India. By March 2002, the Prasaranga has arranged more than 2000 Lectures in 454 lecture camps in the mofussil places covering subjects as varied as agricultural implements, biological diversity, changes in Indian villages, poultry, menace of drugs, consumer protection, pollution, AIDS, female infanticide, water resources, Lok Adalat, poets, epics, folk tales. Of the 2000 and odd lectures, some 525 are already published in the form of low-priced booklets, which is a record for such publications.
Another series, slightly different from the earlier one was started in 1962 and this is called 'Comprehensive Literature Series'. It caters to the people of towns having colleges or such other institutions of higher learning. In this series, 6 to 8 specialists deliberate on various faces of a single topic. 27 books have been published in this series.
The Special Lecture series which was started in 1950 is yet another landmark in the activities of 'Prasaranga'. The main purpose of holding Special Lectures is to invite the scholars of eminence at the national level to deliver lectures and publish proceedings in book form. These lectures are delivered either in English or in Kannada. To name only a few of the eminent personalities who delivered these lectures-Gurudev, R. D. Ranade, B.A. Saletore, R.D. Karmarkar, Mulk Raj Anand, Shishir Kumar Ghosh, V.K. Gokak, Arthur Ravenoroft, D. Raimons Needor, Balachandra Nemade, V. Sitaramaiah, Shivaram Karant, D.R. Bendre, G.S.Shivarudrappa, M. Chidananda Murthy, Shantinath Desai, 43 publications are brought out under this Special Lecture series so far.
Translation of VACHANAS into English and other Indian languages was carried out extensively in the past. Recently Prasaranga has brought out a translation of the "Manasollas", a 14th century Encyclopedia in Sanskrit on land and people of Karnataka in 2 volumes. Prasaranga has also sponsored a series of A.I.R. broadcasts introducing the Prasaranga and its publications to the general public. It has arranged a large number of book exhibitions all through these years.
The Prasaranga of Karnatak University, after having realized the importance of Journals of scientific pursuits, research contributions etc., has undertaken the responsibility of publishing five journals, namely Karnatak Bharati (Kannada Biannual), Vidyarthi Bharati (Kannada Biannual for students), K.U. Journal in Science (English Annual), K.U. Journal in Humanities (English Annual) and K.U. Journal in Social Science. The purpose of bringing these periodicals is to encourage research activity among the teachers and literary expression of students of the P.G. and under-graduate classes.
The two types of activities of the Prasaranga mentioned above are guided by two separate committees constituted by the Syndicate of this University, the former by the Extension and Extra Mural Board and the latter by the Publication Board presided over by the Vice-Chancellor.
In the words of Dr. Navaneet Rao, Chairman, Karnatak Universities Review Committee, "The Prasaranga is an effective forum for teachers in both post-graduate departments and affiliated colleges to publish their findings" (Navaneet Rao; Report of the Karnatak Universities Review Commission, 1993).
'Prasaranga' is proud of its achievements so far and its role in furthering education of classes and masses, particularly in the north Karnataka area and hopes to scale new heights.
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