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December 4, 2013: Speech on Economic Mobility
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Source The White House
President Obama delivers a speech on Economic Mobility at the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC) in Washington, DC.
Presidential Speeches | Barack Obama Presidency
Miller Center: December 4, 2013: Speech on Economic Mobility
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Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you, everybody. Thank you so much. Please, please have a seat. Thank you so much. Well, thank you, Neera, for the wonderful introduction and sharing a story that resonated with me. There were a lot of parallels in my life and probably resonated with some of you.
Over the past 10 years, the Center for American Progress has done incredible work to shape the debate over expanding opportunity for all Americans. And I could not be more grateful to CAP not only for giving me a lot of good policy ideas, but also giving me a lot of staff. (Laughter.) My friend, John Podesta, ran my transition; my Chief of Staff, Denis McDonough, did a stint at CAP. So you guys are obviously doing a good job training folks.
I also want to thank all the members of Congress and my administration who are here today for the wonderful work that they do. I want to thank Mayor Gray and everyone here at THEARC for having me. This center, which I've been to quite a bit, have had a chance to see some of the great work that's done here. And all the nonprofits that call THEARC home offer access to everything from education, to health care, to a safe shelter from the streets, which means that you're harnessing the power of community to expand opportunity for folks here in D.C. And your work reflects a tradition that runs through our history -- a belief that we're greater together than we are on our own. And that's what I've come here to talk about today.
Over the last two months, Washington has been dominated by some pretty contentious debates -- I think that's fair to say. And between a reckless shutdown by congressional Republicans in an effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and admittedly poor execution on my administration's part in implementing the latest stage of the new law, nobody has acquitted themselves very well these past few months. So it's not surprising that the American people's frustrations with Washington are at an all-time high.
But we know that people's frustrations run deeper than these most recent political battles. Their frustration is rooted in their own daily battles -- to make ends meet, to pay for college, buy a home, save for retirement. It's rooted in the nagging sense that no matter how hard they work, the deck is stacked against them. And it's rooted in the fear that their kids won't be better off than they were. They may not follow the constant back-and-forth in Washington or all the policy details, but they experience in a very personal way the relentless, decades-long trend that I want to spend some time talking about today. And that is a dangerous and growing inequality and lack of upward mobility that has jeopardized middle-class America's basic bargain -- that if you work hard, you have a chance to get ahead.
I believe this is the defining challenge of our time: Making sure our economy works for every working American. It's why I ran for President. It was at the center of last year's campaign. It drives everything I do in this office. And I know I've raised this issue before, and some will ask why I raise the issue again right now. I do it because the outcomes of the debates we're having right now -- whether it's health care, or the budget, or reforming our housing and financial systems -- all these things will have real, practical implications for every American. And I am convinced that the decisions we make on these issues over the next few years will determine whether or not our children will grow up in an America where opportunity is real.
Now, the premise that we're all created equal is the opening line in the American story. And while we don't promise equal outcomes, we have strived to deliver equal opportunity -- the idea that success doesn't depend on being born into wealth or privilege, it depends on effort and merit. And with every chapter we've added to that story, we've worked hard to put those words into practice.
It was Abraham Lincoln, a self-described "poor man's son," who started a system of land grant colleges all over this country so that any poor man's son could go learn something new.
When farms gave way to factories, a rich man's son named Teddy Roosevelt fought for an eight-hour workday, protections for workers, and busted monopolies that kept prices high and wages low.
When millions lived in poverty, FDR fought for Social Security, and insurance for the unemployed, and a minimum wage.
When millions died without health insurance, LBJ fought for Medicare and Medicaid.
Together, we forged a New Deal, declared a War on Poverty in a great society. We built a ladder of opportunity to climb, and stretched out a safety net beneath so that if we fell, it wouldn't be too far, and we could bounce back. And as a result, America built the largest middle class the world has ever known. And for the three decades after World War II, it was the engine of our prosperity.
Now, we can't look at the past through rose-colored glasses. The economy didn't always work for everyone. Racial discrimination locked millions out of poverty -- or out of opportunity. Women were too often confined to a handful of often poorly paid professions. And it was only through painstaking struggle that more women, and minorities, and Americans with disabilities began to win the right to more fairly and fully participate in the economy.
Nevertheless, during the post-World War II years, the economic ground felt stable and secure for most Americans, and the future looked brighter than the past. And for some, that meant following in your old man's footsteps at the local plant, and you knew that a blue-collar job would let you buy a home, and a car, maybe a vacation once in a while, health care, a reliable pension. For others, it meant going to college -- in some cases, maybe the first in your family to go to college. And it meant graduating without taking on loads of debt, and being able to count on advancement through a vibrant job market.
Now, it's true that those at the top, even in those years, claimed a much larger share of income than the rest: The top 10 percent consistently took home about one-third of our national income. But that kind of inequality took place in a dynamic market economy where everyone's wages and incomes were growing. And because of upward mobility, the guy on the factory floor could picture his kid running the company some day.
But starting in the late '70s, this social compact began to unravel. Technology made it easier for companies to do more with less, eliminating certain job occupations. A more competitive world lets companies ship jobs anywhere. And as good manufacturing jobs automated or headed offshore, workers lost their leverage, jobs paid less and offered fewer benefits.
As values of community broke down, and competitive pressure increased, businesses lobbied Washington to weaken unions and the value of the minimum wage. As a trickle-down ideology became more prominent, taxes were slashed for the wealthiest, while investments in things that make us all richer, like schools and infrastructure, were allowed to wither. And for a certain period of time, we could ignore this weakening economic foundation, in part because more families were relying on two earners as women entered the workforce. We took on more debt financed by a juiced-up housing market. But when the music stopped, and the crisis hit, millions of families were stripped of whatever cushion they had left.
And the result is an economy that's become profoundly unequal, and families that are more insecure. I'll just give you a few statistics. Since 1979, when I graduated from high school, our productivity is up by more than 90 percent, but the income of the typical family has increased by less than eight percent. Since 1979, our economy has more than doubled in size, but most of that growth has flowed to a fortunate few.
The top 10 percent no longer takes in one-third of our income -- it now takes half. Whereas in the past, the average CEO made about 20 to 30 times the income of the average worker, today's CEO now makes 273 times more. And meanwhile, a family in the top 1 percent has a net worth 288 times higher than the typical family, which is a record for this country.
So the basic bargain at the heart of our economy has frayed. In fact, this trend towards growing inequality is not unique to America's market economy. Across the developed world, inequality has increased. Some of you may have seen just last week, the Pope himself spoke about this at eloquent length. "How can it be," he wrote, "that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points?"
But this increasing inequality is most pronounced in our country, and it challenges the very essence of who we are as a people. Understand we've never begrudged success in America. We aspire to it. We admire folks who start new businesses, create jobs, and invent the products that enrich our lives. And we expect them to be rewarded handsomely for it. In fact, we've often accepted more income inequality than many other nations for one big reason -- because we were convinced that America is a place where even if you're born with nothing, with a little hard work you can improve your own situation over time and build something better to leave your kids. As Lincoln once said, "While we do not propose any war upon capital, we do wish to allow the humblest man an equal chance to get rich with everybody else."
The problem is that alongside increased inequality, we've seen diminished levels of upward mobility in recent years. A child born in the top 20 percent has about a 2-in-3 chance of staying at or near the top. A child born into the bottom 20 percent has a less than 1-in-20 shot at making it to the top. He's 10 times likelier to stay where he is. In fact, statistics show not only that our levels of income inequality rank near countries like Jamaica and Argentina, but that it is harder today for a child born here in America to improve her station in life than it is for children in most of our wealthy allies -- countries like Canada or Germany or France. They have greater mobility than we do, not less.
The idea that so many children are born into poverty in the wealthiest nation on Earth is heartbreaking enough. But the idea that a child may never be able to escape that poverty because she lacks a decent education or health care, or a community that views her future as their own, that should offend all of us and it should compel us to action. We are a better country than this.
So let me repeat: The combined trends of increased inequality and decreasing mobility pose a fundamental threat to the American Dream, our way of life, and what we stand for around the globe. And it is not simply a moral claim that I'm making here. There are practical consequences to rising inequality and reduced mobility.
For one thing, these trends are bad for our economy. One study finds that growth is more fragile and recessions are more frequent in countries with greater inequality. And that makes sense. When families have less to spend, that means businesses have fewer customers, and households rack up greater mortgage and credit card debt; meanwhile, concentrated wealth at the top is less likely to result in the kind of broadly based consumer spending that drives our economy, and together with lax regulation, may contribute to risky speculative bubbles.
And rising inequality and declining mobility are also bad for our families and social cohesion -- not just because we tend to trust our institutions less, but studies show we actually tend to trust each other less when there's greater inequality. And greater inequality is associated with less mobility between generations. That means it's not just temporary; the effects last. It creates a vicious cycle. For example, by the time she turns three years old, a child born into a low-income home hears 30 million fewer words than a child from a well-off family, which means by the time she starts school she's already behind, and that deficit can compound itself over time.
And finally, rising inequality and declining mobility are bad for our democracy. Ordinary folks can't write massive campaign checks or hire high-priced lobbyists and lawyers to secure policies that tilt the playing field in their favor at everyone else's expense. And so people get the bad taste that the system is rigged, and that increases cynicism and polarization, and it decreases the political participation that is a requisite part of our system of self-government.
So this is an issue that we have to tackle head on. And if, in fact, the majority of Americans agree that our number-one priority is to restore opportunity and broad-based growth for all Americans, the question is why has Washington consistently failed to act? And I think a big reason is the myths that have developed around the issue of inequality.
First, there is the myth that this is a problem restricted to a small share of predominantly minority poor -- that this isn't a broad-based problem, this is a black problem or a Hispanic problem or a Native American problem. Now, it's true that the painful legacy of discrimination means that African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans are far more likely to suffer from a lack of opportunity -- higher unemployment, higher poverty rates. It's also true that women still make 77 cents on the dollar compared to men. So we're going to need strong application of antidiscrimination laws. We're going to need immigration reform that grows the economy and takes people out of the shadows. We're going to need targeted initiatives to close those gaps. (Applause.)
But here's an important point. The decades-long shifts in the economy have hurt all groups: poor and middle class; inner city and rural folks; men and women; and Americans of all races. And as a consequence, some of the social patterns that contribute to declining mobility that were once attributed to the urban poor -- that's a particular problem for the inner city: single-parent households or drug abuse -- it turns out now we're seeing that pop up everywhere.
A new study shows that disparities in education, mental health, obesity, absent fathers, isolation from church, isolation from community groups -- these gaps are now as much about growing up rich or poor as they are about anything else. The gap in test scores between poor kids and wealthy kids is now nearly twice what it is between white kids and black kids. Kids with working-class parents are 10 times likelier than kids with middle- or upper-class parents to go through a time when their parents have no income. So the fact is this: The opportunity gap in America is now as much about class as it is about race, and that gap is growing.
So if we're going to take on growing inequality and try to improve upward mobility for all people, we've got to move beyond the false notion that this is an issue exclusively of minority concern. And we have to reject a politics that suggests any effort to address it in a meaningful way somehow pits the interests of a deserving middle class against those of an undeserving poor in search of handouts. (Applause.)
Second, we need to dispel the myth that the goals of growing the economy and reducing inequality are necessarily in conflict, when they should actually work in concert. We know from our history that our economy grows best from the middle out, when growth is more widely shared. And we know that beyond a certain level of inequality, growth actually slows altogether.
Third, we need to set aside the belief that government cannot do anything about reducing inequality. It's true that government cannot prevent all the downsides of the technological change and global competition that are out there right now, and some of those forces are also some of the things that are helping us grow. And it's also true that some programs in the past, like welfare before it was reformed, were sometimes poorly designed, created disincentives to work.
But we've also seen how government action time and again can make an enormous difference in increasing opportunity and bolstering ladders into the middle class. Investments in education, laws establishing collective bargaining, and a minimum wage -- these all contributed to rising standards of living for massive numbers of Americans. (Applause.) Likewise, when previous generations declared that every citizen of this country deserved a basic measure of security -- a floor through which they could not fall -- we helped millions of Americans live in dignity, and gave millions more the confidence to aspire to something better, by taking a risk on a great idea.
Without Social Security, nearly half of seniors would be living in poverty -- half. Today, fewer than 1 in 10 do. Before Medicare, only half of all seniors had some form of health insurance. Today, virtually all do. And because we've strengthened that safety net, and expanded pro-work and pro-family tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit, a recent study found that the poverty rate has fallen by 40 percent since the 1960s. And these endeavors didn't just make us a better country; they reaffirmed that we are a great country.
So we can make a difference on this. In fact, that's our generation's task -- to rebuild America's economic and civic foundation to continue the expansion of opportunity for this generation and the next generation. (Applause.) And like Neera, I take this personally. I'm only here because this country educated my grandfather on the GI Bill. When my father left and my mom hit hard times trying to raise my sister and me while she was going to school, this country helped make sure we didn't go hungry. When Michelle, the daughter of a shift worker at a water plant and a secretary, wanted to go to college, just like me, this country helped us afford it until we could pay it back.
So what drives me as a grandson, a son, a father -- as an American -- is to make sure that every striving, hardworking, optimistic kid in America has the same incredible chance that this country gave me. (Applause.) It has been the driving force between everything we've done these past five years. And over the course of the next year, and for the rest of my presidency, that's where you should expect my administration to focus all our efforts. (Applause.)
Now, you'll be pleased to know this is not a State of the Union Address. (Laughter.) And many of the ideas that can make the biggest difference in expanding opportunity I've presented before. But let me offer a few key principles, just a roadmap that I believe should guide us in both our legislative agenda and our administrative efforts.
To begin with, we have to continue to relentlessly push a growth agenda. It may be true that in today's economy, growth alone does not guarantee higher wages and incomes. We've seen that. But what's also true is we can't tackle inequality if the economic pie is shrinking or stagnant. The fact is if you're a progressive and you want to help the middle class and the working poor, you've still got to be concerned about competitiveness and productivity and business confidence that spurs private sector investment.
And that's why from day one we've worked to get the economy growing and help our businesses hire. And thanks to their resilience and innovation, they've created nearly 8 million new jobs over the past 44 months. And now we've got to grow the economy even faster. And we've got to keep working to make America a magnet for good, middle-class jobs to replace the ones that we've lost in recent decades -- jobs in manufacturing and energy and infrastructure and technology.
And that means simplifying our corporate tax code in a way that closes wasteful loopholes and ends incentives to ship jobs overseas. (Applause.) And by broadening the base, we can actually lower rates to encourage more companies to hire here and use some of the money we save to create good jobs rebuilding our roads and our bridges and our airports, and all the infrastructure our businesses need.
It means a trade agenda that grows exports and works for the middle class. It means streamlining regulations that are outdated or unnecessary or too costly. And it means coming together around a responsible budget -- one that grows our economy faster right now and shrinks our long-term deficits, one that unwinds the harmful sequester cuts that haven't made a lot of sense -- (applause) -- and then frees up resources to invest in things like the scientific research that's always unleashed new innovation and new industries.
When it comes to our budget, we should not be stuck in a stale debate from two years ago or three years ago. A relentlessly growing deficit of opportunity is a bigger threat to our future than our rapidly shrinking fiscal deficit. (Applause.)
So that's step one towards restoring mobility: making sure our economy is growing faster. Step two is making sure we empower more Americans with the skills and education they need to compete in a highly competitive global economy.
We know that education is the most important predictor of income today, so we launched a Race to the Top in our schools. We're supporting states that have raised standards for teaching and learning. We're pushing for redesigned high schools that graduate more kids with the technical training and apprenticeships, and in-demand, high-tech skills that can lead directly to a good job and a middle-class life.
We know it's harder to find a job today without some higher education, so we've helped more students go to college with grants and loans that go farther than before. We've made it more practical to repay those loans. And today, more students are graduating from college than ever before. We're also pursuing an aggressive strategy to promote innovation that reins in tuition costs. We've got lower costs so that young people are not burdened by enormous debt when they make the right decision to get higher education. And next week, Michelle and I will bring together college presidents and non-profits to lead a campaign to help more low-income students attend and succeed in college. (Applause.)
But while higher education may be the surest path to the middle class, it's not the only one. So we should offer our people the best technical education in the world. That's why we've worked to connect local businesses with community colleges, so that workers young and old can earn the new skills that earn them more money.
And I've also embraced an idea that I know all of you at the Center for American Progress have championed -- and, by the way, Republican governors in a couple of states have championed -- and that's making high-quality preschool available to every child in America. (Applause.) We know that kids in these programs grow up likelier to get more education, earn higher wages, form more stable families of their own. It starts a virtuous cycle, not a vicious one. And we should invest in that. We should give all of our children that chance.
And as we empower our young people for future success, the third part of this middle-class economics is empowering our workers. It's time to ensure our collective bargaining laws function as they're supposed to -- (applause) -- so unions have a level playing field to organize for a better deal for workers and better wages for the middle class. It's time to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act so that women will have more tools to fight pay discrimination. (Applause.) It's time to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act so workers can't be fired for who they are or who they love. (Applause.)
And even though we're bringing manufacturing jobs back to America, we're creating more good-paying jobs in education and health care and business services; we know that we're going to have a greater and greater portion of our people in the service sector. And we know that there are airport workers, and fast-food workers, and nurse assistants, and retail salespeople who work their tails off and are still living at or barely above poverty. (Applause.) And that's why it's well past the time to raise a minimum wage that in real terms right now is below where it was when Harry Truman was in office. (Applause.)
This shouldn't be an ideological question. It was Adam Smith, the father of free-market economics, who once said, "They who feed, clothe, and lodge the whole body of the people should have such a share of the produce of their own labor as to be themselves tolerably well fed, clothed, and lodged." And for those of you who don't speak old-English -- (laughter) -- let me translate. It means if you work hard, you should make a decent living. (Applause.) If you work hard, you should be able to support a family.
Now, we all know the arguments that have been used against a higher minimum wage. Some say it actually hurts low-wage workers -- businesses will be less likely to hire them. But there's no solid evidence that a higher minimum wage costs jobs, and research shows it raises incomes for low-wage workers and boosts short-term economic growth. (Applause.)
Others argue that if we raise the minimum wage, companies will just pass those costs on to consumers. But a growing chorus of businesses, small and large, argue differently. And already, there are extraordinary companies in America that provide decent wages, salaries, and benefits, and training for their workers, and deliver a great product to consumers.
SAS in North Carolina offers childcare and sick leave. REI, a company my Secretary of the Interior used to run, offers retirement plans and strives to cultivate a good work balance. There are companies out there that do right by their workers. They recognize that paying a decent wage actually helps their bottom line, reduces turnover. It means workers have more money to spend, to save, maybe eventually start a business of their own.
A broad majority of Americans agree we should raise the minimum wage. That's why, last month, voters in New Jersey decided to become the 20th state to raise theirs even higher. That's why, yesterday, the D.C. Council voted to do it, too. I agree with those voters. (Applause.) I agree with those voters, and I'm going to keep pushing until we get a higher minimum wage for hard-working Americans across the entire country. It will be good for our economy. It will be good for our families. (Applause.)
Number four, as I alluded to earlier, we still need targeted programs for the communities and workers that have been hit hardest by economic change and the Great Recession. These communities are no longer limited to the inner city. They're found in neighborhoods hammered by the housing crisis, manufacturing towns hit hard by years of plants packing up, landlocked rural areas where young folks oftentimes feel like they've got to leave just to find a job. There are communities that just aren't generating enough jobs anymore.
So we've put forward new plans to help these communities and their residents, because we've watched cities like Pittsburgh or my hometown of Chicago revamp themselves. And if we give more cities the tools to do it -- not handouts, but a hand up -- cities like Detroit can do it, too. So in a few weeks, we'll announce the first of these Promise Zones, urban and rural communities where we're going to support local efforts focused on a national goal -- and that is a child's course in life should not be determined by the zip code he's born in, but by the strength of his work ethic and the scope of his dreams. (Applause.)
And we're also going to have to do more for the long-term unemployed. For people who have been out of work for more than six months, often through no fault of their own, life is a catch-22. Companies won't give their résumé an honest look because they've been laid off so long -- but they've been laid off so long because companies won't give their résumé an honest look. (Laughter.) And that's why earlier this year, I challenged CEOs from some of America's best companies to give these Americans a fair shot. And next month, many of them will join us at the White House for an announcement about this.
Fifth, we've got to revamp retirement to protect Americans in their golden years, to make sure another housing collapse doesn't steal the savings in their homes. We've also got to strengthen our safety net for a new age, so it doesn't just protect people who hit a run of bad luck from falling into poverty, but also propels them back out of poverty.
Today, nearly half of full-time workers and 80 percent of part-time workers don't have a pension or retirement account at their job. About half of all households don't have any retirement savings. So we're going to have to do more to encourage private savings and shore up the promise of Social Security for future generations. And remember, these are promises we make to one another. We don't do it to replace the free market, but we do it to reduce risk in our society by giving people the ability to take a chance and catch them if they fall. One study shows that more than half of Americans will experience poverty at some point during their adult lives. Think about that. This is not an isolated situation. More than half of Americans at some point in their lives will experience poverty.
That's why we have nutrition assistance or the program known as SNAP, because it makes a difference for a mother who's working, but is just having a hard time putting food on the table for her kids. That's why we have unemployment insurance, because it makes a difference for a father who lost his job and is out there looking for a new one that he can keep a roof over his kids' heads. By the way, Christmastime is no time for Congress to tell more than 1 million of these Americans that they have lost their unemployment insurance, which is what will happen if Congress does not act before they leave on their holiday vacation. (Applause.)
The point is these programs are not typically hammocks for people to just lie back and relax. These programs are almost always temporary means for hardworking people to stay afloat while they try to find a new job or go into school to retrain themselves for the jobs that are out there, or sometimes just to cope with a bout of bad luck. Progressives should be open to reforms that actually strengthen these programs and make them more responsive to a 21st century economy. For example, we should be willing to look at fresh ideas to revamp unemployment and disability programs to encourage faster and higher rates of re-employment without cutting benefits. We shouldn't weaken fundamental protections built over generations, because given the constant churn in today's economy and the disabilities that many of our friends and neighbors live with, they're needed more than ever. We should strengthen them and adapt them to new circumstances so they work even better.
But understand that these programs of social insurance benefit all of us, because we don't know when we might have a run of bad luck. (Applause.) We don't know when we might lose a job. Of course, for decades, there was one yawning gap in the safety net that did more than anything else to expose working families to the insecurities of today's economy -- namely, our broken health care system.
That's why we fought for the Affordable Care Act -- (applause) -- because 14,000 Americans lost their health insurance every single day, and even more died each year because they didn't have health insurance at all. We did it because millions of families who thought they had coverage were driven into bankruptcy by out-of-pocket costs that they didn't realize would be there. Tens of millions of our fellow citizens couldn't get any coverage at all. And Dr. King once said, "Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane."
Well, not anymore. (Applause.) Because in the three years since we passed this law, the share of Americans with insurance is up, the growth of health care costs are down to their slowest rate in 50 years. More people have insurance, and more have new benefits and protections -- 100 million Americans who have gained the right for free preventive care like mammograms and contraception; the more than 7 million Americans who have saved an average of $1,200 on their prescription medicine; every American who won't go broke when they get sick because their insurance can't limit their care anymore.
More people without insurance have gained insurance -- more than 3 million young Americans who have been able to stay on their parents' plan, the more than half a million Americans and counting who are poised to get covered starting on January 1st, some for the very first time.
And it is these numbers -- not the ones in any poll -- that will ultimately determine the fate of this law. (Applause.) It's the measurable outcomes in reduced bankruptcies and reduced hours that have been lost because somebody couldn't make it to work, and healthier kids with better performance in schools, and young entrepreneurs who have the freedom to go out there and try a new idea -- those are the things that will ultimately reduce a major source of inequality and help ensure more Americans get the start that they need to succeed in the future.
I have acknowledged more than once that we didn't roll out parts of this law as well as we should have. But the law is already working in major ways that benefit millions of Americans right now, even as we've begun to slow the rise in health care costs, which is good for family budgets, good for federal and state budgets, and good for the budgets of businesses small and large. So this law is going to work. And for the sake of our economic security, it needs to work. (Applause.)
And as people in states as different as California and Kentucky sign up every single day for health insurance, signing up in droves, they're proving they want that economic security. If the Senate Republican leader still thinks he is going to be able to repeal this someday, he might want to check with the more than 60,000 people in his home state who are already set to finally have coverage that frees them from the fear of financial ruin, and lets them afford to take their kids to see a doctor. (Applause.)
So let me end by addressing the elephant in the room here, which is the seeming inability to get anything done in Washington these days. I realize we are not going to resolve all of our political debates over the best ways to reduce inequality and increase upward mobility this year, or next year, or in the next five years. But it is important that we have a serious debate about these issues. For the longer that current trends are allowed to continue, the more it will feed the cynicism and fear that many Americans are feeling right now -- that they'll never be able to repay the debt they took on to go to college, they'll never be able to save enough to retire, they'll never see their own children land a good job that supports a family.
And that's why, even as I will keep on offering my own ideas for expanding opportunity, I'll also keep challenging and welcoming those who oppose my ideas to offer their own. If Republicans have concrete plans that will actually reduce inequality, build the middle class, provide more ladders of opportunity to the poor, let's hear them. I want to know what they are. If you don't think we should raise the minimum wage, let's hear your idea to increase people's earnings. If you don't think every child should have access to preschool, tell us what you'd do differently to give them a better shot.
If you still don't like Obamacare -- and I know you don't -- (laughter) -- even though it's built on market-based ideas of choice and competition in the private sector, then you should explain how, exactly, you'd cut costs, and cover more people, and make insurance more secure. You owe it to the American people to tell us what you are for, not just what you're against. (Applause.) That way we can have a vigorous and meaningful debate. That's what the American people deserve. That's what the times demand. It's not enough anymore to just say we should just get our government out of the way and let the unfettered market take care of it -- for our experience tells us that's just not true. (Applause.)
Look, I've never believed that government can solve every problem or should -- and neither do you. We know that ultimately our strength is grounded in our people -- individuals out there, striving, working, making things happen. It depends on community, a rich and generous sense of community -- that's at the core of what happens at THEARC here every day. You understand that turning back rising inequality and expanding opportunity requires parents taking responsibility for their kids, kids taking responsibility to work hard. It requires religious leaders who mobilize their congregations to rebuild neighborhoods block by block, requires civic organizations that can help train the unemployed, link them with businesses for the jobs of the future. It requires companies and CEOs to set an example by providing decent wages, and salaries, and benefits for their workers, and a shot for somebody who is down on his or her luck. We know that's our strength -- our people, our communities, our businesses.
But government can't stand on the sidelines in our efforts. Because government is us. It can and should reflect our deepest values and commitments. And if we refocus our energies on building an economy that grows for everybody, and gives every child in this country a fair chance at success, then I remain confident that the future still looks brighter than the past, and that the best days for this country we love are still ahead. (Applause.)
Thank you, everybody. God bless you. God bless America. (Applause.)
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November 20, 2014: Address to the Nation on Immigration
March 7, 2015: Remarks at the 50th Anniversary of the Selma Marches
June 26, 2015: Remarks in Eulogy for the Honorable Reverend Clementa Pickney
March 22, 2016: Remarks to the People of Cuba
May 15, 2016: Commencement Address at Rutgers University


text:
Q: Want to hide submenu on body click I want to hide my submenu on body click. Currently it is not working like this, It only hides when clicked on the dropdown menu item. Here is the (https://deva.yuave.com) site where menu is.
I have tried to hide it on body click but it wont work. Plz help.. Here is the javascript code i am using for submenu..
<script type="text/javascript">
<!--

window.onload=function() {
 subMenusO = getElementsByClassName(document,'ul','subMenus');
}
//-----------------------------------------------------------

function showSubMenu(elemId) {
 var dispStatus = (document.getElementById(elemId).style.display == 'block')? 'none' : 'block';
 //hide any visible submenus
 for(var i=0; i < subMenusO.length; i=i+1) {
     subMenusO[i].style.display = 'none';
    }
    //show/hide this menu id
    document.getElementById(elemId).style.display = dispStatus;
}
//--------------------------------------------------------------------------

function getElementsByClassName(oElm, strTagName, strClassName){
    var arrElements = (strTagName == "*" && oElm.all)? oElm.all : oElm.getElementsByTagName(strTagName);
    var arrReturnElements = new Array();
    strClassName = strClassName.replace(/\-/g, "\\-");
    var oRegExp = new RegExp("(^|\\s)" + strClassName + "(\\s|$)");
    var oElement;
    for(var i=0; i<arrElements.length; i++)
    {
        oElement = arrElements[i];
        if(oRegExp.test(oElement.className))
        {
            arrReturnElements.push(oElement);
        }
    }
    return (arrReturnElements)
}

//-->
</script>

A: Something like this
$(document).click(function(e) {
    if (!$(e.target).is(".subMenus")){
        // hide submenus
        $('.subMenus').hide();
    }
});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Ashwaubenon, Wis.- The Green Bay Booyah have announced the addition of two catchers by signing Blaise Maris (Florida Tech) and John Tuccillo (Stony Brook).
Maris, a 5-foot-11, junior from Gainesville, Florida, is returning to Green Bay after a successful stint in Northwoods League in 2018. Maris led the team in hits, games played, home runs, RBI, and was second on the team in doubles. The consistent backstop hit .296 (73-247) with seven doubles and five home runs last summer. The junior is off to a hot start for Florida Tech this spring; he's hitting .351 with two home runs and three doubles through his first ten games. Florida Tech will take on Davenport in Melbourne, Florida tomorrow evening.
Tuccillo, a 5-foot-10, sophomore from Clinton Corners, New York will add another experienced catcher to the roster. As a freshman he earned a spot on the America East All-Rookie Team. He hit .327 in conference games with 10 RBI and two home runs. He earned America East Rookie of the Week twice last year. Tuccillo is off to another solid start this year as he is hitting .313 (5-16) with a home run through his first four games. Stony Brook will take on #13 Arkansas this weekend in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Both Maris and Tuccillo have already caught a ton of games in their college careers and will bring plenty of valuable experience and talent at an important position for the Booyah this summer.


They're both household names who've won over the British public with their acting talents.
So it was no surprise to see fellow thespians Anna Friel and Laurence Fox looking chummy as they both attended the launch of London's La Dame de Pic.
Attending the opening bash of the eatery in East London, the 40-year-old actress cut a vampy figure in a slinky black dress as she chatted away to the actor, 38.
Located at The Four Seasons Hotel, the off-shoot of Chef Anne-Sophie Pic's eatery in Paris, the two stars were obviously keen to check out the gastronomic wonders on offer.
Never one to shy away from showcasing her fashionable streak, Anna went all out for the grand-opening of the Michelin star chef's latest restaurant.
Opting for a vampy yet seriously stylish black dress, the former Brookside star ensured she straddled the line between racy and chic perfectly.
Flaunting her figure thanks to the garment's form-fitting design, the Rochdale-born actress ensured all eyes were on her.
Featuring sheer detailing across a faux-plunging neckline and the arms, the Limitless actress ensured that a tantalizing amount of skin was just visible.
She accentuated her figure further by teaming the dress with a pair of mesh detailed stiletto heels.
Keeping things simple, Anna chose to go without any accessories.
She wore her long brunette tresses in a cascading river of curls down past her shoulders, framing her stunning features, which she coated in a pale and minimal palette of make-up.
Arriving solo, she soon saw a familiar face in the form of Lewis star Laurence, who cut a suave but laid-back figure in his blazer and jeans combo.
The rakish actor - who split with wife Billie Piper last year - teamed a black jacket with an open-neck white shirt, jeans and boots.
Smiling as they cosied up for a picture, the pair looked to be enjoying the ambience of Chef Anne-Sophie's new venture.


How do you beat Cut the Rope level 3-1 in Foil Box? This page contains the solution of level 3-1 in episode 3 (Foil Box) from the popular iOS and Android game Cut the Rope. This step-by-step walkthrough will guide you through each and every part of this game and assist you with the solution to complete this level with 3 stars.
Move the hook to the right collecting the first star with the candy. Keep moving the hook to the right getting the candy into the bubble. The bubble will fly up and collect the second star. Move the hook quickly to the left - this will lower the bubble - and collect the third star and move the candy to Om Nom. Feel free to add a comment when you've got a different strategy.


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text:
Q: Laravel place query inside of controller or model class #1
Class controller {
    $customer = Model\customer::find($id);
}

#2
Class controller {
    $customer = new Model\customer;
    $customer = $customer->data($id);
}

Class Model {
   public function data($id) {
        return self::find($id);
   }
}

I'm new in larava, I got a question about MVC query.
I saw many people put query inside of controller like #1
I usually like to put query inside of model class.
any suggestion?

A: It's ok to use the model's find() method directly to retrieve an entity.
If you are developing a larger application, you should, however, consider moving all the logic into your own classes. The controller should just collect the input from the http request, session etc. and call a method on a service to do the actual work. That way your code is not glued to a controller action or route.

A: According to me MVC means - Model View Controller.
In a general language Model should contain the Database Query related stuffs whereas in View you should always use variables to populate view data and at last Controller is generally for catching the requests and send the response by doing some logical functionality on request.
<?php

namespace App\Models;

class ExampleModel
{
    // All the database related methods like - all, paginate, find, where, etc would goes in the model...
}

In case of Views
<html>
  ...
  YOUR_CONTENT_HERE
  ...
</html>

and in case of Controller,
<?php

namespace App\Controllers;

class ExampleController
{
    public function index()
    {
       $request = request()->all();
       ... do some logical work here ...
       return response($data);
    }
}

Thats what MVC code structure would be like - in my opinion
Hope this helps!


text:
FTX – Lessons Learned from a Lack of Due Diligence
By: Federico Lascano
The recent collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX and its trading arm affiliate, Alameda Research, highlights the importance of performing thorough due diligence prior to making an investment. In 2017, Sam Bankman-Fried founded Alameda Research, a quantitative trading firm specializing in cryptocurrencies. He subsequently founded FTX, a cryptocurrency exchange, in 2019. By 2022, FTX had an estimate of 1 million customers trading1, with a peak 24 hour trading volume of $21 billion.2
On November 2, CoinDesk published an article highlighting Alameda's heavy reliance on an FTX native token, FTT, for collateral on its balance sheet. The article also revealed that Alameda rests on a foundation largely made up of a coin invented by an affiliate company. This revelation contributed to a "run on the bank" and ultimately the loss of FTX's $32 billion value.3 Further, it led to the resignation of Bankman-Fried. John J. Ray III, who took charge of FTX to oversee it thru bankruptcy, recently said:
"Never in my career have I seen such a complete failure of corporate controls and such a complete absence of trustworthy financial information"4
Such a strong statement as this carries even more weight given Ray was hired to guide Enron through their bankruptcy proceedings 20 years ago.
The more we learn about FTX, the more the situation looks like it will soon become a business school case study on extremely poor corporate decision making. There are numerous red flags from the collapse of FTX which are evident today and we believe each could have been identified with even a nominal amount of due diligence.
Conflicts of Interest Between Affiliated Entities
First and foremost, an investment manager or trading firm which also owns an exchange is reason for concern. Alameda's CEO, Caroline Ellison, was asked about the relationship between Alameda and FTX at an FTX run conference where she said:
"We keep them quite separate in terms of day-to-day operations. We definitely have a Chinese wall in terms of information sharing to ensure that no one in Alameda would get customer information from FTX or anything like that, or any sort of special treatment from FTX."5
With the benefit of hindsight, this was clearly not the case. The two firms were far more intertwined than her statement led on, and the collapse of FTX can be directly attributed to Alameda trading billions of dollars from FTX accounts and leveraging the exchange's native token, FTT, as collateral. At the time, it would have been easy to press both companies for more information, which would have had some reasonable chance of discerning a far more linked relationship than was originally disclosed.
Importance of a Strong Operational Infrastructure & Control Environment
Typically, a strong effective control environment reflects the values of an organization, with employees conducting their activities and carrying out their responsibilities in line with well-defined and communicated policies. Instead, a review of the bankruptcy filing shows a culture of laxity and permissiveness. Expenses were approved with color-coded emojis, and company funds were used to purchase employee homes. Further, the "messages" that contained wire requests were auto deleted shortly after those requests were processed leaving no auditable paper trail. This lack of cash controls, which enabled customer funds to be freely transferred to Alameda, would have been an enormous red flag during the operational due diligence process.
Additionally, a review of the board of directors should have been performed, which would have made it evident that there was actually no board of directors at FTX. The purpose of the board is to act as the main steward of shareholder interests and should be majority independent and functionally competent and the lack of this governing body is certainly a red flag. At one point during a $7 billion capital raise, Bankman-Fried pitched FTX for investment to venture capital firm Social Capital. As part of their due diligence process, Social Capital requested that FTX form a board of directors and in turn received a profanity laden response. Social Capital rightfully did not proceed.6
Emphasis on an Experienced C-Suite Executive Team
In review of the organization's executives, red flags should have been evident immediately. First, FTX did not have a CFO. Additionally, COO Constance Wang's inexperience should have raised some eyebrows. Prior to joining FTX, she was an Analyst at Credit Suisse for two years, which was her first job after undergraduate graduation. Lastly, FTX's Chief Regulatory Officer, Dan Friedberg, was previously the General Counsel at Ultimate Bet, an online gambling site. This should prompt and require a deeper dive, which would have revealed that while at Ultimate Bet, Friedberg was embroiled in a poker cheating scandal where he was caught on tape allegedly aiding the perpetrators of the fraud.
Be Wary of Unregulated Markets
The lack of regulation for crypto assets continues to be a significant risk for investors. While the securities market is governed by the SEC, and the commodities, futures and options markets are governed by the CFTC, there are no specific laws which directly govern FTX and/or any crypto businesses directly. As FTX was located offshore in the Bahamas, even less protection was provided in the event of insolvency. When performing due diligence, it is of the utmost importance to know where the entity is domiciled and the applicable laws and regulations which would help protect your potential investment in the event of insolvency.
In conclusion, these measures do not just apply to crypto markets, but to all potential investments. Any prospective investor should know the principal investment strategy, but they should also know as much as they can discover about the people running the firm, including their backgrounds as well as the control environment of the firm's operations. A prospective investor should also know what protections they can rely on if something goes awry. After considerable research and effort, if there are not sufficient answers to those questions, it is time to move on from the opportunity.
Fiducient Advisors emphasizes ongoing due diligence as part of our manager research process. For additional information, please contact any of the professionals at Fiducient Advisors.
1FTX Owes Money To More Than a Million Customers | by Abdul Ghani | ILLUMINATION | Nov, 2022 | Medium
2FTX Revenue and Usage Statistics (2022) – Business of Apps
3Crypto exchange FTX valued at $32 billion amid bitcoin price plunge (cnbc.com)
4New FTX chief says crypto group's lack of control worse than Enron | Financial Times
5SBF and Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison spoke about red flags at FTX 3 months before it collapsed | Fortune
6Chamath Palihapitiya: FTX Balked at Suggestion to Form Board (businessinsider.com)
The Debt Ceiling Distraction – A Manufactured Crisis
SECURE 2.0 Act Paves the Way for Big Changes
Final Rule Grants Fiduciaries Greater Flexibility When Considering ESG Options
Cozy Up to a Good Book
Mission-Aligned Investing: Approach
Federico Lascano

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
YA GOTTA READ MORE STUFF, MAINLY COMIC BOOKS, IF YA'S WANNA BE LITERATE LIKE ME!
For a while, I dreaded the eventual outcome of the "illiterate generation" that was beginning to take hold in the eighties. That was a time when it was not hard to come by someone of your own class or "social strata" or what-have-you who was more'n glad to brag to one and all that he just "didn't read anything" with the same sense of pride as if he were spouting off to one and all all about his alleged sexual conquests or larger-than-thou record collection. A sorry state of affairs if you ask me because frankly, the more a kid was less likely to read only meant that there was one less bozo less likely to snatch up a copy of my own fanzine which I gotta admit was selling about as fast as books on chastity in San Francisco. And frankly, when I discovered that there were kiddos out there who actually took time out to read, they were wasting their precious few eyeballing some of the worst politically-poised neo-Marxist drivel ever to pass for rock writing to hit the boards! It did seem kinda funny on one hand to see a buncha "free-thinking" and "non-conformist" youth reading about their fave rock groups marinatred in some of the most totalitarian jiz to ever come down the pike (basically your typical CPUSA "tract" with a few foul words tossed in twixt the exclamation points guaranteed to drive yer average upper-midclass philosophy major to heights of revolutionary zeal) but on the other hand the entire trip was pretty frightening esp. when the punks of the seventies were tellin' everyone to eschew that whole revolutionary hype overtaking the youth of the land whilst the punks (or shall I say punques) of the eighties variety were trying to outdo such seventies icons as Abbie Hoffman, George Jackson and Dave Marsh in the teenage rebel-rousing game!
Boy, do I ever go on tangents, and Eddie Flowers and Jillery are RIGHT to castigate me when I step upon my soapbox and try to lay-it-onna-line for you unwashed mental toddlers out there! But hey, if nobody else on this planet is gonna tell ya that you is one of the stoopidest ignoramuses ever to exist then I guess it's my sworn duty to, and to this duty I shall not shirk! But hey, I was just tryin' t' make a li'l ol' point here about the gullibility of the youth of the eighties (and perhaps today!), and since it's my forum I guess I can get away with anything I do try to attempt, or at least give it the ol' college try eh? But enough of that, right now I wanna talk about some interesting bits of reading material I've come across as of the past rwo or so weeks that certainly tickled my psyche and may do the same for you. And the fact that three of these four items are dreaded comic books (and something I got absolute grief for reading when I was a adolescent although thankfully I was permitted to buy and enjoy the things!) might only upset the snooty Werthams amongst you but frankly I don't care! I find comics, at least the right ones, way more kulturally-relevant than all of that "good" reading that we were supposed to wallow in during our single-digit days. And way more memorable too...after all, just about every comic strip/book aficionado remembers the EC comics of the early-fifties, but how many remember all of those horrid primers they were forced to read in first grade anyways?
So here're some of the more recent comic book acquisitions that I've been combing through as of late, 30/40-year-old Silver/Bronze-Aged forgettables true but they sure mean a whole lots more to me than they would a guy born 'n bred on the McFarland-era Spiderman or some other atrocity done in the name of comics. Y'know, comics as they were meant for Saturday Afternoon Barbershop Kids 'stead of all of those innerlectual eggheads who used to drop acid and stare at various Dr. Strange panels for hours on end. Which might be fun for some of you readers but frankly, I'd rather read a comic book over a bottle of orange drink before headin' out with the guys down to the river to throw rocks innit before hitting the playground to cause a little trouble. I guess some of us never do ourgrow being 12 years old, eh?
Just like every other comic book publisher on the face of the earth, Marvel Comics really knew a good trend when they jumped on it. And in the late-seventies, what better trend was there for Marvel to latch onto than the fifties nostalgia craze that had pretty much taken that entire decade by storm? Naturally they did the whole fifties bit a lot earlier with this terrible multi-part FANTASTIC FOUR saga where the quartet actually land on some fifties-themed planet (and you should see how the entire thing ends, in a mush of horrid white guilt self-flaggelation that I'm surprised didn't turn a whole generation of comic book readers into raving racists!) but at least by the time the 3-D Man appeared in the pages of MARVEL PREMIERE in the glory-hole days of '77 Marvel knew enough to leave the social consciousness in the trashcan and put out a strip which, although set in an era not-too-fondly-remembered by do-gooders and other forms of evil, at least delivered on a pretty good saga that only goes to show you that in an age of HOWARD THE DUCK and other outre quick-flashes the old style of superhero storytelling could be pulled off w/o looking like a fanzine reject!
At the time I passed on this as well as almost all comic books (preferring to spend my newsstand time reading NATIONAL LAMPOON and other pubs more geared towards my own sick sense of humor) though thirtysome years later after loads of way-worse offal has hit the comic racks it sure comes off rather enticing. Always one to jump onto a bandwagon, Marvel decided to create a new superhero set in the year 1958 with this character whose powers and mere existence p'haps came off a little too much a copy of Negative Man from the old DOOM PATROL for comfort, but since that was DC and this Marvel I guess having heroes with similar m.o.d.'s was permissible because both companies were interchangable to a point!
But ripoff styles and nostalgic forays aside, I should 'fess up to the fact that I do find that the stories read in 3-D Man's first two appearances were good enough even for my ever-rapidly-growing anti-Stan Lee tastes, with the Marvel house style (mainly imitate Jack Kirby as closely as you can!) still in place and for once Roy Thomas's oft-wordy captions and overzealous scripting doesn't clog up your mind to the point where this might as well be MRS. WIGGS OF THE CABBAGE PATCH. And for a superhero strip set in the late-fifties, at least Thomas didn't go off the deep end making this overly-referenced to just about every craze to hit that bountiful decade. Enough references do appear, but this isn't like one of those HAPPY DAYS episodes where every hula-hoop/Toni Home Perminant/Edsel mention's trotted out to cover up the fact that if anything this show looked like a buncha seventies actors trying to convince you its the fifties all over again. And though the art is strict Marvel-seventies as is the entire oeuvre, you don't have to squint your eyes and make believe it's them good ol' dayze because it sure feels it!
And it's good yuks as the 3-D Man fights off communist spies and pops off some of those great one-line gaggers just like Plastic Man used to do and even gets involved with a new rock 'n roll singing sensation and this sleazy host of a dance party tee-vee show named Doc Rock, who turns out not to be either Lenny Kaye or that moustachioed man-about-town seen in the Mad Peck cartoons but...a skrull if you can fathom that! And yeah, it's good on your system glomming comic book art that don't preach to you or make you feel evil for merely being alive, but just plain ol' entertains. And in many ways, the 3-D Man was a great throwback to some of the better fifties superhero tries during the bried comeback of the form such as Simon and Kirby's FIGHTING AMERICAN amongst other well-intentioned yet short-lived comic book efforts that might or might not have worked, but are remembered fondly for whatever reasons there may be. Dunno how well 3-D Man did after his MARVEL PREMIERE run...it'd be easy enough to find out with the web at my fingertips but considering how the guy just ain't on the lips of comic book fanatics the way Howard the Duck and Homer the Happy Ghost are I have the feeling he's gonna be mothballed for a quite longer time than any of us could imagine.
On the other end of the mainstream sixties/seventies comic book spectrum comes this oft-neglected title which I wouldn't've been caught dead buying back when it was readily available on the stands, but nowadays a much older and wise me's singing a slightly different tune! Y'know, I'd never thought I'd be picking up anything along the lines of a "kiddie" comic like SUGAR AND SPIKE in my life, but the recent purchase of GLX SPTZL GLAAH just, shall we say, piqued my interest in this long-running DC title a little more'n usual. And besides, I bought this particular issue (#75) for the Doodles Duck reprint that appeared as filler, and what filler it is because the thing's nothing but a deft anti-Wertham saga that not only tries to put the comic book point o' view forth but is good cause for some knee-slapping down the line!
But anyone who would think that SUGAR AND SPIKE is mere kiddie fodder has been playing with their own sense of pseudointellectualism a little too long. Sure the thing is "geared towards children" but I find a lotta what's going on in these pages rather intelligent and perhaps aimed at a much older'n the kids you'd think this was geared towards audience. And I'm talking the swinging over-thirty perusers as well as the teenage guffaw gang weaned on Jay Ward, and hey I gotta admit that I sure coulda used a lot more SUGAR AND SPIKE back in those days 'stead of being made to feel guilty enough to read TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MAST during one of my less-favorite Christmas breaks.
Everything is going right for SUGAR AND SPIKE, from the entire premise of two toddlers communicating in their own gibberish language and viewing the real world through their own budding existences to the witty storylines and definitely non-hack art, and why there just isn't a bigger SUGAR AND SPIKE cult in comicdom I'll never know because the stuff I've read so far is pretty good yucks-inducing material that you just can't get outta any moderne pretentious comicdom. Gonna hafta scoot some flea markets as well as ebay to see if there are any recent exhumations of this long gone 'un available out there because after a hard day at der kamp it's stuff like SUGAR AND SPIKE that helps me to wind down before I head for my Beaver Cleaver dooner'd (whatever that is!) bed for a few hours of shuteye!
And frankly, the Doodles Duck repro is also a great find. True we've seen many an anti-Wertham schpiel at the hands of comic book writers in the fifties, some more outspoken while others more veiled (take that crime comic that featured a gagged Doc on the front cover that Wertham told his gathered followers was none other than he!), but seeing Wertham attacked from the likes of a so-called "kid's comic" and rather wittily at that is certainly an exhilarating experience! Of course it ain't Kurtzmanesque or anything, but I thought that the portrayal of star Doodles as the uptight elder versus his know-it-all nephew (as well as the comparing of kid's comics and Grimm's Fairy Tales!) said it a whole lot better'n a generation of whiny college students who claimed that the Comic Code was a crime against humanity on par with the execution of the Rosenbergs and Joseph McCarthy's purging of unsavory elements in the State Department! The best satire and social commentary is always supposed to be the most sublime, and if that's true I guess that the great Sheldon Mayer sure did a better job of making the entire nannystate comics code debacle look as ridiculous as it was than all of the fanzine-based anti-Wertham editorials combined!
As John Cleese would say, now for something completely somethingorother, a rock & roll fanzine review! Yes, I finally got that big box of long-awaited fanzine esoterica (and not a bit of eroterica in the batch!) that I've been waiting for since late autumn and guess what, you can bet that I feel like some adolescent boy whose just discovered a long-long box o' girly mags and a discarded bottle o' vaseline diggin' through these classic rock reads and discovering so many facts heretofore unknown about some of my fave artists and writers to the point where I kinda feel like "the Leader", that bad guy from the Hulk who absorbed every speck and shard of knowledge in the universe and croaked as a result! (Pardon me...still in comic book gear!) Yes, you can bet that I'll be spending more'n a few lost moments going through these "Golden Age of Rock Criticism"-era fanzines for the next few weeks, and naturally mentions/reviews and whatnot regarding a good buncha 'em should be coming atcha either on their lonesome or incorporated into larger single-themed articles depending on what use I have for 'em at the time, being such a discerning editor and all.
But for today's installment of "Fanzine Knowledge Oneupmanship" lemme gab about the second issue of SPOONFUL, a mag that came outta the wilds of Teaticket Mass, and a nice xeroxed one at that put out by a chap named Fred Whitlock who managed to unleash at least five of these neat wonders before joining with fellow-Boston area fanzine editor Dennis Metrano's SUNSHINE to create...none other than SPOONFUL OF SUNSHINE if you can believe that! But as far as early-seventies fanzines go SPOONFUL was a real fanzine winner...true it wasn't as pro as WHO PUT THE BOMP! or FLASH, but then again "good" fanzines don't exactly have to be glossy and professionally printed just as long as they have the rock & roll zeal, and SPOONFUL was just chock-fulla that no-holds-barred spunk that I always believed made for a great fanzine read, or at least made for more of that really grande gonzo rock writing that seems to be in short supply these sorry days!
I reviewed ish #3 of this mag a few months back, and although that issue was a nice, matter-of-fact yet lacking a certain something read, I found myself going back to it over the next few months pretty much in the same way I've been scouring my old issues of HYPE(RION) and, as I was doing about five years back, THE GROOVE ASSOCIATES. Maybe it was Whitlock's own aw-shucks writing style that did it, or perhaps the various contributors including Alan Betrock of JAMZ and NEW YORK ROCKER fame piqued my interest, or even the idea that some guy who was all for the likes of sixties garage bands, early-seventies heavy metal and all of those boss BLOG TO COMM faves could also be a cheerleader for the progressive rock of Yes and Flash (!) turned my head 360, but whaddeva I really thought that issue was good even if the lack of graphics did tend to deter from the overall wowzer effect of it all!
Strangely enough, this earlier ish (#2) was an overall much better product 'n the previously writ-up #3, not only with a classier cover (loads better'n #3's drawing of an acoustic guitar that would have led one to believe SPOONFUL a folkie mag!) but with neatly-stencilled artwork and a lot more jam-packed writing that really kept me glued to my toilet for hours on end! And what an issue it is, not ony with an article on Humble Pie (eh!) written by fan/prozine regular Jon Tiven (of whom more will be written on a lot sooner'n you'd imagine) but Whitlock's own piece on the MC5 which is cool enough because when the guy wrote the thing the Five were still alive and "sorta" kickin', and it's great to read stuff about 'em that was written in the then and there 'stead of the here and now where it's rockism correct to write nice things about these guys who were more often'n not put down while they were still in business! And, amongst the reams of reviews of then-new album fodder (everything from Jennifer Warnes' John Cale-produced disc to the first Lou Reed and Bowie's ZIGGY STARDUST), we're treated to mentions, name-drops and general raveups regarding bands and artists of many sortsa stripes, everything from Pink Floyd and Mayall to War (!), Elton John's HONKY CHATEAU (!!), Joan Baez (!!!) and Bob Weir's Ace (!!!?!?!?...or is that "#%@&%*#!!!!!"). But before you're ready to dump your copy into the trashcan (which I hope you'll never do since SPOONFUL is a class fanzine read despite some lapses in taste) please realize that if you look hard enough you will also find much of worth, and even some downright pertinent material relating to that seventies phenomenon known as punk rock! What I'm talkin' about's Whitlock's very own piece entitled "Todd Rundgren is a Punk" which makes the same point as a lotta other fanzines of the day, that if Mike Heron, Peter Hammill and Thee Image (!!!!!-more on THAT in a future post) could be considered punk rockers, why not the Runt hisself??? Given how this article is rather short yet sweet I decided to do you all a favor and reprint the thing in its entirety and let you be the judge...whether or not it would be wise of me to dish out the moolah for a copy of SOMETHING/ANYTHING even if people like the Electric Eels thought Rundgren was the greatest, and as usual I will make my decision (by week's end) regarding on how the vote goes. Please, do not be shy, and while I'm at it let me say that if you wanna vote you can either do so privately via email (if you're lucky enough to have my address!) or in the comment box. No votes will be accepted after Sunday, January 20th (I'm in a hurry!). And for the sake of not only clueing you in to just what the hell I'm writing about but to present some fine Golden Age of Rock Fanzine writing, I will (re)print this particular piece with all gaffes, goofs, at least two spelling errors and Whitlock-imposed spaces intact because frankly, I am not a snob and find such fanzine-level scribing a whole lot more digestible than some rock screed just oozing a NEW YORK TIMES set of sartorial elegance! In fact, I will even omit the sics because frankly, who needs 'em!!! So read on and lemme know if you think that Todd Rundgren is a punk worthy of my hard-begged shekels...remember to cast your own vote before Sunday comes a'knockin' at your door!!!
TODD RUNDGREN IS A PUNK by Fred Whitlock
Just when everyone thought punk-rock was going to die out, along comes a two-record set which Breathes new life into 1965, smooch- Beatle music, Beach Boy- Bee Gee harmonies and hep to the jive rock n' roll. It's jukebox Saturday night all over again.
Something/ Anything on Bearsville gives me a chance to finally meet Rundgren face to face. This album comes on like a gift to my ears. This cruisin' music, filled with acvanced coolness that gives off the sensation of a soul - kiss. He's been through playing the high school bops and local band scene (check out the beginning of side four), somehow he manages to retain the rowdiness and cleaverness one gets from the experience. The music is filled with passion, sentimentality and enthusiastim that's hard to sometimes find in today's music.
The album runs through many different styles - Beatle rock, the old L. A. sound, heavy mental, pop ballads and soul music. His songs sum up the combination of toughness and youth which punk - rock is all about. This is Friday night, on the prowl, hold my hand, let's bug out music. At the same time it has all the freshness and crispy sound like a new head of lettuce makes it stands out in the flood of this year's releases. Todd is a crispy critter, who plays all the instruments, sings all the vocals (on the first three sides, did the fourth in onetake) and produced the album. A real wise guy, right? This is what being creative is all about. Todd is a solid sender who never gets super-hip, obnoxious, nor does he let himself get bogged down with self indulged pretentiousness, to the point of turning off the listener.
Yes, Todd is a punk and I hope he stays that way. I love this album, SOMETHING/ANYTHING and I am looking forwards to the release of his fourth album, there's always room in my head for Rundgren music.
To which I must add...Fred Whitlock, where are you these days? And if anyone's willing to part with any other issues of SPOONFUL (esp. #5 with the EDDIE FLOWERS-dileneated cover) please lemme know!
Oh, and a final aside...one interesting revelation that certainly got my interest piqued appears on page 8, where we're treated to none other than a "THICK AS A BRICK contest"! As Whitlock writes "I find the new Jethro Tull album to be a drag. From what I understand Anderson meant this to be a spoof on concept albums but most people are taking it very serious. After spending some time listening to it, I've come up with my own outlook on what the album's about." Whitlock then goes on to say that he believes THICK IS A BRICK was all about KARL MARX and his development into a philosopher of "world renown" I guess as Europe was heading full-force into the industrial revolution! As a kicker, Whitlock then offers up a CONTEST/COMPETITION where you, the reader, can write in and tell us what you think THICK AS A BRICK is about! (No letters dated after 8/28/72 will be used, but if 1972 ever comes back boy, are you in luck!) Of course, nobody in Tull, friends, relatives or bedmates are eligible for this contest because you probably already know the answers, and what's more, the winner will receive TEN Warner Brothers/Reprise singles which certainly would have been a bargain for any music-starved young 'uns willing to give it a go! What I find most interesting about this contest is...a few years later in the pages of CREEM Lester Bangs used the same "gimmick" in his review of Tull followup A PASSION PLAY, making me wonder whether or not Bangs had copped his idea of having the reader explain what that concept LP was all about from the pages of a by-then defunct fanzine, figuring that not too many people had read the original in the first place and besides if Whitlock'd complained, who'd listen? Anyway, it is something to ponder though Bangs has been long gone from the scene and who knows where Whitlock is these days!
As far as current usage goes, "Punk" isn't really even close to a valid term for the MUSIC on "Something/Anything". Well maybe the cassette recording of one of his earlier bands playing "Messing W/the KId" (which I only heard by the Blues Brothers when I heard this whole 2xLP). I know you dig "Couldn't I Just Tell You", which is in my top ten greatest pop-rock songs of all time. Todd gets pretty close to demented vocally and guitar-ally in this song, so maybe close to "Punk" there. OK I just cheated and Googled the track listing and "Slut" topically and musically could cut the mustard punkily. Todd himself, with his colored hair and freakish looks could pass easily for proto-glam-punk any day. I dig the record. I say go for it, it can't cost that much. Pax, Philthy D.
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The 10 Best Football Teams in the World Right Now.
What are the best football teams in the world right now? Football fans have an analysis about who is great and who is not. But when it comes to the best football teams, which ones have earned their place near the top?
Football (or soccer) has been around for centuries and it remains one of the most popular sports on a global scale. Everywhere you look, people are passionately chanting songs in support of their favourite teams. But with so many good teams out there, which ones rise above all others?
As of 2023, 10 standout football teams deserve recognition as being among the best in the world. From Manchester City to Barcelona, fans can experience some of the highest levels of skill and strategy every week. In this article, we will be looking at these teams in detail and discussing what makes them so special.
Manchester City is a powerhouse of English football and they have been consistently winning trophies since their inception in 1880. The team has won five Premier League titles and four FA Cups, making them one of the most successful clubs in England. They are also the only English club to have achieved a domestic treble (Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup) in the 2018-19 season.
Barcelona is one of the biggest teams in world football and they have had some incredible success over the years. They have won 26 La Liga titles, 30 Copa del Rey trophies, and five Champions League titles. Their current squad is full of superstars such as Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Philippe Coutinho, making them a formidable force in Europe.
Bayern Munich is one of the most successful teams in German football and they have won 30 Bundesliga titles, 18 DFB-Pokal trophies, and five Champions League titles. They are also well known for their attacking style of play which has seen them become one of the most feared teams in Europe.
Juventus is one of the biggest teams in Italy and they have been consistently successful over the years. They have won 35 Serie A titles, 13 Coppa Italia trophies, and two Champions League titles. Their current squad is full of superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Paulo Dybala, and Gonzalo Higuain,
Paris Saint Germain is one of the most successful teams in France and they have won seven Ligue 1 titles, six Coupe de France trophies, and two Champions League titles. They are also well known for their attacking style of play which has seen them become one of the most feared teams in Europe.
Liverpool is a powerhouse of English football and they have been consistently winning trophies since their inception in 1892. The team has won 19 Premier League titles, seven FA Cups, and six Champions League titles. Their current squad is full of superstars such as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Virgil Van Dijk, making them
Chelsea is one of the most successful teams in England and they have won five Premier League titles, eight FA Cups, and one Champions League title. Their current squad is full of superstars such as Eden Hazard, N'Golo Kante, and Olivier Giroud, making them a force to be reckoned with.
Atletico Madrid is one of the biggest teams in Spain and they have had some incredible success over the years. They have won 10 La Liga titles, 10 Copa del Rey trophies, and three Europa League titles. Their current squad is full of superstars such as Antoine Griezmann, Diego Costa, and Saul Nig uez, making them a formidable force in Europe.
Real Madrid is one of the biggest teams in world football and they have had some incredible success over the years. They have won 33 La Liga titles, 19 Copa del Rey trophies, and 13 Champions League titles. Their current squad is full of superstars such as Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, and Karim Benzema, making them a force to be reckoned with.
Arsenal.
Arsenal is one of the most successful teams in English football . They have won 13 Premier League titles, 14 FA Cups, and two Champions League titles. Their current squad is full of superstars such as Bukayo Saka and Granit Xhaka making them a formidable force in Europe.
The top 10 football teams in the world right now are Bayern Munich, Juventus, PSG, Liverpool, Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City. These teams have consistently been successful over the years and have all won multiple trophies. They also boast some of the best players in the world which makes them a force to be reckoned with. As well as being successful on the pitch, these teams have also become successful off it through their involvement in sponsorship deals with various casinos around the world. These deals provide additional revenue for these teams and allow them to remain competitive at the highest level of football.
By: AnesuPosted on January 5, 2023 January 5, 2023
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New gene therapy committee members appointed
Five new members have been appointed to the UK Gene Therapy Advisory Committee (GTAC), announced Yvette Cooper, the Minister for Public Health, last week. GTAC was formed in 1993, to oversee the ethical aspects of gene therapy clinical trials, and to advise the government on developments in gene therapy research. It has fifteen members, drawn from medical, scientific and lay backgrounds.
The new members are geneticist Professor Alex Markham of the University of Leeds, David Harrison, Professor of Pathology at Edinburgh, Dr Andrew Lever, reader in Infectious Diseases at Cambridge University, Reverend Lee Rayfield and retired surgeon David Crosby.
Over 270 patients have taken part in gene therapy trials in the UK since 1992. Gene therapy researchers hope to develop treatments for diseases such as cystic fibrosis, immune deficiencies and various types of cancer.


Onguard Starling aluminum fence panels come in five heights and three colors. Starling is a three rail flat top aluminum fence. Onguard horizontal rails have a beveled design that creates a decorative look while shedding water away and adding strength. Starling is powder coated which will prevent peeling and cracking, and is a high quality alternative to standard paint. Powder coating will keep your fence looking great for many years unlike having to paint an iron or steel fence every so often. Starling fence panels come in pre-assembled pre-cut heights and widths. You can trim down the fence panel to fit your fence run. Starling gates have a welded frame and come in four different widths. Onguard residential Starling aluminum fence panels can support 250 lbs of pressure on the top rail. Onguard fence ships from a warehouse in New Jersey.


Affectionate and fun-loving, a group of dolphins enjoys its watery paradise. Stitched on 14 count blue Aida, this is truly an underwater delight! Kit contains cotton embroidery thread, 14 count blue Aida, thread palette, needle and easy instructions including a color accented chart. An embroidery hoop or 14" x 18" (36 x 46cm) needlework stretcher bars are recommended for stitching this design.-- Finished Size: 10" x 14" (25 x 36 cm) -- Designer: James Himsworth.
"Conserve water, drink wine". Add a little humor to your cooking and entertaining with this delightful stamped cross stitch apron. Contains a poly/cotton apron, stamped in wash away ink, and easy instructions. Thread shopping list on back. One size fits all. NEEDLE AND THREAD NOT INCLUDED.
In this exquisite counted cross stitch scene, the warm glow from a trattoria beckons the passersby. Who could resist such a welcome? Kit contains cotton thread, 16 count dove grey Aida, color-coded thread sorter, needle, and easy instructions. Finished size: 16" x 11" (41 x 28 cm) Designer Info: Viktor Shvaiko.
Looking like they were freshly picked, the Mason Jar Lineup counted cross stitch design from Dimensions brings lovely wild flowers to brighten any room. Half cross stitch is used for subtle shading effects. Complete kit includes 14 Ct. White Aida, presorted thread, needle, and easy instructions. Finished size: 18" x 7". Designed by Barb Tourtillotte.
Old world charm and hospitality await you at the Sorrento Hotel. This charming counted cross stitch street scene brings to mind idyllic vacation days in Europe. Finished Size: 14" x 10" (36 x 25 cm). Kit contains presorted cotton thread, 14 count beige cotton Aida, needle, and instructions. Designer: Roger Duvall.
These precious baby animal friends make an adorable quilt for your little one. The expressions on their faces are full of love and warmth. The design is stitched with cotton thread on a prefinished quilt. The printing on the quilt fades when washed. Look for the matching birth record and bibs, #73065 and #73066. Kit contains cotton thread, design printed in ink that fades with washing on pre-finished poly/cotton quilt, needle, and easy instructions.-- Finished Size: 34" x 43" (86 x 109 cm) -- Designer: Ruth J. & Bill D. Morehead.
Beautiful butterflies in counted cross stitch, flutter against a background of subtle color that is both stitched and printed. Bursting with color, a grouping of butterflies dances across a printed background on 14 count ivory Aida. Half Cross Stitch is used to create the soft leafy background around these winged beauties, and blending filament adds sparkle to their wings. -- Finished Size: 11" x 11" (28 x 28 cm) -- Designer: Lori Turoscy.
A colorful collection of quirky animals populates this charming stamped cross stitch quilt. Journey to Cuteland when you stitch this adorable baby quilt with its whimsical characters and quirky approach. The kit includes cotton thread and printed poly/cotton quilt. Check out our companion designs: #72723 Sweet Ducky Birth Record in Counted Cross Stitch, #72725 Cute Baby Bibs in Stamped Cross Stitch, and #80612 Baby Giggles Iron-on Transfers. Kit contains cotton thread, design printed on pre-finished poly/cotton quilt, needle, instructions. Finished Size: 34" x 43" (86 x 109 cm) -- Designer: Todd Trainer.
Holiday motifs are featured on these elegant ornaments. Display in your home or as a gift to someone on your Christmas list. Cross Stitch Kit contains pre-sorted cotton thread, 14 count natural cotton Aida, polyester felt, wire, needle, and instructions and thread for hanging. Necessary but not included: thick craft glue and quilt batting. 5-3/4" x 2-1/4".
Join this lady in the garden for a stroll to gather flowers in this counted cross stitch design. There's a slight chill in the air as our lady strolls through her garden. Her lacy shawl will chase that chill away as she picks a bouquet of flowers today. Stitched on 18 count ivory Aida, this elegant portrait uses both full and half cross stitches to a -- Finished Size: 11" x 16" (28 x 41 cm) -- Designer: Sandra Kuck.
"Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil". Counted cross stitch kit contains presorted cotton thread, 14 count white cotton Aida, needle, and easy instructions. Finished Size: 7" x 5"
Kit contains cotton thread, 18 count ivory Aida, needle, and easy instructions. Finished Size: 7" x 5".
"In music there is harmony, in harmony there is peace". Music, harmony, and peace all combine in this enchanting design. The musical score creates a graceful background. Kit includes cotton thread and 14 count ivory Aida. Kit contains cotton embroidery thread, 14 count ivory Aida, needle and easy instructions including a color accented chart. Finished Size: 7" x 5".
A bald eagle soars through the sky, ablaze with the colors of sunset, and over the purple mountain range in this vivid counted cross stitch scene. Soaring gracefully across the sunlit sky, the majestic eagle surveys his surroundings. This dramatic design is stitched with warm shades of cotton thread on 18 count beige Aida using both full and half cross stitches. A color-coded thread sorter is included -- Finished Size: 16" x 11" (41 x 28 cm) -- Designer: R.W. Hedge.
Complete kit includes cotton thread, printed white sailcloth, needle, and easy to follow instructions. Finished design size is 9" x 14".
In counted cross stitch, this herd of white-tailed buck, hidden deep in the winter woods is a wondrous and rare sight to behold. Shhh. This band of bucks has heard the crunch of your footfall and looks ready to spring away. Stitched on 18 count white Aida, this vision of pristine winter would be the perfect gift for the outdoorsman on your list. -- Finished Size: 18" x 10" (46 x 25 cm) -- Designer: Persis Clayton Weirs. Kit includes 18 count white aida, color-coded thread sorter with thread, needle and easy instructions.
Kit contains cotton thread, 14 count White Aida, needle, and easy to follow instructions with an alphabet and numbers for personalizing. Design Size: 12" x 9"
Teach a child counted cross stitch with this whimsical Hedgehog Learn-a-Craft design from Dimensions. Easy, kid-friendly instructions make it fun to be creative! Complete kit includes 11 Ct. White Aida, cotton thread, 3" plastic hoop for finishing and framing, needle, and easy instructions. Finished size: 3"
Designed by Verdayle. Complete stamped cross stitch kit includes cotton thread, printed white sailcloth, needle, and easy instructions. Finished size: 12" x 11".
Be amazed as the wizard tames this beastly dragon in this counted cross stitch design. The power and light of the sorcerer's orb sears the inky darkness of the midnight hour and keeps the fearsome beast at bay. The 18 count black Aida accentuates the drama and the gold metallic adds luster to this magical scene. -- Finished Size: 12" x 14" (30 x 36 cm) -- Designer: Don Maitz.
Kit contains: cotton thread, 14 count White Aida, needle, and easy instructions with an alphabet and numbers for personalizing. Finished size: 12" x 9".
Noah's animals are arriving two by two on these sweet stamped cross stitch bibs. Colorful critters arriving two by two! Our adorable baby bib kit features two prefinished bibs with X's for stitching that fade when washed, cotton thread, needle, and easy instructions. Kit contains cotton thread, two poly/cotton bibs printed in ink that fades with washing, needle, and easy instructions. Finished Size: 9" x 14" (23 x 36 cm) -- Designer: Tracy Flickinger.
Kit includes cotton thread, 18 count black cotton Aida, needle, and easy instructions. Finished size: 6" x 6"
Kit includes cotton thread, 18 count Ivory cotton Aida, thread sorter, needle, and easy instructions. Finished Size: 15" x 11"
Animals of all shapes and sizes are featured on our adorable stamped cross stitch Savannah Quilt. This design makes a wonderful baby shower gift. Finished Size: 34" x 43" (86 x 109 cm). Contains presorted cotton thread, design printed in wash-away ink on prefinished muslin/polyester quilt, needle, and instructions. Designer: Wilma Sanchez.
Complete kit includes cotton thread, 18 Ct. Black Aida, thread sorter, needle, chart and easy instructions. Finished size is 13" x 18". Designed by Matthew Hillier.
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift. That's why we call it the present". This inviting stamped cross stitch design reminds us to treasure each new day. The greatest gift life can give us is each new day. This design is stitched on sailcloth with a printed background and X's for placing your stitches. This simple reminder to treasure today will make a wonderful gift. Kit contains cotton thread, printed white sailcloth, needle and easy instructions.-- Finished Size: 5" x 7" (13 x 18 cm) -- Designer: Dimensions.
Choo-choo! These bright-eyed creatures are pulling in to the station to announce baby's arrival! The Train Birth Record by Dimensions in counted cross stitch features a colorful array of threads. Size: 7" x 5". Designed by Jill McDonald. Counted cross stitch kit contains: Presorted cotton thread, 14 count white Aida, Needle, Easy instructions with an alphabet and numbers.
Package contains design printed on fabric, cotton embroidery thread, needle and easy-to-follow instructions. 14" x 11" (36 x 28 cm).
A blend of strength and tenderness is portrayed in this counted cross stitch piece. The dark fabric background makes the exquisite details of Wolf Kiss even more stunning. Finished Size: 14" x 11" (35 x 27 cm). Contains presorted cotton thread, 14 count black cotton Aida, needle and easy instructions. Designed by Bonnie Marris.
Design by Lee Bogle. Half cross stitch is used in this design for artistic effect. Kit includes presorted cotton thread, 18 count beige cotton aida, needle, and instructions. Fabric size is 15" x 19". Finished size is approximately 11" x 15" (27 x 38 cm).


The shooting of much hyped movie 'Hawaldar Suntali' has started in Hetauda. The movie to be made on the story of a police officer, Suntali Dhami, who was raped in office, is being produced by Chhabi Raj Ojha. The movie featuring Shilpa Pokharel in lead role.
Directed by Rishi Lamichane, 'Hawaldar Suntali' also features with Kishor Khatiwada and Sabin Shrestha in leading roles. On the first day of shooting choreographer Kabiraj Gahatraj directed the song featuring Shilpa and Kishor.
This entry was posted in Movie News and tagged Chhabi Raj Ojha, Hawaldar Suntali, Kishor Khatiwada, Rishi Lamichane, Sabin Shrestha, Shilpa Pokharel, Suntali Dhami. Bookmark the permalink.


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Song List > Dan Warren > Song of the Semelparous
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