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Sinhala Buddhist nationalism – trump card or junk bond of national bourgeoisie
Midweek Review
President Rajapaksa acknowledging applause from crowds in Anuradapura on 19 Nov. 2019 after his inauguration.
by Satyajith Andradi
The presidential election of November 2019 was a point of inflection in the electoral history of Sri Lanka. It restored political power to the economically and socially powerful national bourgeoisie. The importance of that political event prompted me to write two pieces for these columns at the time. In the first article, titled 'Presidential election 2019 and the rise of the national bourgeoisie' written few days before the election, I described the presidential race as a contest between the comprador bourgeoisie – the capitalist class subservient to the interest of western capital, represented by the UNP-led alliance, and the national bourgeoisie -– the indigenous capitalist class, represented by an alliance led by the off-shoot of the SLFP, and concluded that the odds are in the latter's favour. In the second piece, titled ' Sinhala Buddhist Nationalism and the marginalisation of minorities' written shortly after the election, it was explained how the national bourgeoisie came to adopt Sinhala Buddhist nationalism as its ideology.
Sinhala Buddhist Nationalism and
the national bourgeoisie
The history of post-Independence electoral politics of Sri Lanka (especially since the formation of the SLFP in the early 1950s, and the consequent sidelining of the left parties) has been, essentially, the history of the power struggle between the comprador bourgeoisie and the national bourgeoisie – a sort of ding-dong battle between the two capitalist factions. As already mentioned, the interests of the comprador capitalists class has been closely aligned with the interests of western capital. This class favours open economy, private sector power, and economic liberalism. It draws considerable support from the Anglicised urban petty bourgeoisie and the significant ethnic and religious minorities of the country such as Tamils, Hindus, Muslims and Catholics.
The national bourgeoisie favours the protection and development of local industries, import substitution, and the protection of the public sector (aka. state sector, government sector). It finds its vote base amongst the Sinhala Buddhist peasantry, the non-Anglicised Sinhala Buddhist petty bourgeoisie, public sector employees, and a sizeable segment of the working class. By and large, the support of the working class has been harnessed through its alliance with left parties, such as the LSSP and the CPSL, which have been lured by the national bourgeoisie's frequent anti-western and anti–privatisation rhetoric.
Two momentous post–election years
Two years have passed since Sri Lanka's most recent presidential election. Generally, such a duration is too short to warrant a thoroughgoing review. However, the past two years have been extraordinary, both locally and globally. This is primarily due to the COVID -19 pandemic, which has affected almost all aspects of human life worldwide. The health crisis, which has already claimed more than 14,000 lives in Sri Lanka, has led to unprecedented economic and social turmoil in Sri Lanka and abroad.
Two years ago, at the time of the presidential election, Sri Lanka economy was anything but a healthy one. It was tormented by, to use the popular medical jargon, ' serious underlying health conditions' such as formidable foreign debt, below par economic growth, and sizeable fiscal and current account deficits. The COVID– 19 pandemic, which hit Sri Lanka in early 2020 devastated the already ailing economy. As everyone knows, it brought about several prolonged lockdowns and travel restrictions, which disrupted business activities. This resulted in negative economic growth in 2020, ballooning fiscal deficits, drastically widening current account deficits, which in turn led to an alarming depletion of foreign reserves, a foreign debt crisis, a foreign exchange crisis, and the downgrading of Sri Lanka's sovereign rating by international rating agencies. The economic devastation resulting from COVID – 19 precipitated a whole host of grave social problems such as loss of livelihoods, widespread poverty, destitutions, scarcity and unaffordability of food and other basic items.
Meanwhile, the new government's move to rapidly shift to organic farming messed up the country's agriculture, which was the sole major economic sector that was not negatively impacted by the pandemic. All these have resulted in considerable social unrest. They have antagonised wide sections of the new government's vote base, such as peasant farmers and public sector employees, including teachers and nurses, and brought them to the streets. Meanwhile, the government's attempt to sell state assets to foreign companies, in spite of its anti- western and anti– privatisation rhetoric, is meeting resistance. At the time of writing this piece, the trade unions of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, the Ceylon Electricity Board and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority are threatening joint strike action against the sale of state assets to foreign companies. These developments do not auger well for the new government. However, it could claim credit for a few achievements. Notable amongst them is its successful vaccination programme: Around 73% of the entire population has been fully vaccinated up to date. Another plus point is the absence of terrorist activities during the past two years.
Sinhala Buddhist Nationalism – trump card or junk bond of the national bourgeoisie
The national bourgeoisie gained political power two years ago with the huge support of the Sinhala Buddhist voters. No doubt, Sinhala Buddhist Nationalism played a pivotal role in bringing it to power. The two momentous years since the election have drastically changed the socio – economic situation to the worse.
Adverse social developments such as widespread poverty, destitution, and the acute shortage and the unaffordability of basic food and other essential items, could compel the electorate to shift its priorities from Sinhala Buddhist Nationalism to bare economic survival. However, it should be noted that there are three more years for the next presidential election. Although this is not an awful lot of time, it cannot be ruled out that, with some real luck, smart thinking and hard work, the economy could be turned around during these three years. If such a recovery is coupled with substantial 'Poor Relief' and an environment free of terror attacks, the national bourgeoisie would be able to salvage its vote base. In such situation, Sinhala Buddhist nationalism is bound to once again serve as the trump card. However, if the socio-economic situation deteriorates further, basic economic concerns such as cost of living and the availability of food and other essential items are bound to take precedence over Sinhala Buddhist Nationalism.
In such event, most of the electorate would perceive Sinhala Buddhist nationalism as a junk bond and shy away from it, seriously jeopardising the national bourgeoisie's prospects of retaining political power.
The Sinking Terrain
Visit to Moscow amid US travel ban
Post-war foreign relations: A diplomatic quagmire for Lanka
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa flanked by PM Mahinda Rajapaksa and Chinese FM Wang Yi launch Sri Lanka China Friendship Sailing Cup at the Port City last Sunday.
Chinese Ambassador to Colombo Qi Zhenhong seems quite confident of Sri Lanka's capacity to overcome the current economic turmoil the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) is experiencing.
The top Chinese envoy, at an informal meeting with a selected group of print media journalists on Sunday (09), soon after the departure of Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, asserted that the crisis was temporary. Ambassador Qi Zhenhong declared that as Sri Lanka had overcome far bigger challenges the country wouldn't be overwhelmed by the current challenge in debt servicing. The meet took place at the King Emperor Suite of the Galle Face Hotel
Wang departed following high level political talks with the Sri Lankan leadership. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa and Chinese FM Wang inaugurated the Sri Lanka-China Sailing Cup 2022 at the Port City to celebrate the 65th anniversary of China and Sri Lanka diplomatic relations and the 70th anniversary of the Rubber-Rice pact. Interestingly, former Premier and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, MP, was among the invitees. Wickremesinghe, whose government delayed the Port City project by about one and half years, sat next to Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris, who returned from an official visit to Seoul the previous day.
Is Ambassador Qi Zhenhong right in his assessment? Had there been far bigger crises in the recent past that threatened to overwhelm Sri Lanka? Perhaps Ambassador Qi Zhenhong is right in his appraisal. Maybe, he is not. Having joined the Chinese Foreign Service in 1988, Ambassador Qi Zhenhong took over the Chinese diplomatic mission in Colombo about a year ago at the height of Covid-19 eruption.
Amidst a simmering row with the Sri Lankan government over the rejection of an allegedly contaminated Chinese carbonic fertiliser consignment, Ambassador Qi Zhenhong undertook a three-day visit (Dec 15-17, 2021) to the Jaffna peninsula.
Colombo-based The Hindu correspondent, Meera Srinivasan, in a story dated Dec 26, 2021, headlined 'Chinese Ambassador's visit to Jaffna sparks concern, commentary in Sri Lanka', described the visit as an intensification of geopolitical contest between India and China. Qi Zhenhong underscored China's right to engage people in any part of Sri Lanka. Responding to media at the Emperor's Suite, Qi Zhenhong pointed out: "Jaffna is in the northern part of Sri Lanka, not south of any other country."
Ambassador Qi visited the Jaffna public library and the Adam's Bridge, a row of limestone shoals across the narrow Palk Strait between Mannar and Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu.
The Ambassador visited a seafood factory in Mannar district, built with Chinese investment, and a sea cucumber farm in Jaffna.
The Chinese entry into Sri Lanka and the gradual expansion of its role here should be examined against the backdrop of Indian-funded terrorism project that destabilised the entire country. The Sri Lanka Army couldn't have withstood the terrorist firepower if not for military assistance provided by China, Pakistan, Russia and Israel during the early stages of the conflict. Having paid a heavy price for destabilising its smaller neighbour, India allowed the annihilation of separatist Tamil conventional military capability in 2009. The eradication of terrorism has paved the way for geopolitical contest between the two Asian nuclear powers here. Both China and India seemed confident in pursuing their agendas as the cash-strapped SLPP government struggled on multiple fronts. The deterioration of Sri Lanka's economy as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic delivering a devastating blow to its once vibrant tourism industry and expatriate worker remittances, (both raked in huge amounts of foreign exchange), as well as waste, corruption and mismanagement at every level appeared to have facilitated anti-Sri Lanka foreign projects much to the dismay of the vast majority of people. Sri Lanka seems to be at the mercy of foreign powers.
Superpower politics
Chinese and Indian investments as well as relations with political parties here cannot be discussed leaving out the ongoing battle between China and the US-led grouping. India is part of the latter. South Korea is also in that group though it has so far refrained from joining the four-nation 'Quad' comprising the US, India, Japan and Australia. Post-war Sri Lanka is in a dicey situation. In spite of overcoming terrorism 12 years ago, Sri Lanka is under tremendous pressure from both parties as each seeks investment opportunities advantageous to them.
Recently, Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda expressed concerns over China and India seeking to invest in the Point Pedro fisheries harbour. Devananda, the leader of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), one of the smaller terrorist groups, that took to the democratic path long before the LTTE terror mechanism was annihilated and primarily active in the Northern region vowed not to allow China to exploit the Northern population. Obviously Devananda is playing politics. The Fisheries Minister cannot take a view contrary to that of the Rajapaksas.
Pathfinder, an organisation founded by Sri Lanka's High Commissioner in New Delhi, Milinda Moragoda, in its latest report titled 'Sri Lanka has no room to maneuver' carried in the January 10 edition of The Island warns of a catastrophe unless the government adopts remedial measures, immediately. While appreciating the arrangement Sri Lanka has reached with India to meet immediate challenges, Pathfinder recommended (i) restructuring of external debt (ii) an arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (iii) mobilisation of 'bridging finance' to meet the external financing gap up to June 2022.
Recent US and Indian investments in the energy sector should be viewed against the backdrop of much economically weakened Sri Lanka. The controversial energy deals with US-based New Fortress Energy, and Indian Oil Corporation Limited finalised on Sept 17, 2021 and January 5, 2022, respectively, generated much public interest. The latter was finalised just days before the Chinese Foreign Minister's visit. Both agreements have been challenged in the Supreme Court. The SC is in the process of hearing several petitions against the US energy deal whereas Ven. Wakmulle Uditha Thera of Nayigala Raja Mahaviharaya, Agrahara, Weeraketiya, filed a fundamental rights petition against the agreement on Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm. The Ven. Thera is believed to be acting on behalf of the JVP, the only party to move court against both the US and Indian investments.
Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila, who along with Cabinet colleagues, Vasudeva Nanayakkara and Wimal Weerawansa moved SC against US energy deal that came through the backdoor, in a booklet titled 'Regaining Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm' declared that he gave the 'strategic leadership' to the project. In spite of accusations of a sellout and betrayal by many quarters, including the Federation of National Organisations, led by Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera, which demanded a thorough investigation. Attorney-at-law Gammanpila defended the latest agreement. The booklet released by the Energy Ministry contained a letter dated July 29, 1987 signed by the then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi that dealt with the Trincomalee oil tank farm, President JRJ's response, an agreement finalised on Feb 7, 2003, during Ranil Wickremesinghe's premiership, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on economic projects signed in 2017 also during Wickremesinghe's premiership. What really surprised the public was that though the Energy Ministry compared the 2017 MoU with the recently finalised agreement, the ministry quite conveniently left the January 5 agreement out of the booklet. The ministry may claim that the agreement couldn't be included as at the time of the releasing of the booklet, it hadn't been signed. Perhaps, the printing of the booklet should have been delayed till the finalisation of the agreement.
Declaring the project received political guidance from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Energy Ministry revealed the identities of the two negotiating teams. Accordingly, the Sri Lankan delegation comprised Lalith Vidanagamage, Advisor, Energy Ministry, Buddhika Madihahewa, Managing Director, CPC, Mrs. Hasitha Paragahagoda, Legal Officer, Energy Ministry and Nalin Beligaswatta, Research Officer, Energy Ministry.
The Energy Ministry also named the Indian negotiating team. Deputy High Commissioner Vinod K. Jacob has led the Indian delegation that included Dr. Rakesh Pandey, Head of Commerce, Indian HC, Ms Irina Thakur, First Secretary, Commerce and Cultural Affairs and Manoj Gupta, Managing Director, LIOC.
The Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm comprised two sections (i) Lower Tank Farm and (ii) Upper Tank Farm spread over 827 acres of land.
One cannot forget the circumstances India forced the Indo-Lanka Accord on the latter. That agreement finalised at the height of the US-Soviet cold war encompassed the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm. Today, US-India relations have reached zenith whereas at the time of the Indo-Lanka Accord India was seen as being much closer to the Soviet Union and constantly feared the US using Sri Lanka as a platform to destabilise the country. The letters exchanged between Rajiv Gandhi and JRJ agreed on the restoration and operation of the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm as a joint venture. With the latest agreement, India has consolidated its position in the strategic port city of Trincomalee close on the heels of politically influential Adani Group's investment at the Colombo port. Gujarat-headquartered company signed a Build, Operate, Transfer (BOT) agreement with Sri Lanka's largest listed company John Keells Holdings and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) to jointly develop the Colombo West International Container Terminal (CWICT) at the Colombo Port, situated amidst one of the busiest shipping routes in the world. China has secured a terminal of its own during the previous Rajapaksa administration as the war was raging with hardly any other investor showing interest and during the Yahapalana administration won a 99-year lease on the Hambantota port. Controversy surrounds the Hambantota port deal, too. Arjuna Ranatunga, who had served as the Ports and Shipping Minister at that time had to give up the portfolio as he didn't agree with the terms. The then President Maithripala Sirisena and Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe brought in SLFPer Mahinda Samarasinghe as the Ports and Shipping Minister to put the finishing touches to it. Having finalised the agreement in 2017, Samarasinghe switched his allegiance to the SLFP in the run-up to the last parliamentary election in August 2020. The one-time UNPer recently gave up his Kalutara District parliamentary seat to receive appointment as Sri Lanka's Ambassador in Washington.
Former PM Wickremesinghe, FM Prof. Peiris, Minister Namal Rajapaksa and Chinese Ambassador to Colombo Qi Zhenhong at the launch of Sri Lanka China Friendship Sailing Cup at the Port City last Sunday (pics courtesy PM Media)
Wijeyadasa strikes discordant note
In spite of China and Sri Lanka enjoying excellent relations and the latter regularly referring to China as an all-weather friend, there had been a number of contentious issues. The Island had an opportunity to raise some of them with Ambassador Qi Zhenhong during last Sunday's meeting. Reference was made to accusations made by the then Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake as regards China taking advantage of Sri Lanka, dispute over contaminated carbonic fertiliser consignment that had to be settled by paying USD 6.7 mn to the Chinese firm concerned and SLPP lawmaker Wijeyadasa Rajapakse's fiery letter to the Chinese President Xi Jinping. There hadn't been a previous instance of a lawmaker writing to the Chinese leader through its Ambassador in Colombo. Ambassador Qi Zhenhong dismissed Rajapakse's concerns over China changing its strategy vis-a-vis Sri Lanka in the wake of the high profile 'One Belt One Road' (OBOR) project meant to improving connectivity and cooperation among multiple countries spread across the continents of Asia, Africa, and Europe. One-time Justice Minister and former President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) accused China of following an agenda intended to destroy Sri Lanka's relations with the US, the UK, India, Japan, Korea, Australia and in time to come Russia.
Lawmaker Rajapakse's stand cannot be examined without taking his call during the previous administration to rescind the Sri Lanka-China agreement on the Hambantota port through the intervention of the Parliament. That call was made in his capacity as a UNP Member of Parliament, whereas he wrote the January 3 dated letter as an SLPP lawmaker.
MP Rajapakse accused China of ruining Sri Lanka's economy to facilitate their project. The former Justice Minister seemed to have no issue with Quad members, the UK and Korea. Quad members never stood by Sri Lanka at the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) whereas Western powers brazenly pursued a policy detriment to Sri Lanka. They either voted against Sri Lanka or skipped the vote as in the case of Japan regardless of the Comprehensive Partnership the two countries entered into in Oct 2015. Obviously, Japan lacked the political will to go against the US wishes at the Geneva HRC, whereas Seoul voted against Colombo. On the basis of the Geneva process, the Sri Lankan military is being targeted by the US and some of her allies as part of the overall campaign directed at Sri Lanka.
Regardless of Sri Lanka's close relations with China, the accusations made by MP Rajapakse cannot be dismissed lightly. The MP issued a warning over possible Chinese investments under the 'Selendiva' project, having questioned the investments on the Colombo Port, South Terminal, Coal-fired power plant complex at Norochcholai, International Airport at Mattala, Lotus Tower (Nelum Kuluna) in Colombo, Lotus Theatre (Nelum Pokuna) in Colombo, International Cricket Stadium at Suriyawewa and International Conference Hall in Hambantota. Alleging China created a debt trap, lawmaker Rajapakse said that he lost his portfolio during the Yahapalana administration as he opposed the Hambantota port deal. The copies of MP Rajapakse's explosive letter have been sent to the President, Prime Minister, Speaker, Most Venerable High Prelates, the Archbishop Colombo, Foreign Minister, Chinese Ambassador in Sri Lanka and Colombo-based High Commissioners and the Ambassadors of the other countries.
Can the SLPP government afford to ignore Wijeyadasa Rajapakse's actions, particularly against the backdrop of stripping Susil Premjayantha of his portfolio over criticism of the government? Similarly, can Ministers Vasudeva, Wimal and Udaya get away after having challenged their Cabinet colleagues over the US energy deal? The government needs to address these issues as the ruling coalition as well as other political parties represented in Parliament struggle to come to terms with a rapidly changing situation. Avoiding Chinese as well as Western moves and that of India seem a herculean task for Sri Lanka, trying to walk the diplomatic tightrope.
During the Yahapalana administration, the US pushed for three agreements, namely ACSA (Access and Cross Servicing Agreement), SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) and MCC (Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact. On the approval of President Sirisena, the government signed ACSA in August 2017 though the remaining agreements couldn't be finalised. No one can forget how Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe authorised one-sided CFA (Ceasefire Agreement) or the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe duo allowed the Singapore Sri Lanka Free Trade Pact. If those in power and the Opposition are genuinely interested in protecting national assets, they'll agree on a political mechanism to reach consensus on agreements with external powers/foreign parties.
What is so luring about John Steinbeck's The Pearl: A translator's view
Book: Dimuthuwa (A translation of The Pearl)
Translator: K. A. I Kalyanaratne
Publisher: Sarasavi
By K. A. I Kalyanaratne
Having studied Sinhala and English since my early schooling, I thought of rendering into Sinhala an English masterpiece. I knew that such an exercise would help not only test my comprehension in that contextual setting but also measure my capacity to reproduce the ideas in idiomatic Sinhala so that the reader would feel that the rendering was not foreign to him or her.
I did not want to estrange the local reader.
Translator's responsibilities
I began my search for a read-worthy book for that purpose. I came across a book, not so voluminous, I had attempted several times to render into Sinhala, without much success. I had given up all my previous attempts halfway upon realisation that the time was not opportune for me to undertake such a responsible task, for any writer has a responsibility by the society to uplift it to the best of one's ability, and retain the ingenuity of the original writer. I was also concerned about the sanctity of the language, the most sacred tool of its users. It means that any writer should be mindful of the correct idiomatic expressions of that language.
'THE PEARL'
Finally, I selected 'THE PEARL' by the American novelist and Nobel prize-winner John Steinbeck. Having read it a couple of times, I was familiar with its content. Considering the number of characters and the span of time involving the narration, many a writer treats The Pearl as a 'novella' or a 'novelette'. As the story is full of dramatic episodes, it is also referred to as a 'chilling-novella'. As Steibeck has himself expressed in his epigraph to the Pearl, he has re-told a Mexican folktale which relates a series of tragic events that unraveled with a scorpion biting Kino's son Coyotito.
In his inimitable style Steinbeck says
"In the town they tell the story of the great pearl – how it was found, and how it was lost again. They tell of Kino, the fisherman, and of his wife, Juana, and of the baby, Coyotito. And because the story has been told so often, it has taken root in every man's mind. And, as with all retold tales that are in people's hearts, there are only good and bad things and black and white things and good and evil things and no in-between anywhere.
If the story is a parable, perhaps everyone reads his or her own life into it. In any case, they say in the town that…"
" මෙ වෙසෙයි දිමුතුව ලද සැටිත්, ඒ යළි නැති වුණු සැටිත් පිළිබඳ පවත ඒ නියැරියෝ පවසති. එ මෙන් ම, ධීවර කීනෝත්, ඔහු ගේ බිරිය ජුවානාත්, ඔවුන් ගේ පුත් කොයෝතිතෝත් පිළිබඳ ව ඔවුහු පවසති. තව ද, මෙ පවත නෙ වර පවසනු ලැබ ඇති හෙයින්, ඒ සෑම අයකු ගේ ම සිත්හි මුල් බැස ගෙන ඇත. මිනිස් සිත්හි එල්බ ගත්, එ මෙන් ම, යළි යළිත් පැවැසුණු පවත්හි රඳා පවතිනුයේ යහඅයහ දේ පමණි. ක`ථ-සුදු දේ පමණි. සිරි-දුසිරි දේ පමණි. මෙ අතරැ වූ කිසිවක් කවර තැනෙක හෝ තිබෙනු නො හැකි යි.
මෙ පවත උපමා කතාවක් සේ සැලැකෙන්නේ නම්, සෑම අයකු ම ඔහුට සීමා වූ අරුතක් ඉන් උකහා ගනු ඇත. තමන් ගේ ම දිවි පෙවෙත ඊට කාවද්දනු ඇත. මෙ කවර අයුරු වුව ද එ නුවර වැසියෝ මෙ සේ පවසත්"
Dramatic End of The Pearl
The Kino's pearl of the world, incomparable in its beauty, radiance and size, around which Steinbeck spins the whole story with a few characters who in their peculiar contexts behave in self-centred ambitions and aspirations, ultimately meets its own playground, the big blue sea, in whose womb it was born. At last, when Kino realises that the pearl is evil, he throws it back to the sea. The humour, sarcasm and pathos, which Steinbeck aims to generate, is the last of such incidents he narrates when he writes:
"And Kino drew back his arm and flung the pearl with all his might. Kino and Juana watched it go, winking and glimmering under the setting sun. They saw the little splash in the distance, and they stood side by side watching the place for a long time.
"And the pearl settled into the lovely green water and dropped towards the bottom.
The waving branches of the algae called to it and beckoned to it. The lights on its surface were green and lovely. It settled down to the sand bottom among the fern-like plants. Above, the surface of water was a green mirror. And the pearl lay on the floor of the sea. A crab scampering over the bottom raised a little cloud of sand, and when it settled the pearl was gone.
And the music of the pearl drifted to a whisper and disappeared."
යළි තමා වෙත ඇදගත් අතින්, කිනෝ මු`ථ වැර යොදා, දිමුතුව මුහුදට විසි කෙළේ ය. අවරට යන හිරු ගේ හෙළියෙන් දිලෙමින් ද බැබැළෙමින් ද, එය ඈතට විසි වී යන අයුරු කිනෝ ද, ජුවානා ද හොඳින් බලා සිටියහ. එ ඈතින් දියට වැටී හට ගත් දිය කැළැඹුම දෙස ද බලා සිටි ඔවුහු, දිගු වේලාවක් එහි රැඳී සිටියහ.
දිමුතුව ද, ප‍්‍රසන්න නිල් පැහැති මුහුදුු දියෙහි තැන්පත් ව, මුහුදු පතුළට කිඳා බැස්සේ ය. එ විට මුහුදු පතුළෙහි වූ මුහුදු පැළෑටිවල
සසල වූ අතු පත් අත් වනමින් දිමුතුව කඳවා ගෙන ගියා සේ යි. මතු පිටට පතිත වූ ආලෝකයෙන් ඒ කොළ පැහැ ගැන් වී, ප‍්‍රසන්න වී තිබිණි. මීවන වන් පැළෑටි අතරින් ගොස්, පතුළේ වූ වැලි මත එය තැන්පත් විය. එ මත්තෙහි වූ මතුපිට දිය කඳ කොළ පැහැති කැටපතක් බඳු විය. එ දිමුතුව දැන් මුහුදු පතුළෙහි රැුඳී ඇත. එ පතුළෙහි ම, දුව පැන යමින් සිටි කකු`ථවකු නිසා කුඩා වැලි වළාවෙකින් නැ`ගුණු වැලි යළි තැන්පත් වත් ම, එ දිමුතුව දැක්මෙන් ඔබ්බට ගොස් තිබිණි.
එ අනුයමින් ම, දිමුතුවේ සංගීතය අවසනැ හුදු මිමිනීමක් පමණක් බවට පත් ව අතුරුදන් විය
Here, one remembers a line from T. S. Elliot's Little Gidding: "Dust in the air suspended, Marks the place where a story ended".
"Language is the Dress of Thought." — Samuel Johnson
The language of The Pearl is one of the enticing aspects which lured me to undertake this exercise to render it into Sinhala. I questioned myself on several occasions whether my Sinhala diction was rich enough to express, with the same efficacy, the nuances of human feelings and sentiments that Steinbeck conveys in The Pearl.
In his retelling of a Mexican folktale, Steinbeck relates the tale of Kino, fisherman, who finds the pearl of the world during one of his dives. Showing how money is the root of all evil, Steinbeck delivers a poignant tale. Fish and pearls are usually the common source of the livelihood of fisherfolk. However, the story tells how each member of the village desires part of Kino's newfound wealth. Hence, rather than being pleased with and sharing the happiness of this prized discovery, each villager offers his/her unique suggestion as to how Kino should spend his winnings. Steinbeck thus not only exposes human nature but also through a few characters like the doctor who later came in to treat Coyotito, Kino's son, the priest, and the pearl brokers who attempt to swindle Kino, tells how greed erodes the cherished values, and how people who come upon sudden wealth are affected. This story also teaches us how disastrous it is to take on its face-value and acts mindlessly. The Pearl is, thus, a tale of greed, exposing how people would act and react, if pitted against the circumstances as revealed in the story. In short, The Pearl is a true representation of the secrets of man's nature, irrespective of time or clime, and the 'darkest depths of evil".
An Attempt to Add Depth to the Translation of 'The Pearl'
I strove to make 'Dimuthuwa' go beyond a mere translation of Steinbeck's novelette and presume that the reader should know the background of the story as well if he or she is to enjoy the translation to the fullest. Hence, the following additional pages have been added to the translation:
i. Background – which provides the geographical setting and the novelist's objective of turning out a folktale to a novel.
ii. The historical setting revealing the discrimination and injustice that prevailed in society, which became the crux of the story.
iii. Specialty in John Steinbeck's style of writing and his use of the figurative language especially in describing incidents and the surroundings.
iv. The Pearl Quotes – The products of famous writers contain sayings that will live have their value beyond times and climes. They become eternal truths, and therefore, they become universal truth that are of eternal value. Some describe these sayings as 'Distilled Wisdom'. One such quote by Steinbeck is appended below:
"For it is said that humans are never satisfied, that you give them one thing and they want something more. And this is said in disparagement, whereas it is one of the greatest talents the species has and one that has made it superior to animals that are satisfied with what they have."
All these quotes have been rendered into Sinhala in this special section.
John Steinbeck' background
The Pearl is a novella, a seemingly simple book, woven around a story of classic simplicity, based on a Mexican folk tale. John Steinbeck was an American writer. He was the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel 'The Grapes of Wrath', published in 1939 and the novella 'Of Mice and Men', published in 1937. He wrote 25 books, including sixteen novels,6 non-fiction books and several collections of short stories. In 1962, Steinbeck received the Nobel Prize for Literature. It so happened that after I completed translating 'The Pearl', I was presented a voluminous publication by a friend of mine, which contained five of his novels written before The Pearl, running to over 950 pages. Published in the UK by Octopus Books Limited, its introduction ends with a quote of H. G. Wells: "Steinbeck's robustness was always mirrored by delicacy of feelings; his pride was always matched by modesty, humility even. He saw himself as a craftsman." But his readers concur H. G. Wells on his assessment of Steinbeck – 'THAT TREMENDOUS GENIUS'.
The Mod-Con Tea Party
By Lynn Ockersz
They sure are 'talking',
But tongue-tied all the same,
And though at the same table,
Flushed with the thrill of partying,
There's no mind-to-mind bonhomie,
And the only sounds to be heard,
Are the endless thumping of cell phones,
And the ritualistic rendering of courtesies;
A pantomime of voiceless souls it seems,
But let not this be seen as an ICT Age freak,
For, the land groans under a rash of pains,
With depression emerging a chief dread,
And the need for quality talk is dire;
But the crisis is not beyond repair,
For, a defrosting of hearts and tongues,
And the sensible use of mod cons,
Could some of this longsuffering help end.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


There is the story of the two campers whose tent is about to be invaded by a hungry bear. Despite both knowing that a bear can outrun a human, when one camper noted that the other was putting on his running shoes and tightening the shoe laces, the camper asked the other "why are you doing that?" The other camper responded "I don't have to outrun the bear, I just have to outrun you!"
I think there are a lot of times in medicine when doctors are faced with the task of simply doing their best under the circumstances. It is not that they are necessarily wholly incompetent, it is just that diseases, not the doctors, can have a way of controlling the outcome of the illness. Physicians faced with such diseases in their patients such as cancers and other illnesses may rarely want to give up. They may decide to continue specific treatments to rid the disease, denying the obvious that the disease is overtaking the treatment. Sometimes the patient or families encourage the physician in this regard. This is not at all an uncommon scenario presented to hospital ethics committees for consultation.
There should be a time, however, when the doctor realizes and accepts the inevitable and begins approaches which are the best treatment and benefit for the patient under the circumstances. This may involve energetic palliative care, care to relieve suffering but treatment that no longer attempts to cure. One cannot always think that doctors can outrun the inevitable but, like the camper, must find alternate ways to accomplish the best under the circumstances. Any objection from my visitors? ..Maurice.
Graphic: Hungry Bear from KRQE.com via Google Images.
IVF Ethics: Should an Embryo be Rejected Because It's Potentially "Sick"?
The more science provides folks techniques to manage infertility such as through invitro fertilization and then implantation and the more science also provides tools to determine before the embryo is implanted whether or not the embryo is "potentially sick" because it is carrying a serious genetic defect (preimplantation genetic diagnosis), society is faced with further ethical and legal dilemmas. Such a dilemma can be developed from the example above: should prospective parents who desire to have a child by undergoing invitro fertilization be required under law to first have their embryo diagnosed for a genetic defect and if a serious genetic defect is found, they be compelled to reject implantation? Could it be argued that such attempt at diagnosis and subsequent rejection be considered under law and ethics as in the potential child's "best interest"? And, perhaps in the best interest of the future generations if this embryo was allowed to mature, be born and survive long enough to have its own children? On the other hand, is the general ethical and legal principle of parents "acting in the best interest of their child does not mean choosing the 'best child'"? The expression in quotes is the title of a rebuttal by L.S.Flicker in response to a view set by Malek and Daar discussed in the current April 2012 issue of American Journal of Bioethics. But what is your thought on this subject? ..Maurice.
Does End-of-Life, Hospice, Comfort Care Represent "Murder, Euthanasia, Killing"?
Surprisingly, after over 30 years of hospice care available for those who are terminally ill, the public and even physicians have interpreted end-of-life care, hospice and comfort care patient treatment as "murder, euthanasia and killing", Palliative medicine, treatment to relieve pain and discomfort, in patients who have no further treatment to resolve their disease is an established certified sub-specialty and yet physicians who perform this specialty are working under a cloud of such misperceptions. Read about this issue in Amednews (American Medical Association News).
Do you look at treatment by physicians, with the terminally ill patient's consent, to relieve the pain and suffering "murder, euthanasia or killing" just because the patient's life might be ended a bit sooner than if they were left untreated? Or might you look at pain unrelieved by the treatment of a doctor as "torture"? ..Maurice.
Spending A Lot of Money on Your Sick Dog or Cat: Is that Ethical?
From today's New York Times Opinion page: "Veterinary medicine has made big leaps in recent years, which is great news for ailing dogs and cats — but raises some tough questions for humans. With the availability of treatments like bone-marrow transplants and heart stents, it is now easy to spend $10,000 to $25,000 on medical procedures for a pet.
Knowing that many humans die of preventable illnesses, or even considering that many dogs and cats are euthanized in overcrowded animal shelters, can a person justify spending that much money to prolong one animal's life? If so, is it ethical to have a pet if you cannot afford such treatments?"
I would add, "...and even if you could afford it, is it in the best interest of humans who could benefit from the money for its use in research and treatment of human diseases? Is there a point where the life of a pet cat or dog becomes of less value than preserving the life and existence of it's owner or other humans in general?
"When our 6-year-old Labrador was dying, the vet said, "There's nothing we can do." We weren't prepared to give up so easily."
"Even if a treatment option is promising, people must consider the cost and caregiving burdens."
"When you acquire a pet, you sign up to care for it for the duration of its life — but not 'at any cost.'"
"The first question is: Will the procedure improve the quality of life for the pet, or prolong suffering?"
"Spending $10,000 on chemotherapy for your golden retriever is no more unethical than spending it on a two-week vacation in Tuscany."
"There is no shame in euthanizing a pet, if it is done out of love. Nor is there shame in spending money to prolong a pet's life."
Come back and write your opinions here. ..Maurice.
How Much Truth Should the Doctor Tell the Patient in View of the NOCEBO EFFECT?
"In medicine, a nocebo reaction or response refers to harmful, unpleasant, or undesirable effects a subject manifests after receiving an inert dummy drug or placebo. Nocebo responses are not chemically generated and are due only to the subject's pessimistic belief and expectation that the inert drug will produce negative consequences."
It has been through research using placebos to establish that such a negative reaction exists. The real clinical and ethical importance of such a concept is with regard to informed patient consent with regard to potential medicine side-effects or in presenting to the patient a full description of the complications of any form of treatment.
The principle of informed consent obligates physicians to explain possible side effects when prescribing medications. This disclosure may itself induce adverse effects through expectancy mechanisms known as nocebo effects, contradicting the principle of nonmaleficence. Rigorous research suggests that providing patients with a detailed enumeration of every possible adverse event—especially subjective self-appraised symptoms—can actually increase side effects. Describing one version of what might happen (clinical "facts") may actually create outcomes that are different from what would have happened without this information (another version of "facts"). This essay argues that the perceived tension between balancing informed consent with nonmaleficence might be resolved by recognizing that adverse effects have no clear black or white "truth." This essay suggests a pragmatic approach for providers to minimize nocebo responses while still maintaining patient autonomy through "contextualized informed consent," which takes into account possible side effects, the patient being treated, and the particular diagnosis involved.
How much of the "good news" of a drug or other treatment or disease prognosis and how much of the "bad news", that is, side-effects of the drug, complications of the surgery or other procedures or disease outcomes (in view of the documented "nocebo effect" ) would you want to know from your doctor?
For those who want to read more on the issue "Is It OK for the Doctors to Lie?" go to my earlier thread on the topic and take a quiz about lying if you were the doctor in various situations. ..Maurice.
Graphic: From the Wikipedia article.
In addition, he suggests voluntary vital organ procurement for donation, an act that would end the patient's life at a time when the process of Natural Dying has become clearly irreversible, while waiting for the patient to die would result in damaging the organs so they could no longer be gifts of life.Even though Dr. Terman's suggestion may provoke some ethical or legal challenges, both he and I think it would be useful to obtain some feedback from people from a variety of backgrounds who may face such decisions on a personal level. (I personally have not as yet taken a position about it.) Dr. Terman tells me that we can expect his responses to your comments here. This issue is important enough that this suggestion and the link to Caring Advocates be offered to public for the purpose of furthering discussion. So here it is on my bioethics blog for my visitors' consideration and discussion. ..Maurice.
When asked by the Mayor of the Munchkins about the Wicked Witch of the East (on whom Dorothy's house fell), the local Coroner answered: She is "morally, ethically, spiritually, physically, absolutely, positively, undeniably and reliably…" as well as "really and sincerely" dead. [L. Frank Baum's, The Wizard of Oz, 1900.] Back then in "Oz," death simply meant the cessation of heart and lung functioning. Today, modern medical technology can prolong a person's biologic existence after major organs are so diseased they cannot function on their own, without "life-support" or "life-sustaining treatment." The result has led to choices and conflict about which Mr. Baum could never have dreamed.
Since 1968, we have been abiding by an ethical concept called the "Dead Donor Rule." This means that physicians will never harvest organs from live patients. The political purpose of this rule is to give people confidence that if they cannot speak for themselves, others will not give up on them because they want to harvest their organs. Clinically, however, some physicians and ethicists consider it a fiction that patients are really "dead" by definition. They point out many ways in which such patients are still alive, although very sick, absolutely unconscious, and totally dependent on machines to remain… (yes, alive). Others argue that the neurological criteria for "brain dead" are sound in one important sense: clinical experience shows that patients who fail the test never regain consciousness.
Suppose there is a way for you to decide, to describe, and to memorialize your own criteria so that others will know at what point you would NOT want life-sustaining treatment, and would therefore be willing to die? In that case, it would be YOU -- not a state, or an institute, or a hospital (which could change its definition between now and when you become unconscious and reach this end-stage disease) -- that would determine when you would let nature takes it course so that you could die and before that, donate your organs.
Question 1: Would you have more confidence in your own criteria, or would you rather depend on the potentially changing criteria that others will have established, when "that time" comes? The living will that determines "WHEN" can importantly choose a way to die called "Natural Dying." This means to stop not only stopping all life-sustaining treatment including tube feeding but also assisted feeding and assisted drinking. Of course, you would always receive all the comfort care you would need to die peacefully by medical dehydration. This includes agents to reduce your thirst. (Hunger is rarely a problem.) Most people die within two weeks.
Question 2: Can you imagine conditions such as untreatable, unbearable pain and suffering, or advanced dementia, or a permanent coma -- where you would opt for "Natural Dying"?
Now suppose your medical condition reached the state where you were ready for "Natural Dying," and that, as a completely independent decision, you also decided to donate your organs.
Question 5: Overall, which set of criteria would you be more comfortable with: one established by a state, or institute or hospital… or one that you decided for yourself?
Question 6: If someone suggested that your consent to donate organs when you reach your own criteria for "Natural Dying" violates the "Dead Donor Rule," would you agree or disagree? Could you offer an argument to support your view?
Question 7: If someone suggested that your consent to donate organs when you reach your own criteria for "Natural Dying" is a form of euthanasia, would you agree or disagree? Could you offer an argument to support your view?
Question 8: Do you have any other comments or questions?
A physician interviewing or examining a patient may find him/herself in a professional clinical situation that the doctor had not experienced previously or even thought about and at once must decide how to respond to the situation in a manner which is ethical and professional and hopefully constructive and even of therapeutic value. I have challenged my second year medical students to a discussion about how they would handle each of the four clinical situations listed below. Now I would like to challenge my blog visitors to do the same. Pretend that you are the doctor of the scenario and suddenly faced the patient's response. What would you do next? ..Maurice.
1) You ask the father of a child patient whether there are guns in the household and the father becomes angry and says "it's none of your business!"
2) You are a male physician and your female patient of a few visits now says "I have taken a liking to you. Can we go out tonight together for supper."
3) You are trying to take the patient's medical history and the patient repeatedly returns to talking about different symptoms which his cousin is experiencing.
4) You are attempting to perform a physical exam on a young but adult patient and every time you touch the patient, the patient is repeatedly squirming around and giggling and responding "I'm very ticklish."
Doctors "Should Do No Harm" but How About Carrying a Gun?
Is there any profession which is so dedicated to non-violence and "to do no harm" to others and particularly to those they serve? I am thinking about a priest or reverend or rabbi or others supporting their God. I am also thinking about a physician. I found an interesting website (Brainblogger) and article regarding doctors and their access to guns either within or outside their office. There are also present a number of visitor comments and it seems that the majority find acceptance with regard to doctors having guns for self-protection and protection of their offices.
But, what about the professional ethics of carrying a gun with the intent to shoot and most likely kill someone as a response to a threat to ones own life? Should doctors have some higher duty "to do no harm" if such harm could be prevented by not having a gun readily available? ..Maurice.
p.s. On the other hand. Here is another view of doctors and guns which has been seen on various websites but I don't vouch for all the statistics presented. However, I guess there are different ways of looking at the doctors and guns issue.
(B) Accidental deaths caused by Physicians per year are 120,000..
(C) Accidental deaths per physician is 0.171 (17%).
Statistics courtesy of the F.B.I.
P.S. - Out of concern for the public at large, I have withheld the statistics on lawyers for fear the shock would cause people to panic and seek medical attention.
What is the Difference Between What is "Good" and What is "Bad"?
Perhaps, since what is a "good" for one person may be a "bad" for another, perhaps the question why should society bother to distinguish the "good" from the "bad" in the first place? Is it essential for society to define the differences in order to set standards acceptable to society with regard to individual behavior to prevent chaos: a conflict between persons who find one behavior to be acceptable and the other persons who find it unacceptable? And yet, one might wonder whether society, perhaps through political decisions and laws, are setting too many standards, too many decisions as to what is good and what is bad, perhaps more than what is really needed. Actually, I shouldn't be blaming society in general since each individual in society may live their life with their own stereotypes of other's behavior or their own life experiences or possibilities as either good or bad. And these stereotypes may not be based on facts but more on feelings or moral beliefs. What do you think? ..Maurice.
In the past 8 years, I have covered many, many topics regarding bioethics, ethics in general and ethics specifically as related to medical education and medical practice and I have many, many visitors who have contributed to the threads I have developed. But, still, there may be a host of topics which I have not considered and which has troubled some visitor. On this thread, I would like to hear about those topics which could be further developed or started as new. Google's Knol, a site where I was attempting to answer the ethics concerns of visitors there over the last few years is now being dismantled by Google. So, let's hear from you here if you have an idea or question. ..Maurice.


Modern Immigration procedures have widened with the growing needs of the businesses. The United Kingdom's Sole Representative Visa serves the purpose of businesses in sending their representative to establish their branch in the United States.
The businesses of broadcasting such as newspapers, paper agencies and other media services can send their representative to open branch in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is the great land of opportunities and the employer doesn't play any role in the sole representative visa, funds and investments are not the major criteria for this visa. This is visa permits the representative in the United Kingdom to bring back his family to the United States.
The applicant must be the decision maker of the overseas firm with intent to establish a subsidiary in the United Kingdom. Businesses should not have any other branches in the United Kingdom. The applicant must have good working experience and the comprehensive knowledge on the industry related to his occupation. The applicant can own shares of his overseas firm, but, should not own the majority of the shares.
The prospective applicant must have enough funds to support him and must have the good knowledge of English. The representative can bring his partner to the United Kingdom; the visa to the partners and children are granted to the same period to that of the representative.
There are numerous benefits of this visa, initially the visa is granted for a period of three years, extended for two more years. At the end of the fifth consecutive years, applicants can apply for the indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom.
The United Kingdom's Immigration services will help the prospective applicants with the immigration procedures.
Nice Chance for the Representatives who are Interested to Work in UK.


The density meter has become our reference method for the density as well as the alcohol content.
We wouldn't be half as good as we are now if we didn't have Anton Paar.
We compared Anton Paar's [pharma] qualification package to those from other manufacturers and consider it to be extremely comprehensive.
I believe we have been using this instrument for 20 years and in all those years it has always provided excellent results.
Our DMA 4500 M and the other Anton Paar instruments have been helping us maintain tight control of process specifications and ensure that the quality of our products meets global standards.
We rely on Anton Paar's measurement technology and enjoy the advantages of automated production monitored by process sensors – and that gives the brewmaster and his crew time to work creatively.
The nice thing about the Anton Paar unit is that it's the only unit of its kind that is actually approved for government testing.
The most important instrument here is the PBA-B. It is the reference instrument for quality control in the lab.
We can not only look at our beer in the moment but we can look at it over time, we can deduce trends, we can use the information as a powerful tool.


ProGraphix is a custom graphics production company that has proudly served the Austin area since 1996.
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We can produce full-color posters of practically any size on a variety of materials, rigid or flexible. With the capability to run single posters or large runs, our full-color poster prints will make your creation pop.
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Retractable banner stands are quick and simple to set up and prominently display your brand and message. They are perfect for trade shows, media events, retail settings, and public places.
Let ProGraphix combine our printing and display expertise with the service necessary to take your project from concept to completion. From banners to backdrops, window graphics to wall murals, we'll deliver what you need, on time.
If you're looking for a top-quality custom wide format printer with friendly, skilled professionals, look no further. ProGraphix will work with you every step of the way as part of our unwavering commitment to exceed your expectations.


ritish art world include Mark Gertler, Jack B. Yeats, L. S. Lowry, David Bomberg, W. Russell Flint, Henry Moore, Bernard Meninsky, William Nicholson, Graham Sutherland, Christopher Nevinson and Frank Dobson.
Ross' work is included in the show, along with fellow commission4mission members Michael Creasey, Elizabeth Duncan Meyer and Peter Webb. The exhibition, which will be held at the Menier Gallery and will be the 80th annual exhibition of The National Society, can be seen from Tuesday 10 – Saturday 21 September.


text:
Nasdaq, akronym för National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations, är en helt elektroniskt baserad börs, grundad 1971, med säte i New York, USA. Ungefär 3 200 företag är listade, oftast snabbväxande bolag med större potential och risk än de noterade på New York Stock Exchange.

2008 förvärvade Nasdaq det svenska företaget OMX AB som driver alla de nordiska börserna utom Oslobörsen. Genom Nasdaq och OMX:s sammangående skapades bolaget Nasdaq OMX Group.

NASDAQ-indexen

Det är inte bara högteknologiska företag som är noterade på NASDAQ utan också ett helhetssystem av index som har uppstått för att genom varje index reflektera situationen i motsvarande sektor av ekonomin. Det finns nu tretton sådana index, som är baserade på noteringar av värdepapper som handlas i NASDAQ:s elektroniska system.

Nasdaq-Composite-indexet

Nasdaq-Composite-indexet inkluderar aktier i alla företag som är noterade på NASDAQ-börsen (över 5 000 totalt). Marknadsvärdet beräknas enligt följande: det totala antalet bolagets aktier multipliceras med det aktuella marknadsvärdet för en aktie.

Nasdaq-100-indexet

Nasdaq-100 inkluderar de 100 största företagen sett till kapitalisering, vars aktier handlas på NASDAQ-börsen. Indexet inkluderar inte företag inom finanssektorn. Från och med 2021 är 57% av Nasdaq-100 teknologiska företag. På Nasdaq-börsen under tickern QQQ handlas en fond vars struktur liknar Nasdaq-100-indexet och upprepar sin dynamik med hör noggrannhet.

Andra NASDAQ-indexen

 NASDAQ Bank Index — för företag inom banksektorn
 NASDAQ Biotechnology Index — för medicin- och läkemedelsföretag
 NASDAQ Computer Index — för företag som utvecklar mjukvara och hårdvara för datorer
 NASDAQ Financial Index — för företag inom finanssektorn, förutom banker och försäkringsbolag
 NASDAQ Industrial Index — för industriföretag
 NASDAQ Insurance Index — för försäkringsbolag
 NASDAQ Telecommunications Index — för telekommunikationsföretag.

Referenser

Se även
Lista över aktiebörser

Externa länkar

Nasdaq-börsens webbplats

USA:s ekonomi
NASDAQ OMX
Börser i USA
Företag i New York
Akronymer

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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President Trump Picks Robert Wilkie to Head Department of Veterans Affairs
Tampa, FL (Law Firm Newswire) July 23, 2018 - President Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) had a confirmation hearing on June 27 and cleared the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee on July 10.
Trump announced in May that he had picked Robert Wilkie, 55, to permanently lead the troubled VA. However, his original nominee for the post was White House physician Ronny Jackson. Jackson withdrew from consideration after unsubstantiated allegations of professional misconduct emerged. He was also criticized for a lack of experience.
"The VA is in need of strong leadership that puts veterans at the forefront and focuses on serving them," said Florida veterans lawyer David W. Magann. "The agency's new head must work quickly to resolve its internal issues and replace bureaucracy with efficiency. There is a wide array of pressing concerns that range from veterans' health care to filling staff vacancies."
Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) said Wilkie was crucial to the VA's transformation as he possessed "the expertise and the positive attitude to take on challenges that lie ahead." Wilkie has been a Pentagon undersecretary and an officer in the Air Force Reserves. He has led the VA in an acting capacity since Trump fired the agency's former secretary David Shulkin in March.
The Washington Post previously published a report on Wilkie's career and his support of Confederate organizations. He was a former member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, which has supported public displays of the Confederate flag. Wilkie said he was no longer associated with those groups. He defended his record when questioned during his June confirmation hearing.
Wilkie pledged to "shake up complacency" at the VA and said that excuses would no longer be tolerated. He spoke about his plans to improve the agency's outdated medical appointment system and tackle various bureaucratic issues.
Learn more at http://www.tampaveteranslawyer.com/
Veterans Statistics At A Glance

Gulf War Veterans, Persian Gulf War, The Global War on Terror (GWOT), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Operation Freedom's Sentinel (OFS) and ongoing conflicts : Gulf War-era II veterans served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces any time since September 2001. In 2015, there were 3.6 million veterans who had served during Gulf War Era II. U.S. combat operations in Afghanistan ended on December 31, 2014. As part of Operation FREEDOM'S SENTINEL (OFS), U.S. forces remain in the country to participate in a coalition mission to train, advise, and assist Afghan National Defense and Security […]

The post Veterans Statistics At A Glance first appeared on David W. Magann.

Agent Orange Claims

The VA's general regulations implementing the laws related to Agent Orange are found at 38 C.F.R. § 3.307. Also, specific provisions relating to Agent Orange are found at 38 U.S.C. § 1116. In essence, specific medical conditions are presumed to be related to exposure to Agent Orange in service. The claim will still need to be supported by an adequate medical diagnosis of the condition and proof of those requirements for service location(s) as outlined below. Generally, veterans who served in the Country of Vietnam are presumed to have been exposed, but other types of exposure may require direct proof. […]

The post Agent Orange Claims first appeared on David W. Magann.

Camp Lejeune: Water Contamination Update, Presumptive Conditions

From the 1950s through the 1980s, people living or working at the U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, were potentially exposed to drinking water contaminated with industrial solvents, benzene, and other chemicals. VA has established a presumptive service connection for Veterans, Reservists, and National Guard members exposed to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune from August 1, 1953 through December 31, 1987 who later developed one of the following eight diseases: Adult leukemia Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes Bladder cancer Kidney cancer Liver cancer Multiple myeloma Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Parkinson's disease Presently, these conditions are the only […]

The post Camp Lejeune: Water Contamination Update, Presumptive Conditions first appeared on David W. Magann.


REDD Premium Self Storage offers premium storage space from 0.45 square meter to 18 square meter right in the heart of Bangkok. So you no longer need to worry about storage space at home or at work.
We give you a little extra space.


A well-researched, well-written, humorous and engaging exploration of soldiers' rations during World War I ( Destructive Music ). Napoleon Bonaparte is often credited with saying that an army marches on its stomach. A hundred years after his time, the soldiers of the Great War would do little marching. Instead, they would fight their battles from cold, muddy trenches, looking out across No Man's Land towards another set of trenches that housed the enemy. It is one of the remarkable successes of the war that they rarely went hungry. During the war, the army grew from its peacetime numbers of 250,000 to well over 3 million. They needed three meals a day and, using the men's own letters and diaries, John Hartley tells the story of the food they ate, how it got to them in those trenches and what they thought of it. It's the story of eating bully beef and army dog biscuits under fire and it's the story of the enjoyment of food parcels from home or eating egg and chips in a caf on a rare off-duty evening. It's also the story of the lives of loved ones at homehow they coped with rationing and how women changed their place in society, taking on jobs previously held by men, many working as farm laborers in the Women's Land Army. This is a book which will appeal to food lovers as well as those with an interest in military and social history.
From the kitchens of our grandmothers to present-day biscuit-only shops, this sweet and savory food has come a long way in American culture. More than four hundred years ago, explorers of the New World carried a biscuit known as hardtack on their voyages. Hardtack was made from flour, water, and sometimes salt and was sturdy and long lasting, making it suitable for hard, treacherous journeys. The composition and texture of the hardtack biscuit changed at the hands of the Jamestown settlers, who had access to three necessary ingredients that would transform the difficult-to-bite and bland tasting hardtack into a soft, delicious biscuit: soft winter wheat, fat in the form of lard from pigs, and milk or buttermilk from cows. Today's version of biscuits barely resembles its predecessor. Our preference is for soft, billowy, flaky, and delicious biscuits that can be eaten alone, used as a vehicle for fillings and toppings, or incorporated as an ingredient in a recipe. While biscuits are wildly popular in our culture, they are known to intimidate home cooks. Jackie Garvin overcame her decades long biscuit-making failures by research and trial and error and has emerged to write a cookbook that simplifies and demystifies biscuit baking and highlights the prevalence of biscuits throughout the United States. Rich in Southern history, as well as touching family memories, Biscuits presents a collection of more than seventy recipes including raspberry biscuit pudding with vanilla ice cream sauce, ham biscuits with honey mustard butter, loaded baked potato biscuits, and spicy pimento cheese bites. Also included are recipes for multiple gravies, toppings, and biscuit neighbors such as peach raspberry scones, chocolate toffee monkey bread, hush puppies, and chicken 'n' dumplings. Skyhorse Publishing, along with our Good Books and Arcade imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of cookbooks, including books on juicing, grilling, baking, frying, home brewing and winemaking, slow cookers, and cast iron cooking. We've been successful with books on gluten-free cooking, vegetarian and vegan cooking, paleo, raw foods, and more. Our list includes French cooking, Swedish cooking, Austrian and German cooking, Cajun cooking, as well as books on jerky, canning and preserving, peanut butter, meatballs, oil and vinegar, bone broth, and more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
For fifteen years, food writer Belinda Ellis traveled around the country for the White Lily flour company, teaching people to make biscuits and listening to their stories. "I learned that deep in the soul of a biscuit, there's more than the flour, fat, and milk. A hot biscuit embodies a memory of place and family," she writes. Ellis's heartfelt tribute to the biscuit celebrates the many possible flavors and uses for this classic southern bread. The first recipe in the book is a master recipe with step-by-step photographs showing how to make the perfect biscuit. In an evocative and enlightening introduction, Ellis delights readers with biscuit history and its intimate connections with southern culture and foodways. The book's 55 recipes range from traditional to inventive offering a biscuit for every occasion: Flaky Butter Biscuits; John Egerton's Beaten Biscuits; Pancetta, Rosemary, and Olive Oil Biscuits; and The Southern Reuben.
Every night of revival--1945 to 1956--the Evangelist and his family carried the mostly Appalachian folks to whom they ministered on up to a higher place. Worn down bodies in from the heat and dust of a sharecropper's cotton fields or unventilated rooms of the mill barely made it over to the local Pentecostal church house, to the shelter of a raised-up tent or bush arbor. But by the time they sang, shouted, and prayed in response to the Skondeen family's music and preaching, something shifted. In Hidden Biscuits, Audrey Skondeen Ward's memories come alive by way of her writing, as words, songs, and voices long silent are connected through a Deep South landscape.
From bespoke biscuit-maker Pamela Giles comes this inspiring guide to making and decorating biscuits, packed with original design ideas and colourful decorating tips plus biscuit basics, such as equipment essentials and how to build and store a cutter collection. Giles shares her professional know-how on storing dough, rolling it out, cutting out shapes, baking and storing biscuits, as well as icing essentials, such as how to store icing or colour royal icing. Accessibly arranged in user-friendly themed sections, for all levels of expertise - from those who enjoy baking but have never decorated biscuits to anyone looking to refine their skills. Featuring all special celebrations, from birthdays to weddings and Christmas, including thank-you gifts and how to involve children in the fun. Beautifully illustrated with Pamela Giles's own photos, there's something for everyone, whatever the celebration.
Whether slathered with mouthwatering homemade spreads or savored just as they are, muffins and biscuits are comfort food at its finest. This follow-up to the successful Grilled Cheese Kitchen features 50 recipes for tender-on-the-inside, crunchy-on-the-outside biscuits and melt-in-your-mouth muffins as well as an irresistible assortment of flavored butters, sauces, and preserves. Featuring sweet and savory varieties and exciting new flavor combinationsthink Quinoa Muffins with Cheddar, Apples, and Rosemary or Orange Zest, Ham, and Thyme Biscuitsbakers of all skill levels will delight in these fresh twists on classic treats. Packed with tips and tricks, from making delectable pancakes with muffin batter to turning leftover biscuits into bread pudding, this collection of recipes takes time-tested breakfast favorites to an entirely new level of deliciousness.
A city housing estate is out of hand, and out of bounds. There is no law. Some of the inhabitants decide to form their own vigilante group. It is up to Commander George Gideon of Scotland Yard to restore the rule of law, but he also has to deal with the vicious killing of two brothers and the kidnapping of a leading biscuit manufacturer's wife.


A few things that may seem out of place to tree climbers in that photo… and not just the lack of PPE.
into trees has just returned from Zimbabwe, where we were providing tree climbing training to rangers in the Savé Valley Conservancy. In low country covered in dense, thorny scrub, the huge baobabs which tower over the landscape make natural lookout points, as well as a safe place to sleep when watching over waterholes.
It was an incredible trip, with Alex and Angela Witt from Stihl Shop Osborne Park, who donated all of the climbing equipment for the rangers. We stayed with Bryce and Lara Clemence from Advanced Tracking Specialists, who are running one of the most successful rhino protection programs in Africa.


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Ibstock makes waves at Waterfront House
Regeneration Tue, Jan 14, 2020 10:47 AM
Tue, Jan 14, 2020 10:47 AM
A collaborative project between Ibstock Brick and one of the UK's leading architectural practices has recently been recognised at the BDA Brick Awards.
Waterfront House is the brand-new, 8,000 sq ft home of Leicester-based Stephen George + Partners, Architects + Masterplanners, built to reflect the practice's design ethos, business values and ambitious vision for the future.
Functional and honest in its expression, Waterfront House has exceptionally executed detail, reflective of its unique setting. As a nod to its lakeside location, the modern lines of the building are softened via the use of naturalistic materials, a stylistic choice the designers have dubbed 'soft-modern'.
As a brick-based structure, the dominant material used throughout is a textured cream brick sourced from Leicestershire-based brick manufacturer, Ibstock. The choice of brick affords the building a striking, yet simplistic, finish. This aesthetic is further accentuated by the building's entrance, which is divided into a series of simple symmetries, gradually reducing from large brick gable to intimate, human scale at the entrance door.
In order to showcase the architectural quality of the structure, Waterfront House has been designed to embrace the play of natural light and shadows on its elevations; achieved via a series of heavily modelled and deeply recessed planes throughout the building's exterior.
Stuart Hancox, Studio Director at Stephen George + Partners, takes up the story: "From the outset of the project, the desired finish for Waterfront House was a perfect blend of simplicity and eye-catching, aesthetic appeal. It soon became clear that the best way of achieving this was via a masonry building, with the form and detail based around the humble brick – the most fundamental build material, but one that can foster and encourage real creativity for architects.
"One of the key things we wanted reflected in the design of Waterfront House was the creativity of the team it houses. The use of Ibstock Bricks, with their textured, highly distinct finish, helped us achieve this; as did the projecting solid brick headers, which draw attention to the classic English Bond and create dramatic patterning across the structure's exterior.
"Adjacent to the entrance is a stack bonded panel of glazed blocks in a black gloss finish, chosen by the architect to serve as a metaphor for the grids that many designs are drawn upon. What's more, the colour scheme of the blocks gives a nod to the studio's highly distinct corporate branding, namely the incised white company logo."
Further complementing the brick detailing is a zinc standing seam roof, adding further eye-catching appeal to the building's exterior, an aesthetic further enhanced through the use of stand-out design elements including canopies, brise-soleil and external shelters. Secret gutters and rectangular downpipes are hidden away in protective brick recesses, with the building's steel structure subtly revealed via orderly elevations and spectacular first-floor vaulted space.
Ben Gerry, Commercial Director – Ibstock Solutions, said: "The Waterfront House development was an important project for Ibstock in 2019, and we were delighted to work with an architectural team that had such a unique, creative vision for their project.
"With a brief which called for a finish that was both simple but eye-catching, the bricks we supplied were carefully selected to be reflective of the naturalistic, 'soft-modern' style the architects were seeking to achieve."
Reflective of the studio's commitment to sustainability, the building has been designed with solar shading, LED lighting, photovoltaics, solar-water heating and a ground-breaking water-based air conditioning systems, innovations that collectively have led Waterfront House to be awarded 'A' rating for Energy Performance Certification.
Ultimately, the impetus behind Waterfront House was to create an inspirational working environment for employees, clients and visitors alike; a purpose more than achieved via intelligent design and carefully considered use of products.
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