Louis Vuitton's new Creative Director, Ghanan born Virgil Abloh prepared the debut of his first menswear collection with probably the longest and willingly complex teasing campaign in luxury fashion. With a mandate to bring an immediate boost to Louis Vuitton's menswear, Abloh, himself a genius when it comes to branding especially for athleisure and positioning the blend between sportswear and casual to luxury bringing incredible profits for any of his profits and gathering an immense global following, some even call them Abloh worshipers.
I strongly believe that once he was actually faced with the huge budgets of Louis Vuitton (all this other projects / brands had a fraction of this) he found himself in the middle of a actual re-branding process of Louis Vuitton, not just Louis Vuitton Men. He debuted his teasing with seemingly a 'mockery' party of the LV logo-mania in a warehouse / garage style venue in New York whicn turned out to be the showroom of cult accessories brand Chrome Hearts which also benefited from a free-of-charge indirect awareness being associated with a brand the calibre of LV. The set up also featured an abundance of Baccarat vases and glasses (all social media tagged Baccarat) and an 'artisanal' makeshift table set in cardboard entirely covered with the LV monogram. The star of the evening could not have been better chosen – Martha Stewart.
The over half a million outdoor campaign worldwide with oversized statues and holograms followed and then culminated with the actual fashion show with was predominantly a tribute to Michael Jackson with overt and obvious references to the late singer's style and music including the event invitations. But it was not until the second part of the actual advertising campaign (first LV Men's ad campaign of this magnitude delivered and scheduled in 3 parts) that some of the media (mostly online because they get no ad revenues from LV) began to see that the references to Michael Jackson are predominant. Within 3 days, ironically but not surprisingly a UK Tv station aired the documentary reminding Michael Jackson's repeated abuse of children, including sexually.
Our reaction, for instance, was very prompt, demanding much more than a simple email statement from Abloh and LV, however our call for 'boycott' was a about raising awareness not about inciting our readers to distribute a simple 'Boycott LV' or take to social media Here is our article.
With its army of staff all all levels including marketing and media, LV proceeded immediately to remove all references, including a very fast removal of photos from Google as well as a completely 'starting from fresh' on its very powerful social media channels seemingly pretending there was no teasing campaign, no fashion show almost entirely an ode to Michael Jackson and showing less and promoting less of LV Men's, the only images being those of some children playing with LV items, probably a back up fourth campaign part. No boycott, no call of resignations, no debates and more importantly no celebrities daring to step in and say a word.
Then, there came Gucci's turn with what seemed to be a major scandal called the 'black face' for featuring an offensive design which was overtly a discrimination, not only in its fashion show but also in social media imagery. Gucci's reaction, unlike LV's, was much faster and much more comprehensive. Also Gucci was more pragmatic understanding very sensibly it needs to put a price on its mistake. And indeed, Gucci pledged to spend 10 million in a series of initiatives, one of them being Gucci Change-makers and an entity to independently safeguard inclusivity and fight discrimination including a full time team on this organisation.
Prada did exactly the same in response to criticism that it used racist imagery in a series figurines, bag charms, and window displays last year. The Italian luxury label enlisted Selma and A Wrinkle in Time director Ava DuVernay to co-chair a new in-house group called the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council, to "elevate voices of color within the company and the fashion industry at-large." Alongside artist and activist Theaster Gates, DuVernay's new duties will include helping to create internships for designers and students of color.
While obviously financial power and influence in different forms, including staggering figures across their social media with millions of followers, paid a crucial role in 'shelving' these scandals the solution has not been that simple for Dolce & Gabbana who has never managed to recover from the boycott that exploded after it showed an apparently 'offending' image of a Chinese woman eating noodles in the teasing to its Shanghai fashion show. The backlash from the public including major Asian (not just Chinese celebrities) was so virulent the duo had their show cancelled by the municipality and left China in less than two days. D&G sales plummeted and the boycott remains in place among many wholesalers (buyers) but Chinese customers not only in China but across the world. D&G chose the only option which was to go silent (the house was never known for being discreet and silent, the duo running the house as two dictators). There has never been an officially appointed CEO of the house and no-one even entitled to speak on behalf of the house.
While fashion depends on public exposure under any forms no matter the team behind, other luxury sectors, such as luxury hotels have a much more complex measurement of their success and that is, beyond their facilities, architecture, interior design (no matter how lavish or luxurious they are) hotels earn their reputation in a longer time span based on achieving and delivering consistent customer service. The people 'behind' are very visible and they interact with guests at many levels.
What makes it even more complex for luxury hotels, is that, while Gucci is now thriving because its Creative Director is delivering relevant and surprising designs being considered the most trendy at the opposite being another giant Ferragamo which despite its incredible craftsmanship and heritage has been losing ground very fast because of no longer finding a relevant positioning. The expectations of guests are much more complex and unlike fashion, the luxury hotel industry has a global boycotting machine accessible by any hotel guest whether a regular mortal or Royalty. The respective guest can take to Tripadvisor even during his or her stay (not necessarily after they check out) and post 4 lines concluding the hotel is terrible and giving it a specific score. That score is incredibly important because the ongoing scoring puts hotels in a ranking on Tripadvisor.
Why a boycott? Because, hotels have not much to do and Tripadvisor amost never takes down such an entirely negative comment, advocating that it may encourage more shy guests to speak out. What is even more outrageous is that after 3 or 4 entirely negative comments, a top luxury hotel can go from the second to the eighth rank over night and since Tripadvisor is part of a holding that also includes one of the world's biggest travel e-commerce website can only sensibly take advantage. For years, hotels have been unsuccessfully trying to persuade Tripadvisor to implement a system of verifying whether the respective guest actually stayed at the hotel because, guess what, over 30% of reviews are fake and fabricated. Anyone can go only this instant create a Tripadvisor account in minutes and place a review of X hotel without ever even being to the city the hotel is.
But probably the most important two differences when it comes to scandal between luxury hotels and luxury fashion or other sectors are, first, that even if the hotel has let's say half a million followers on social media, it cannot resort to it and start 'complaining' that x, y, z review is fake and secondly, that while fashion brands actually pay celebrities to attend their fashion shows for instance (beyond being part of their campaigns for instance), operationally, hotels cannot afford to pay such celebrities because of their much higher costs of operations.
The most they can do, is provide a discount or agree on a barter deal to provide free-of-charge accommodation in exchange for exposure by the respective celebrity on their social media channels. But would George Clooney be comfortable with media being made aware the two host hotels of its wedding provided free accommodation and meals in exchange for some 'innocent' photo-opps in a recognisable spot of the hotel.
What about nationalism or hatred? To my knowledge, the only major case of recent history was the immediate sacking of incredibly talented fashion designer John Galliano from Dior for making antisemitic allegations. The reaction of the house was immediate and it did not realise that John Galliano has actually created his own codes at Dior while maintaining the DNA. Since his abrupt dismissal, Dior has never been back to the spotlight not even at a fraction as it was during John Galliano who continuously generated that WOW factor, that courageous stance that haute couture is also about.
However, Galliano was never banned from Israel owned businesses and to my knowledge not even from Israel. He was never further 'punished' by Israel in any way. Should he choose to have coffee tomorrow in the newly reopened iconic Lutetia Hotel in Paris, will he be banned or denied entry? The hotel is overtly known for being Israel owned.
As for LV, are their staff or even Virgil Abloh 'banned' from attending children's events or sanctioned by advertising supervisory authorities for the misuse of underage children in public advertising campaigns. Should Louis Vuitton run a campaign just to promote his Creative Director is African? Are Prada or Gucci employees or top management banned from black owned businesses for instance a luxury hotel owned by a black person? Do their initiatives to spend millions and set up diversity /inclusive organisations work as censorship bodies and supervise each and every product to make sure it will not have the smallest discrimination offences?
All of these questions only give way to insane answers – fashion is art and it is supposed to create trends and focus on quality and their positioning. Fashion is also about surprise and yet, about controversy – Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent or Balmain were all criticised in their times. As for what brands can and should do, is at a business level to ensure coherence Louis Vuitton for instance, should take a closer look at its business choice to run two completely different brands under the two Creative Directors (LV mens has nothing in common with LV women's except the logo). D&G should continue to learn how to stay silent and employ some other REAL voices and appeal to top professional experienced luxury professionals to address issues emerging from a business decision.
Returning to hotels, instead of abusing their status, celebrities should take to Tripadvisor and invite others to 'boycott' hotels there. It is a huge platform with a global monopoly, with a much higher audience and traffic than their social media accounts or even CNN. The level of engagement is also ideal and followers of their boycotts can hide their identity and speak out. They can complain about the owners of the respective hotel and about the laws in the country of origin of the investor / owner.
Unfortunately, this will not bring down the likes of Dorchester Collection who have not only achieved the highest luxury hospitality standards but have also demonstrated, thanks to their continued investment in the best staff, that their service has been consistent for years. Also, their service is not discriminatory! A hotel guest at the Dorchester Collection will never be judged for the attire he or her wears at check in or be treated better if he stays in a suite and most importantly a non-celebrity guest will not be treated in a lesser way and given less attention that a celebrity. With this, they have gained the trust of their guests and patrons and this is the ultimate achievement.
There are very few luxury hotel chains there at the very top, globally, and Dorchester Collection is not only one of them but it is also recognised as a leader, a leader in service, innovation, human resources management. The guests of the RITZ in Paris would not make their decision to return or not to the hotel if suddenly some celebrity calls for a boycott of the hotel because it is owned by an Egyptian and Egypt as a country has a certain legislation as absurd as the logic will find that some people claim Chanel will die without Lagerfeld (Ritz Paris has the only Chanel Spa in the world).
Sadly all of this hatred brings more hatred and negativity directly targeting the people of the Dorchester Collection. They are the heart and sole of each hotel and find themselves in the shooting range for doing nothing but their best in their jobs.


USA Taekwondo is excited to announce the return of the G2 U.S. Open Taekwondo Championships to Las Vegas. Athletes and coaches from around the world will be flying into the West of the United States to take in the sights and sounds of the entertainment capital of the world AND take part in the most ferociously competitive taekwondo open tournament in the world!
Over the coming weeks and months we'll be updating this page with the latest information about the tournament, and providing things to do in Las Vegas in any downtime. We cannot wait to return to one of our favorite cities, and to welcome the very best competitors our sport has to offer once again - it is going to be amazing!
Hotels: Booking will be through the USA Taekwondo housing company. Booking is LIVE NOW at https://www.grouphousingadmin.com/signup/showevent.asp?id=1543 - please book early to ensure availability and best rate!
Our group code is 7WP47 to receive the discount. The reservations can be booked on www.supershuttle.com , by downloading the app or by clicking http://group.supershuttle.com/…/2018-us-open-taekwondo-cha…/.


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HI/O Show: Setting the stage for wild Game 6 in N.Y.
Columnist Jack Todd has seen a lot of playoff hockey games during his career, but he can't remember one like the Canadiens' wild 7-4 victory over the New York Rangers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final Tuesday night at the Bell Centre.
"You don't expect to see that in the playoffs," Todd says on this week's HI/O Show on The Gazette's hockeyinsideout.com website. "Every season you get a few wild ones like that during the regular season, but not in the playoffs … especially not in the conference final. One of the wildest games I've ever seen."
Former Canadien Chris Nilan — who joins Todd and Gazette sports editor/host Stu Cowan on the HI/O Show — compared it to a ping-pong game, while the New York Rangers' Dan Girardi called it a "Gong Show".
Whatever you want to call it, the Canadiens' victory — their third in an elimination game this postseason — forced Game 6 Thursday night in New York with the Rangers leading the best-of-seven series 3-2.
The panel sets the stage for Game 6 on the HI/O Show with topics of conversation including the new-and-improved Rene Bourque, the disappointing Thomas Vanek, the unlikely goaltending battle between Dustin Tokarski and Henrik Lundqvist, and how the heat has been turned up on this Canadiens-Rangers series with some cheap shots and suspensions.
You can watch a new HI/O Show each week at hockeyinsideout.com, where you can also get all the latest Canadiens news, post your comments about the team and follow Mike Boone's live blog during every Habs playoff game.
Mobile-users, tap on the link under Related Stories to access Hockey Inside/Out.
Mike Boone live blog: Habs vs. Rangers Game 6 Jack Todd: This is a Canadiens team to remember

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Swimming is a fun, enjoyable activity that has many physical, psychosocial, cognitive, and recreational benefits. Swimming strengthens muscles that enhance posture, thereby helping to develop the stability needed to learn locomotor and object control skills. The T.E.A.M. Approach offers YEAR ROUND aquatic therapy. There is an onsite, indoor, nine by sixteen foot, above ground Endless Pool, which allows children to swim against different currents. The pool temperature is maintained between 92˚-96˚ F and equipped with a hydraulic chairlift. Our therapists are certified in water safety for swim coaches and most have additional aquatics training including Halliwick and Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT). We offer individual sessions only and most sessions may be billed to private insurance.
Aquatic therapy provides tactile and proprioceptive stimulation, which can help children reduce their risk of falling, improve balance and coordination, and assist with sensory integration.
Aquatic therapy can improve physical conditioning by increasing heart rate, which in turn increases circulation for blood, oxygen and nutrition delivery to muscles. It reduces the effects of inactivity and deconditioning.
Aquatic therapy increase tissue elasticity allowing for greater gains in joint range of motion. Muscles relax allowing for increased flexibility and reduced muscle tension and spasms. Aquatics can also increase bone density.
Aquatic therapy can aid in soma-emotional release, stress relief, and relaxation. Aquatic therapy involves creative movement, breath work, and guided imagery. This activates self-healing.
PRIMARILY, PLAYING IN WATER IS FUN!


GDP is forecast to increase by more than 3% in 2017 and 2018, as household spending is spurred by low interest rates and an improving labour market.
After the snap elections held in March 2017 Boyko Borisov from the centre-right GERB party became Prime Minister for the third time. He heads a coalition government of GERB and the nationalist "United Patriots" party, with just a slim majority in parliament (122 of 240 seats).
The snap elections became necessary as the previous government under Borisov had resigned after Rumen Radev, a socialist–backed pro-Russian won the November 2016 presidential elections.
Political discontent remains high, especially over the slow progress in combating graft and corruption and social welfare issues. While the incumbent government pursues a pro-EU policy, the socialist party and President Radev favour closer political and economic relations with Russia.
Bulgaria recorded weak GDP growth after contraction in 2009, averaging only 0.9% annually between 2010 and 2014. However, economic growth has accelerated since 2015, driven primarily by stronger exports and growing private consumption. GDP is forecast to increase more than 3% in 2017 and 2018, as household spending is spurred by low interest rates and an improving labour market. Unemployment is expected to decrease to about 8% in 2017. At the same time, exports continue to be driven by increased eurozone demand, and investments (including EU-financed infrastructure projects) are expected to pick up again. After a deflationary period between 2014 and 2016, which has severely affected the profitability of Bulgarian businesses, consumer prices increased again in 2017, due to higher energy prices and strengthening domestic demand.
After a surplus in 2016, the fiscal balance is expected to turn to a modest deficit in 2017 and 2018. Rising private consumption and imports are boosting revenue collection. Public debt remains sustainable and is forecast to steadily decline (to reach 28.5% in 2018).
After a banking crisis in 2014 the sector has made big improvements, with the IMF's 2016 banking sector assessment and a stress test made by the Central Bank showing that the sector is well-capitalised and more resilient to shocks. However, 14% of total loans are still non-performing, which continues to be a threat to bank profitability. Greek banks contribute more than 18% of the banking assets in Bulgaria, which exposes the sector to adverse developments in the Greek economy.
Bulgaria's monetary policy framework is strong with a solid commitment to its currency board arrangement (the lev is pegged to the euro), which supports foreign investor confidence. However, this arrangement limits Bulgaria's ability to combat external imbalances. The peg is maintainable due to large international reserves (10 months of import cover) and current account surpluses.
Political instability remains an issue for Bulgaria´s long term economic growth prospects, while corruption and red tape still hamper the business environment. Despite a decrease in the jobless rate, long-term unemployment remains a big social and economic issue, accounting for more than 60% of unemployment. The high level of emigration and an ageing population also add to the woes of the labour market and reduce the potential for long-term growth.


Janet has written an illustrated children's book for children aged 5 to 10 who have a parent with mental health problems.
Peters, J. Jemma's Journey Wakkajak Publishers, New Zealand, October 2013. An illustrated book for children (5 to 10) who have a parent with mental health problems.


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Shannon Harney, an Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity major speaks at Commencement.
Community wide book club formed as a partnership between EVE/CPB and the Yolo County Library.
Shannon Harney, an Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity major, spoke at the 2010 College of Biological Sciences Commencement.
Copyright © UC Regents Davis campus, 2004-2014. All Rights Reserved.


The fight against corruption is currently one of the priority areas for the European Commission (EC). The EC has adopted a comprehensive anti-corruption package in June 2011, which includes, among others, the publication of a bi-annual anti-corruption report, which evaluates the MSs' efforts against corruption. The survey was conducted between February 18 and March 8, 2013 in the then 27 EU Member States and Croatia.Companies from several sectors including health care were surveyed.
Nie są to wytyczne, ale warte jest przeczytania.
distrust in provisions of services by the government.


We are Orlando's true neighborhood restaurant located just east of Lake Eola in the heart of the Colonial town area, surrounded by homes. Our warm and intimate atmosphere reminds you of entering a friend's home. The friendly and focused service ensures a comfortable connection. Owner operators, Kirt & Maxine Earhart are your hosts.
Our menu is led by Dining Hall of Fame Chef, George Vogelbacher, and his highlighted by fresh seafood, pastas, meat, nightly features and amazing desserts. 70+ wines selections and 40+ beers.
Dinner service Tuesday through Sunday with "Rejuicination Brunch" Saturday and Sunday. Live entertainment every day with Orlando's best musicians.
We have extensive experience in special and corporate events and are open to private and buyout bookings. We look forward to seeing you soon!


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According to the UK government's New Plan for Immigration, a new Permission to Travel scheme is set to launch in 2023, requiring all individuals seeking to travel to the UK to seek electronic authorization in advance.
The scheme, known as the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), aims to strengthen the UK's border security by allowing the government to conduct necessary checks on travelers before they enter the country.
Should travelers be identified as a potential threat to national security, the ETA will enable the government to prevent such individuals from entering the UK in the first place, rather than turning them away or detaining them at the border.
The ETA is in line with the approach many of the UK's international partners have taken to border security, including Canada (ETA), Australia (eTA) and New Zealand (NZeTA).
The European Union is expected to launch a similar scheme in 2023 (ETIAS).
The ETA will cost a fee and will allow eligible passport holders to enter the UK for up to six months for tourism or business purposes.
The new scheme will be rolled out in phases beginning in early 2023, and forms part of the UK's wider plan to fully digitalise its borders by 2025 and transform crossing the border with improvements to security, passenger experience and operational efficiency.
It will likely be beneficial for travel and security between the CANZUK countries in a few ways:
• Streamlined travel: The ETA will make the process of entering the UK more streamlined and efficient for travelers from Canada, Australia and New Zealand. This is because the ETA will allow for pre-screening of travelers before they arrive in the UK, which could potentially reduce wait times and lines at the border.
• Improved security: The ETA will allow the UK government to conduct necessary security checks on travelers before they enter the country and identify potential threats. This could potentially enhance the security collaboration of the CANZUK nations.
• Facilitation of tourism and business: The ETA will allow eligible passport holders from the CANZUK countries to enter the UK for up to six months for tourism or business purposes, which could potentially increase the number of tourists and business travelers from these countries visiting the UK. Over time, it will be CANZUK International's intention to increase these time limits and eventually remove them altogether.
• Facilitation of free movement of people: The ETA is in line with the approach that Canada, Australia and New Zealand have taken to border security.
CANZUK International welcomes the announcement from the UK government to enact measures that will enhance security protocols at its borders, and align with Canada, Australia and New Zealand on implementing a Permission to Travel scheme for travelers.
[Heading photo: Jeff Gilbert/Alamy]
Australia Considering Raising Age Limit For Working Visas
The Case For Free University Tuition Under A Future CANZUK Agreement
New Zealanders To Receive Easier Pathway For Australian Residency


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Jennifer Wallace Navigation
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Jennifer September 12, 2015 Articles
Jennifer Wallace
Can Gayatri Spivak's 'pretentiously opaque' writing make a difference in the real world? Jennifer Wallace talks to an academic who has eaten mice and snakes in rural India
It is High Noon this summer in the academic world of literary and cultural theory. The big thinkers of our day are battling it out in the pages of the London Review of Books. Each week produces another ideological gunshot from one side or the other in the periodical's letters page. The direction of postcolonialism and literary criticism and even the very status of theory itself are at stake.
The dispute was sparked by a recent LRB review by Terry Eagleton of A Critique of Postcolonial Reason, the latest book by the postcolonial critic Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak. In a searing attack, Eagleton, professor of English literature at the University of Oxford, condemned Spivak for exhibiting all the traits of postcolonial or postmodern writing that he hates most. She writes in a "pretentiously opaque" way with little sensitivity for her struggling readers. She leaps from topic to topic in a bewildering eclecticism. "As feminist, deconstructionist, post-Marxist and postcolonialist together, Spivak seems reluctant to be left out of any theoretical game in town," Eagleton quipped.
But what most animated Eagleton, a self-confessed Marxist, was the thought that Spivak was abandoning politics, that for her, representation of the "other" and working out "one's subject position" were more important than the activist struggle of universal socialism.
"Like most US feminism, postcolonialism is a way of being politically radical without being necessarily anti-capitalist and so is a peculiarly hospitable form of leftism for a 'postpolitical' world," Eagleton wrote. "Spivak is more audacious about epistemology than she is about social reconstruction."
The article was music to the ears of some academics who have long felt that literary theory is too abstract and unrelated to the politics of the real world and who have been bamboozled by the number of trendy books published with "race", "class" or "gender" in the title. But it also inflamed supporters of modern theory, who felt that Eagleton was over-simplifying and old-fashioned and who rushed to defend Spivak. Judith Butler, American professor of rhetoric and author of Gender Trouble, is one of Spivak's backers. "Spivak's book gives us the political landscape of culture in its obscurity and proximity, staying, temporarily, the death of thought Eagleton prescribes and taking the kind of risks that make her so provocative and indisputably important," Butler declares.
But what does Spivak think of this debate? No stranger to controversy since she introduced the writings of French thinker Jacques Derrida to the United States in 1976 with a translation of Of Grammatology, has she had any moments of doubt since Eagleton's attack? We met in Spivak's cramped office in Columbia University, New York. Piled high on every available surface with books from a vast range of subjects, from literary criticism to economics, Spivak's working environment is a concrete image of her writing. And in the middle of the mess, Spivak, tall, elegant, pretty, sits at her computer firing off emails.
"Eagleton's model is an older notion of socialist politics," she says, defiantly. "My politics are only directionless to the extent that global capitalism is directionless. In this situation, when there is a constantly active and impersonal loop of finance capital, the only way resistance operates is through critique on small fronts that are immediately global. You have constantly to foil the localised efforts – patenting of DNA, population control, pharmaceutical dumping etc."
A Critique of Postcolonial Reason ranges widely, from an analysis of the philosophy of Kant, Hegel and Marx, through a reading of the novels of Mary Shelley, Jean Rhys and the Indian radical feminist Mahasweta Devi, to a discussion of the economics of child labour in Bangladesh. What Spivak tries to show is that these apparently disparate subjects are all related, that a literary imagination is crucial for activist politics and vice versa. A book like Shelley's Frankenstein can teach this. "Politics is other people, not just me, me, me. In Frankenstein, the monster marks the place of otherness, so that it is not turned into my kind. A literary reading can teach students to exercise their imagination, as one exercises one's body, into these roots of ethical behaviour." When Spivak engages in her activist work – advising the gender and development division of the World Bank, for example – she tries to keep in mind what she has learned in her academic study.
It is difficult sometimes to understand how the different areas of Spivak's intellectual range relate. What is the difference between colonialism and postcolonialism, for example? "Colonial studies looked at the way in which territorial imperialisms, by establishing systems of education, produced ways of thinking in the people who were colonised. Postcolonialism or globalisation studies looks at how our thinking is conditioned by the fact that our world is now electronically connected and governed by transnational organisations such as the World Bank and the United Nations," she explains. Sensitive to the way in which colonialism produced powerful stereotypes of the people it colonised, the postcolonialist critic is continually attentive to the way anyone is characterised, aware that fixed definitions can produce distorting blind spots, which carry a cost in the real world.
And how does Spivak reconcile deconstruction (the philosophy of Derrida, which rejects the notion of transcendent truth) and Marxism, which foresees and advocates a positive political utopia? "Deconstruction continues to show me the limits of the power of the individual. It also shows ways of thinking outside the European context that were discredited when capitalism became the most powerful imperialist force.
"Marx was an intellectual of the European enlightenment; the working class will use reason. That is not enough. What Marx needs is a robust idea of responsibility, otherwise there is no reason why the person in the socialist polity would want to give something up without state coercion. The Marxist project needs something that can come from ideas that lost out because they were defective for capitalism. Deconstruction allows me to go in that direction."
Spivak is more apologetic in her response to Eagleton's criticism of her language as pretentious and opaque. He quotes her out of context, she says, and adds that to simplify language is often to simplify thought. The popular conception of Marx, for example, reduces and distorts the complexity of his ideas in Das Kapital. "I do not think there should be a rule against writing a learned book," she says. "An academic intellectual should not just abdicate and not do the kind of work he or she is supposed to be doing."
But while Spivak defends herself against Eagleton's criticisms, she does not make her case as strongly as she might. While, as Avalon professor in the humanities, she is frighteningly clever and formidable, she is also disarmingly modest and unsure. For one thing, her new book criticises postcolonialism for losing its radical edge, although she does not quite come out and say so. Her argument is that academics produce articles about being "open to the Other" without seriously considering the practical implications. "Many years ago, Raymond Williams pointed out that the dominant appropriates the emergent," she observes. "In globalisation, multicultural enthusiasms can be extremely powerful for a new type of colonial production. We must look out for this."
Moreover, unlike many postcolonial critics, Spivak has first-hand experience of living and working both in the third world and in the first. Born in Calcutta in 1942, she took her first degree there in English at Presidency College and then moved to the US to write a doctorate on W. B. Yeats. Within a year, she married an American and acquired his surname, Spivak (they later divorced). Besides Eagleton, some of Spivak's main critics are Indians. Last year, Chicago-based Dipesh Chakrabarty attacked her in Public Culture for being inauthentic. But Spivak's first language is Bengali and she lectures and publishes in India as well as in the US.
"I am critical of the Indian middle class," Spivak explains. "I do not think that just being in India is a union ticket to authenticity. People there are more mortgaged to global capitalism than I am."
But the best riposte to Eagleton is the one that Spivak is most reluctant to talk about. Each summer, she abandons everything and goes off to the most inaccessible parts of India, helping to train people to teach reading and writing and living on whatever is available to eat, be it mice or snakes. While others, including Eagleton, might be content to debate the relationship between theory and politics in London magazines, she gets quietly stuck into activism on the ground.
But she does not want to make any metaphorical capital out of this. Back in her office, she sets out her task in characteristically elusive and poetic terms. "Intellectual work is like a garden; it is not a wilderness. Unless some of us keep sweeping our house, dust builds. I am not a revolutionary. I am just someone who cleans the house of radical intellectual production from within."
Original Article – The Times Higher Education >>
New book published. London launch 9th September 2019.
Radio interview on Digging Up Milton
East meets West: Literary London talk
Hay Festival talk
Digging Up Milton. Talk and reading
Copyright © Jennifer Wallace 2019. All rights reserved.


Johnny Cash inspired me more than any other human being other than my father. Losing Johnny Cash in life is heaven's gain. The first time I picked up a guitar I banged on a Johnny Cash song before I even knew chords. I first met Johnny Cash when I was about one year old, my father met with him and took me with him. I wish I could remember that experience, Dad said he held me in his arms. The first time I remember seeing Johnny was in 1968 at Hunstville State Prison Rodeo in Texas,I went with my grandparents. I also saw him on his 37th birthday and recall the entire Astrodome singing happy birthday to him during his concert there.
The next time I saw him was when he and his show paid tribute to Tex Ritter at Sam Houston Col. in Houston, Texas. In 1974 I attended his shows at the Houston Music Theatre, which was in the round. I recall Glen Shirley who was once a prisoner at Folsom Prison performed that night. Glen sang"Greystone Chapel, which he wrote and Johnny recorded at his famous concert there in January 1968.
The first meeting was arranged by Johnny's manager Lou Robin and it took place at the Houston Music Theatre backstage on November 11, 1976. I was only 15 years old. I arrived with my grandmother before the show started - around a hour or so in advance and no one else arrived yet.
Then in came The Tennesee Three: Bob Wooten, guitarist; Marshall Grant, bassist and W.S. "Fluke" Holland, drummer. I actually froze and couldn't say a word. W.S. recently laughed at that! My grandmother and I met Lou Robin and he escourted us backstage and there I met Johnny face to face. He came in alone and said,"Hello I'm Johnny Cash", as if we didn't know!
I said "Where's the restroom?" and he replied "Excuse me?" I said "Isn't that what you wrote in your book, Man In Black when you met the Louvin Brothers and you were so nervous as a teen seeing them in person and they approached you and asked you that?" Yes that was a long question, he listened and laughed! I said "I wanted to say something, so you'd remember me." I had seen Elvis shortly before in person and told him I was going to meet Johnny Cash/ Elvis smiled and asked me to give John his best.
Johnny was taken aback when I passed on Elvis' greeting. Johnny looked at my grandmother and she replied 'He did". Johnny returned the best wishes thenI asked Johnny when the last time they saw each other was and he said "In 1962, when Elvis came to visit the Grand Ole Opry." We talked about Elvis tuning his guitar to "Cry! Cry! Cry!" on the jukebox when Elvis toured with June Carter.
I actually asked him how he got that scar on his chin and he replied, "I had a cyst in the air force and a doctor botched it up." I brought a then new Polaroid "Pronto" camera where the picture spit and out developed before your eyes. Johnny hadn't seen one do that before and Anita Carter came by and said, "Would you look at that!". Lou Robin then took a photo of me and Johnny. After a 15 minute chat Johnny started to leave and my grandmother grabbed his arm and pulled him back in and said, "Johnny come back here and take a picture with me! Johnny hugged up on her and said "Come here Granny!" She asked Will you do "Ring Of Fire" for me? He replied "Sure Granny!" and he opened the show with it.
I saw Johnny dozens of times after that in concert, not always seeing him backstage, though there were meet and greets. I recall being backstage with him at Rice Stadium in Houston in the 80's and walking briskly with him to his limo. Hundreds were converging on him in the field after a Billy Graham Crusade appearance.Toward the end of the trek we ran!
Once Johnny told me a joke: "Where is a sincere place to take a bath in Nashville?" The Answer: "Ernest Tubb!"
Johnny collected old coins, old books and such. I was happy to find some that he liked and in turn he gave me some wonderful personal souvenirs.
The last times I saw Johnny were in March 1995 in Tunica, Mississippi. My son Donny was born just one month before and Johnny signed a photo for him - which my son treasures. He loves him. The last time I saw Johnny was a year later, backstage in the VIP room at the House of Blues in West Hollywood with Glen Glenn (who used to tour with Johnny in the 50's as Glen Troutman.) Johnny and June were in there alone then, Glen talked with them about Rose Maddox whom Glen used to perform with and Johnny and June loved her.
On October 11th, 2003 it was a honor and a bit surreal to me to have W.S. Holland back me on drums at Overton Park Shell in Memphis. W.S. hadn't played there since 1955 when he backed Johnny on the Elvis Presley Show -- Johnny's first major performance.
With W.S. Holland behind me and guitarists Alan Clark and Pat Woertink, Bob Timmers on tambourine we did "Big River" in tribute to Johnny who passed away exactly a month before. I was honored to present an award to W.S. Holland, with Pat Woertink CEO of Legend Records (my recording label). The award was for W.S. Holland's years of backing Johnny Cash.
When my debut album was released in July of 2003,the first person who I sent a copy to was Johnny Cash, I recorded two of his songs,"Big River" and "Sing It Pretty Sue". I am glad he lived to see me record his music and dedicate my album to him.
On Monday I will be in the studio recording a tribute album to Johnny,I will be recording a dozen of his songs as well as a original song I wrote for him. It is a labor of love and I already intended to do this as of this past August. Glen Glenn will also produce this album.
Ever since I was a kid, I listened to Johnny Cash,I was influenced by him more than anyone and heard his voice more than any other. I picked up his phrasing and felt his heart through the songs. I have a deep voice like his due to that and being related to Country singer Johnny Sea doesn't hurt, perhaps it is inherited. Johnny Sea was also on Columbia and is well known for his hit, "If It Weren't For Hard Luck I'd Have No Luck At All" and sounds remarkably like him. I will not imitate Johnny, but I am in his same vocal range is what I am saying.


text:
Ukraine Liveblog Day 123: Russian Tanks Advance Through Ukraine
Photo of a BTR provided by Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, with documentation, said to be seized near the Ukrainian border by the National Guard on 20 June 2014.
Yesterday's liveblog can be found here. For an overview and analysis of this developing story see our latest podcast.
Please help The Interpreter to continue providing this valuable information service by making a donation towards our costs.
View Ukraine: April, 2014 in a larger map
For links to individual updates click on the timestamps.
Below we will be making regular updates. Be sure to check back often and hit refresh.
US Government Sanctions Additional 7 Persons for Ukraine
The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned an additional seven persons "for threatening the territorial integrity of Ukraine", the department announced 20 June on its web site.
They are all pro-Russian separatists active in the southeast of Ukraine.
Interestingly, at the top of the list is Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, the self-proclaimed "people's mayor of Slavyansk," who was reportedly arrested and executed last week by his comrades in the "Donetsk People's Republic."
The following is the list of those sanctioned, bringing the total to date of persons sanction for the Ukraine conflict to 41 persons and 19 companies in Russia, Russian-occupied Crimea, and southeastern Ukraine.
Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, a separatist leader, has declared that the rebels have adopted a "take- no-prisoners" approach with future clashes with the Ukrainian security forces, claiming his men will "kill them all." He also publically claimed his men would take all necessary measures to disrupt the Ukrainian elections in May. Ponomaryov is the former self-proclaimed "people's mayor" of Slovyansk who declared himself mayor after leading a group of armed separatists in an assault on the Slovyansk mayor's office in April. The town of Slovyansk has since become one of the centers of the separatist movement, and has been taken over by armed pro-Russia rebels.
Denis Pushilin is a leader of a group calling itself the "Donetsk People's Republic," which has seized government buildings across eastern Ukraine, declared itself to be a sovereign state, and requested that it be allowed to join the Russian Federation. Pushilin has overseen an uprising that has seized town halls, police stations, and other buildings in towns across Ukraine's Donetsk region. Pushilin stated that he and his followers would not release the buildings they seized until the Ukrainian government vacated its government buildings and the Donetsk region got an independence referendum. At a May press conference, Pushilin also stated that civilian and military authorities independent of Kyiv would be formed in the Donetsk region following the results of the illegitimate referendum on the region's status in May. He further stated that the presence of any Ukrainian military remaining in the Donetsk region after the announcement of the referendum's results would be considered illegal.
Andrey Purgin describes himself as the co-head of a council running the separatist government in Donetsk. He advocated for the illegitimate May referendum and the federalization of Ukraine and took part in the storming of the Donetsk regional administration building earlier this year. Purgin founded the pro-Russian "Republic of Donetsk" organization in December 2005. The group's activities were forbidden by a Ukrainian court, which considered them to be directed at the territorial disintegration of Ukraine.
Igor Girkin (who is also known as Igor Strelkov) is the self-described "commander-in-chief of the Donetsk People's Republic" who controls a group of armed separatists in Slovyansk. Girkin is responsible for the abduction of military observers in Ukraine, and an attack on the Slovyansk Internal Affairs Administration and the 25th Air Mobile Brigade from whom he stole a large cache of weapons.
Valery Bolotov has proclaimed himself governor of the separatist-controlled Luhansk region and has publically declared war on the government in Kyiv. Bolotov took direction from Girkin to hold a sham referendum in Luhansk in May.
Sergei Menyailo is the de facto "acting governor" of Sevastopol. He assisted in the formation of Sevastopol's self-defense squads, which played a key role in facilitating Russia's occupation of the Crimea region of Ukraine and were later entered into the ranks of the Russian military. Menyailo is part of a commission established to ensure the effectiveness of Russian federal executive bodies in Crimea.
Valery Kaurov is the self-described "president of Novorossiya" and has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to deploy troops to the territory described as Novorossiya. He has supported separatist activities in Ukraine's Donetsk and Lugansk territories.
As a result of today's action, any assets of the individuals designated today that are within U.S. jurisdiction must be frozen. Additionally, transactions by U.S. persons or within the United States involving the individuals designated today are generally prohibited.
State Department 'Confident' Russia 'Sent Tanks and Rocket Launchers into Eastern Ukraine'
The following is a partial transcript of the noon briefing for the press at the State Department concerning the subject of Ukraine and Russia, which has just been distributed.
QUESTION: Ukraine —
QUESTION: Has there been – has anyone asked for the assistance that you offered?
MS. PSAKI: I'm not aware of, but we've just offered to be helpful if we can be helpful.
QUESTION: Ukraine.
MS. PSAKI: Sure.
Earlier today the Russian ambassador to the United Nations denied that
Russian armed vehicles were crossing into Ukraine. How do you respond to
that?
MS. PSAKI: Well, I have a couple of updated details here, so let me run through those for you.
We are confident, as we said
last Friday, that Russia last week sent takes [sic] and rocket launchers from a
deployment site in southwest Russia into eastern Ukraine. We have
information that additional tanks have been prepared for departure from
this same deployment site, and that's more recently. We also have
information that Russia has accumulated artillery at a deployment site
in southwest Russia, including a type of artillery utilized by Ukrainian
forces but no longer in Russia's active forces, and believe Russia may
soon provide this equipment to separatist fighters.
And we are obviously closely
watching what we are seeing on the ground. I would also point you to the
comments of NATO Secretary General Rasmussen yesterday, who said we are
seeing a new Russian military buildup of at least a few thousand more
troops deployed at the Ukrainian border, and there are troop maneuvers
near the border with Ukraine.
And separately, we have our own
information that Russia has redeployed military forces to its border
with Ukraine. This is the closest Russian troops have come to the
Ukrainian territory since their invasion of Crimea.
So that is our view from the United States.
The Russians say that the troop buildup that you and NATO have spoken
about is simply a border guard reinforcing and that they need to have –
they need to be reinforced because of the flow of – in some places, the
flow of people – refugees, some of them – across the border. You don't
buy that? Is that —
MS. PSAKI:
Well, first, I think one step we've been asking President Putin and the
Russians to be supportive of is securing the border, and what we're
seeing is a flow of individuals into Ukraine with materials and
equipment and tanks, as we've been speaking about. In terms of the
refugee numbers, we've looked into Russian reports of large numbers of
refugees fleeing Russia and have seen no evidence to —
QUESTION: No, no, no. Fleeing Ukraine.
MS. PSAKI: Fleeing for –
fleeing to Russia, sorry, fleeing to Russia, and have seen no evidence
to substantiate them. According to the Russian Federal Migration Service
itself, just over 5,000 people from Ukraine have applied for asylum in
Russia since January. And the numbers – some Russian sources are
claiming numbers more like 100,000. So we're talking about the last six
months, I guess, since January. And many ethnic Russians from Ukraine
have family in Russia. Some may be staying with them, but neither
Ukrainian border guards nor international organizations operating in the
area have reported any large outflows of refugees to Russia to
substantiate their claim.
QUESTION: Okay. So but –
excuse me – apparently there was a meeting this morning of their –
whatever the Russian Government committee is that deals with refugees,
and they're talking – I think they – unless I'm wrong, I think they were
talking about 9,000 or something like that. But to the best of your
knowledge, you're saying that you have seen the only – you've seen
nothing like this, that there is no mass exodus or even close to
thousands that are crossing the border from Ukraine into Russia, fleeing
their homes or fighting? Is that —
MS. PSAKI: Correct. And
it's not – obviously, just to clarify, though, it's not the – we're not
monitoring this ourselves, obviously. But the Ukrainian border guards
are as well as international organizations who are in the area.
Okay. Does that mean that you don't have any concern about the
situation in terms of what it means for civilians in the east right now?
MS. PSAKI: Well, I think
certainly we have concern, and – but we think the most effective and
powerful step the Russians can take is to call on separatists to lay
down their arms and to help secure the border. And obviously those are
the steps that we think would reduce the violence and tension in the
east.
QUESTION: Okay. Earlier
today a senior official was telling people that in addition to what you
just said about more tanks, additional tanks being prepared for – to be
transferred to the separatists, that some, in fact, as of yesterday had
actually moved away from this – from the site in southwest Russia. Do
you know (1) how many, and (2) in what direction they were moving – I
mean, and moving toward Ukraine?
MS. PSAKI: Well, to be
clear, we have information about – which I referred to specifically –
about preparing for departure from the same deployment site. We've seen
reports about additional Russian tanks, rocket launchers, and other
military equipment crossing the border into Luhansk. I don't have
specific numbers, and those are reports. The other details are more
confirmed internally.
QUESTION: But – okay, I'm
a little confused now. So you don't know that there are – that the
tanks have actually left this site in southwest Russia?
MS. PSAKI: There are
reports that they have. We know that they are preparing to depart, so –
but the reports are reports. I don't have anything in —
QUESTION: Okay.
MS. PSAKI: — confirmation of those. There are reports out there that we've seen.
In his conversation with Foreign Minister Fabius, you said that
Secretary Kerry talked about the Poroshenko ceasefire, which he has now
ordered a start of. The Russians have come back just within the last
half hour or so and said that this looks like an ultimatum and doesn't
really look like a ceasefire. Can you be more – can you elaborate on –
more on what you think, what you – what the Administration thinks of the
ceasefire proposal, whether it's an ultimatum or it's a challenge and
not really a ceasefire?
Well, it's a unilateral ceasefire, and certainly they need a partner in
order to – for it to be effective. But these are steps taken by
President Poroshenko and the Ukrainian Government to provide a path to
de-escalation. Obviously, the Russian separatists – or Russian-backed
separatists – would need to be a partner in that, as would the Russians,
in order to – for it to be effective on both sides.
Okay. And then have you seen since – recognizing it's only a couple
hours old now – but have you seen any indication from the Russians that
they're willing to now take steps to – that you think would de-escalate
the situation?
MS. PSAKI: We have not seen new steps, and, in fact, I've pointed to some escalatory steps.
QUESTION: So in fact, they're doing the opposite of what you say they should be doing?
MS. PSAKI: Correct.
QUESTION: All right. And still – there's still no trigger, though, for these sectoral sanctions?
MS. PSAKI: Well, I know
we announced the sanctioning of seven new individuals this morning.
Early next week, as I noted, the Secretary will be at the NATO
ministerial meeting where Ukraine will be a big part of that
conversation, and there will also be a range of meetings among Europeans
next week, so we certainly expect these issues to be a big topic of
QUESTION: So is this ambassador – this Russian ambassador to the United Nations, is he lying?
MS. PSAKI: I will let you put labels out there, Lucas, but I conveyed to you what we know as the United States.
QUESTION: Can I ask you a question?
QUESTION: I don't know that you'll be able to answer this, and you may want to just —
QUESTION: — refer it to Treasury, where I've already asked the question —
MS. PSAKI: Okay.
QUESTION: — and not
gotten an answer. The seven individuals who were identified in the
Treasury release and in a separate kind of fact sheet about them, and it
has information like dates of birth, in some cases places of birth.
Only one of the seven – for only one of the seven is the citizenship of
the individual specified. That person is Russian. Who are the other –
what is the nationality of the other six?
MS. PSAKI: It's a good
question. I don't know it off the top of my head. I will follow up with
them and see if that's information that we can provide. As was noted in
there with the details in the press release, it's more related to the
actions, and some of them are Russian-backed, so – but I will see if
there's more we can provide.
QUESTION: Jen, who's taking escalatory measures, the Russians or the Russian separatists?
MS. PSAKI: Well,
certainly the Russian separatists. But again, there's no question in our
view that Russia has the ability to call on them to lay down their arms
and to secure the border, and there's more that they can do to promote a
de-escalatory process.
QUESTION: I have one more on Russia.
MS. PSAKI: Sure, go ahead. Go ahead, Ali.
In Russia, in the region, there was sort of the latest example of
Russia's fabrication of stories. I would also defer to Matt on this line
of questioning, because it involved him, but –
QUESTION: I just wanted to stay clear of it, but go ahead.
QUESTION: But I just want to get your take on it, and what do you make of that story that was out there today.
Well, to be clear, and I used social media to tweet about this earlier
today, but there was a report about comments I made that were comments I
never made, and so I would first clarify that. But I would say broadly
speaking that the tactics of fabricated news stories and a range of
vicious personal attacks that I and others have been a victim of are not
steps you take when you're operating from a position of strength. And
there's no question that the more we talk about our support for a
strong, sovereign Ukraine, the greater the attacks become, so I will
leave it to others to draw their own conclusions on that front.
White House Welcomes Poroshenko's Unilateral Ceasefire, Calls on Russia to Pull Back Its Forces
The White House Office of the Press Secretary released the following this evening. The statement is not on whitehouse.gov and was distributed by former Amb. Michael McFaul on his Facebook page.
Readout of the President's Calls with Chancellor Merkel of Germany and President Hollande of France
The President spoke separately today with Chancellor Merkel of Germany
and President Hollande of France to consult about the crisis in Ukraine.
The leaders welcomed President Poroshenko's announcement of a
unilateral ceasefire and reemphasized the need for Russia to pull back
its destabilizing presence of military forces on the border of Ukraine,
stop the flow of weapons and militants across the border, and exercise
its influence among armed separatists to lay down their weapons and
renounce violence. They agreed that should Russia fail to take
immediate, concrete steps to deescalate the situation in eastern
Ukraine, the United States and the European Union would coordinate
additional steps to impose costs on Russia. The leaders also expressed
concern about the situation in Iraq and the threat posed by ISIL.
Heavy Gunfire at Izvarino Border Crossing
This video purportedly shows heavy gunfire and flares near the Izvarino border crossing between Ukraine and Russia:
The footage claims, and appears to be, taken much later at night than the incident described in the ITAR-TASS report we posted on previously.
We have not been able to precisely geolocate this footage however the title claims it was filmed at the Russian customs station.
Russian Report of Attack on Ukrainian Border Station at Izvarino
The Russian state-owned news agency ITAR-TASS reports that "unidentified gunmen" have attacked the Ukrainian border checkpoint at Izvarino.
They report, citing Vasily Malayev, a press officer for the Rostov oblast branch of the FSB Border Department:
"Unidentified armed men attacked one more border crossing point from Izvarino (Ukraine) to Donetsk (Russia). At approximately 22:30 Moscow time [18:30 GMT] Ukrainian border guards came from the Izvarino station to the Donetsk side and asked for shelter from the armed men who were pursuing them. There are wounded among the Ukrainian border guards", he said.
Malayev added that the wounded had given the necessary first aid. "They were evacuated to the nearest medical facility in the town of Donetsk (in the Rostov region)", he said.
Translated by The Interpreter.
Poroshenko Proposes 15 Point Peace Plan
The office of the Ukrainian President, Petro Poroshenko, has published his proposals for a peace plan:
Peaceful plan of the President of Ukraine on the settlement of the situation in eastern regions of Ukraine:
1. Security guarantees for all the participants of negotiations.
2. Amnesty for those who laid down weapons and didn't commit serious crimes.
3. Liberation of hostages.
4. Establishment of 10 km long buffer zone on the Ukrainian-Russian border. Withdrawal of illegal armed formations.
5. Secure corridor for the escape of Russian and Ukrainian mercenaries.
6. Disarmament.
7. Establishment of units for joint patrolling in the structure of the MIA.
8. Liberation of illegally seized administrative premises in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
9. Restoration of functioning of local government.
10. Restoration of central television and radio broadcasting in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
11. Decentralization of power (through the election of executive committees, protection of Russian language; draft amendments to the Constitution).
12. Coordination of governors with representatives of the Donbas before the elections (in case of the approval of single candidature, in case of discrepancies – the decision is taken by the President).
13. Early local and parliamentary elections.
14. Program of creating jobs in the region.
15. Restoration of industrial objects and objects of social infrastructure.
The BBC reports that Poroshenko also announced that he would invite the OSCE to monitor the ceasefire.
However they note that the Russian government has not reacted enthusiastically to the ceasefire announcement:
The Kremlin dismissed the truce, saying it was "not an invitation to peace and negotiations but an ultimatum".
Ukrainian news agencies quoted a senior rebel commander as saying the insurgents would not lay their arms until government troops had left the region.
Report of Shooting in Krasnodon
Tatiana Pogukai, the head of the public relations department of the Lugansk regional branch of the Interior Ministry, has written on her Facebook page about a violent attack in Krasnodon.
In Krasnodon armed men have fired at a shuttle bus carrying miners. One person was killed and six wounded.
Today at 16:00 [13:00 GMT] in the centre of the town of Krasnodon, on Artem Street, men armed with automatic weapons, dressed in camouflaged clothing, fired on an Iveco shuttle bus in which miners were travelling from work (10 people in total with the driver).
As a result of the shooting, 1 man was killed on the spot and 6 people were admitted to hospital with gunshot wounds.
Krasnodon was also the location of the first sighting of the unmarked Russian military convoy today. The town lies extremely close to the Russian border.
Russian Tanks Spotted in Alchevsk, Headed Toward Slavyansk
We have some more information on the tanks sighted in Alchevsk which we reported earlier, and for which @djp3tros has provided what we consider a convincing geolocation.
YouTube user Novo Ukraina has uploaded the same video today reporting a Russian military convoy in Alchevsk in Lugansk Region, Ukraine, heading toward Perevalsk and Slavyansk.
The convoy had numerous vehicles, and at least 20 tanks, 5 BTRs and 11 trucks. The viewer also spotted anti-aircraft weapons chained to one vehicle. On one of the BTRs, the insignia of the "Almighty Troops of the Don" were seen, a registered Cossack organization.
We were unable to confirm all the information.
Here's an additional video uploaded June 19th by Lenta Novostei (Newswire), said to be early in the morning at Gukovo.
It seems to show the same column of Russian armored vehicles yesterday, moving toward the border, with close-ups of vehicles and personnel. Russian flags are on a number of the vehicles, and one flag may be the Russian airborne troops' flag.
The videographer said he counted 25 BTRs with 3 GRADs passing over the border.
Russia Denounces Border Shelling; Ukrainian Military Denies, Blames Separatists
The Russian Foreign Ministry has issued a complaint about what they describe as "the shelling of a Russian border crossing from the side of Ukraine." The Interpreter has provided a translation:
"Today the Russian border crossing of Novoshakhtinsk was shelled by Ukrainian forces. There are damages. A customs officer is severely wounded.
Russia expresses its decisive protest in connection with this aggressive action. We demand from Kiev an urgent and immediate investigation of all the circumstances of this crime which has violated the elementary norms and principles of international law.
This is a question of outright provocation, whose purpose is not to allow the implementation of the Geneva accords on the rapid de-escalation of the internal Ukrainian conflict.
How can this be compared to the statements today of the Kiev authorities regarding the ceasefire?"
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military has denied the claim, saying "it did not use artillery and mortars during action to restore the state border in the east of Ukraine," unian.net reported.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces said that an ATO (anti-terrorist operation) was conducted near the border crossing of Dolzhansky at the Ukrainian-Russian border. Separatists have been occupying this border post for some time, and put up a "desperate" armed resistance to government troops, says unian.net.
When they opened a barrage of chaotic gunfire, the
fighters tried to hold their positions. At one point in the clashes a
mortar mine exploded near the border line. According to information from
the Russian government, a representative of the Russian Federation
customs service was wounded.
A military spokesperson said:
"In that connection, the Defense Ministry of Ukraine Department of Press and Information is authorized to state that despite the proximity to the state border with the Russian Federation, artillery or mortars were not used and are not being used by Ukrainian military
But terrorists, for whom it is important to organize a provocation with the purpose of destabilizing the border regions are actively using their available heavy artillery and mortars."
Reports of Russian Soldiers Dressing up as Ukrainian Military
UAinfo.org reports that some Russian soldiers being deployed to Lugansk and Donetsk regions are being handed Ukrainian army uniforms to wear in the ultimate maskirovka.
A young recruit from the Russian army reportedly called his mother and said, "We have all been changed into Ukrainian military informs and deployed in Ukraine…many are already in Ukraine…I don't know for what…"
UAinfo.org is also citing a report from residents of Rostov Region in Russia near the Ukrainian border who said they saw military men in Ukrainian uniforms who spoke with the broad "As" of the Muscovite accent in Russian, not the accent of Russian-speakers in Ukraine.
Reports have also reportedly surfaced on Twitter of "dressed-up Russian soldiers near the Ukrainian border," says UAinfo.org.
We have not been able to confirm any of these reports but they are consistent with efforts to mask the true Russian military presence in Ukraine in the past.
Russian Foreign Ministry Does Not Recognize Ukrainian Border
The Russian Foreign Ministry has issued a tart communique following a telephone conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Klimkin. The Interpreter has provided a translation:
"With surprise we have learned of the commentary on this conversation made by the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine in which the support by the ministers is claimed of the Ukrainian President's plan 'with an emphasis on effective control of the Ukrainian border.'
First of all, this does not correspond to reality. It is hard to support what does not yet exist in reality. We would like to underscore once again that in the telephone conversation with our Ukrainian colleague, S.V. Lavrov called on Kiev to hold talks with those who really control the situation in the South East of Ukraine."
Earlier, Kiev had unilaterally declared that it was demarcating and closing the border. But with this statement, Russia is saying that it does not recognize the Ukrainian border and feels free to deal with separatists who have taken over border posts in recent weeks and control movement across the southeast of Ukraine.
More Tanks Sighted in Gukovo
A citizen reporter has uploaded a video time-stamped in the last hour of more Russian tanks and BTRs spotted in the Russian town of Gukovo near the Ukrainian border.
The video shows a group of people standing at a bus stop who all salute the tanks in unison.
The location of the tank spotted in Gukovo has been confirmed on Google Maps Street View on ul. Karl Marx Street.
Russian Authorities Preparing Tent Cities for Refugees from Ukraine
Russian authorities are preparing tent cities for what they anticipate will be massive flows of refugees from Ukraine, the state news agency RIA Novosti reported this evening.
The announcement came within a context of an official justification for invasion of Ukraine — the need to make a "humanitarian corridor" to ensure the safety of civilians fleeing armed conflict between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian military.
Officials say the ability to host refugees temporarily in Rostov Region is "virtually exhausted," but there are people who prepared to take them in, Gov. Vasily Golubev told Baltkom today.
Golubev claims there are already 7,000 refugees in his region from the conflict in Ukraine, although the Russian media has been found to exaggerate the numbers and the situation requires further investigation.
Here's what RIA Novosti says, although it has not been confirmed by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees or any other independent authority. Note that even within this one article, the numbers cited by the governor and the news agency itself differed:
"Since June, due to the aggravation of the situation in the southeast of Ukraine, the flow of refugees into Russia rose sharly, including in the Rostov Region near the border. Every day, about 10,000 citizens of Ukraine are entering, some of whom remain in the region, and others who are transiting through. According to the Russian Emergencies Ministry, more than 10 Russian regions are now active in accepting refugees from the southeastern regions of Ukraine.
In order to receive refugees in the south and center of Russia, already more than 200 temporary placement areas have been opened, including tent cities. There are now 9,700 people in the temporary placement facilities, including 5,300 children. Another 12,000 people are placed with relatives and acquaintances."
Ukraine's President To Declare Ceasefire As Russian Tanks Cross the Border
Petro Poroshenko has decreed a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine. Below The Interpreter has translated a report from Interfax.
At National Guard's Anti-Terrorist Center Headquarters, Poroshenko Announces Decree on Ceasefire in East
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko arrived at the National Guard's Anti-Terrorist Center where he announced his intention to sign a decree on a temporary ceasefire in the immediate future.
"As the president noted, he will soon sign a decree on a temporary ceasefire. This is being done in order to enable the terrorists to put down their weapons, and those who do not do this, will be destroyed,' the report on the site of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry stated on Friday.
The statement notes that also at the [National Guard] camp was Arsen Avakov, head of the Interior Ministry, Andrei Parubiy, secretary of the council for National Security and Defense, and Stepan Poltorak, commander of the National Guard.
Poroshenko handed out state awards and military equipment (thermovision cameras and binoculars) to the soldiers of the National Guard.
Earlier Valery Chaliy, deputy head of the presidential administration announced that on Friday, the peace plan for eastern Ukraine proposed by Poroshenko will be announced.
But it seems that some have already accused Poroshenko of bowing to pressure from Russia in light of today's small-scale invasion and the growing number of Russian troops preparing to cross the border.
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Russia Says Its Tanks Are For Security — But This Is Invasion
As we have been reporting, Russian armored vehicles, including tanks and multiple-rocket launchers, have already crossed into Ukraine. Far more Russian military hardware is massing on the border or flocking toward Ukraine at this very moment. Now the international community is beginning to realize the magnitude of the problem.
Russia, of course, says that these troops are moving toward Ukraine as a precaution:
Russian Media Hint at 'Humanitarian' Pretext for Wider Invasion
The Russian, pro-Kremlin, news site Pravda.ru has published an article, citing a supposed "source in the Ministry of Defence", that hints strongly at a possible Russian pretext for invading Ukraine. The source says that not only have forces returned (as we have clearly seen) but that plans exist to cross the border and establish a "humanitarian corridor" in the Donbass.
Russian tanks indeed appear to have already crossed the border, albeit unmarked. The article also describes a visit by Sergei Ivanov, the head of the Presidential Administration, to Rostov where he described the situation in Ukraine as "genocide". While today's deployment of unmarked forces may serve to provide some sort of provocation or advanced spearhead to establish control, there are clear signs that the Russian government is considering an open invasion under the guise of humanitarian intervention. Such apparent government leaks in the Russian media are often employed by the Kremlin to give heed to their plans.
According to a source at the Ministry of Defence, army units and military equipment are drawing up to the Russo-Ukrainian border. That they are equipped with engineering and construction equipment as well as fuel tankers and medical battalions indicates that the military is here to stay for a long time. RBK reports this citing a source in the Ministry of Defence.
The source also confirmed to the agency reports that scenarios are being worked out for Russian forces in Donetsk and Lugansk to create a so-called "humanitarian corridor" in the Donbass.
"Indeed, such a possibility is being studied: within days of receiving the order the military would need to create screens between the civilian population and the Ukrainian army, and propose an ultimatum to the opposing side on the need for a ceasefire. The use of force is only possible in the event of fire in our direction", said the military source.
Diplomats Scramble to React To Russian Invasion of Ukraine
The United States is just waking up to the fact that Russia has sent an invasion force across the border into Ukraine today and is staging a much larger force on the border right now:
Ukraine appears to be backing down under the pressure while simultaneously launching a diplomatic effort to stop Russia's aggression:
The bottom line, however, is that the separatists appear to have just been gifted with a lot of Russian military hardware, weapons that they will use to continue to exert control over eastern Ukraine, and with Russia's army back on Ukraine's border and threatening a larger invasion, Ukraine may be powerless to stop the separatist insurgents from gaining more ground.
Poroshenko To Sign Ceasefire In Wake Of Russian Agression
Breaking news: Facing a full-fledged Russian invasion of eastern Ukraine, President Poroshenko is going to order a ceasefire.
Ukraine had relaunched a far more robust anti-terrorism operation in the east after multiple rebel victories had secured Ukrainian military bases, border posts, and National Guard installations. Russia responded by sending its troops to the border and today those forces have already started to cross into Ukraine according to many reports today.
The separatists were losing ground, and now it looks like Russia has come to their rescue.
Unmarked Russian Combat Vehicles on Train Near Border
A closer inspection of a video of Russian armoured vehicles being transported near the border at Millerovo yesterday shows that a number of the vehicles are unmarked, like those seen in eastern Ukraine.
Compare the camouflage and numbering visible on the T-80 tank here:
With the following screenshot showing an armoured vehicle (perhaps an 1V16) in the same uniform drab green paint as seen on the T-64s seen in Ukraine today:
Note also that the vehicle carries no numbering.
Also seen with blank markings in this convoy is a 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer:
It is worth noting that the Gvozdika is an older model which, in addition to being in Russian service, is also employed by Ukraine.
Have these vehicles been prepared for operations in Ukraine?
Meanwhile, @djp3tros has pointed out that a column, greatly resembling that seen earlier today in Lugansk, was filmed in the early hours of the morning in Krasnodon, right on the border with Russia:
He provides the following geolocation:
Given this information, it appears extremely unlikely that the military column could have originated anywhere other than Russia.
Ukrainian Defence Minister: Captured Rocket Launcher Identified as Russian
Mikhail Koval, the Ukrainian defence minister, announced today at the Rada that a Grad rocket launcher used by the separatists had been identified by documents as belonging to a Russian army unit. He also commented on the fates of the T64 tanks which were seen near Snezhnoye last week. His address does not however discuss today's unprecedented movements of apparently Russian armour in the East.
Ukrainska Pravda reports, translated by The Interpreter:
"We have had operational reports that 10 Grad BM-21 military vehicles have crossed the Ukrainian state border and are in Ukrainian territory", said Koval.
According to him, one vehicle has been caught and destroyed.
The Ukrainian military have found evidence that it belongs to the Russian army.
"Inside it, we found evidence that suggests that this was a vehicle from the 18th motor rifle brigade from Chechnya, in the southern military district of the Russian Federation. There were notebooks, firing maps and stamps from this brigade", said Koval.
In addition to this one, the Ukrainian military has discovered 6 more of such vehicles.
"We are maintaining visual contact with them. And once they come within shooting range we will open fire at once. Our actions are denying them the opportunity to open fire accurately", he said.
"We have recorded only two occasions when the rocket launchers have opened fire. This was the settlement of Belopole and, secondly, Ambrosievka", noted Koval.
He also reported on the spotted tanks.
"Regarding the tanks: we identified three tanks, two of them were damaged last week in the area of Saur-Mogila. One was completely destroyed, the other was successfully evacuated by our enemies. These T-64 tanks are from the Russian army, without numbers", said the head of the Ministry of Defence.
In addition, according to Koval, the enemy have 2 IS-2 tanks, which they removed from pedestals – one of them is moving.
Five BTRs have also been spotted.
We note that, as yet, there has been no photo or video evidence of the destruction of the T-64 referred to by Koval.
The IS-2 tanks to which Koval refers were taken from war memorials. There is footage of a similar IS-3 tank, which dates from the very end of the war, being reactivated by separatists on YouTube:
Multiple Sightings Suggest Russian Forces Advancing Deep Into Ukraine
There have now been multiple sightings, recorded on video, of a column of Russian forces including tanks, APCs and military trucks progressing as far as Gorlovka in the Donetsk region.
This video, which we believe has been successfully geolocated by @djp3tros on his ukraineatwar blog appears to show the column entering Lugansk from the south-east.
The location of suggested by @djp3tros, and checked by ourselves, is here:
This is a video that appears to show the same column of vehicles, seen in our previous update, elsewhere in Lugansk. There are at least 4 tanks and 5 BTRs along with numerous military trucks and private cars and vans.
A look on Google Maps suggests that this may be location of the video. Note the match in the appearance main exits from the roundabout and the small turn-off visible in the video to the lower right (seen on the northern side of the roundabout on the map).
The location suggested by @djp3tros for the video we posted earlier is here, just to the west of the location above. We think that this match is accurate, given the distinctive building visible in the video.
Here is another video, to the west of Lugansk now, in Alchevsk. Again @djp3tros has provided what we consider a convincing geolocation.
Most recently, the vehicles have been filmed in the separatist held town of Gorlovka:
Once more, we thank @djp3tros for providing another geolocation of this video, which have checked and appears to be correct.
Thus, we can plot a basic route from this videos:
These photos, which we haven't verified yet, but which do appear to show the same column, we purportedly taken near Debaltseve, which would fit with the prospective route above.
These developments are extremely worrying. We should note that we have never before seen such an enormous show of force from separatist fighters, and that these unmarked T-64s do not match the appearance of Ukrainian ones we have seen, such as one shown in a recent video.
Following the appearance of three similarly unmarked T-64BVs last week, NATO issued a report in which they said that the vehicles had most likely come out Russian reserve storage and crossed the border.
With video emerging that appears to show a large quantity of Russian heavy armour being ferried by rail close to the border at Millerovo (notably close to Lugansk) yesterday, it appears that an outright invasion by Russia may already be beginning.
Are the Russians Coming?
A number of Ukraine-watchers on social media are speculating whether the long-anticipated Russian invasion is underway.
Some think so:
The question is: which Russians?
There are reports of numerous military vehicles rumbling through Lugansk this morning, bearing the flags of Crimea and the black-and-orange St. George banners.
Does that suggest, as some are speculating, that forces from Russian-occupied Crimea are entering
the Ukrainian mainland rather than from Russian Federation territory?
But how did they cross the border from Crimea, then, which is supposed to be "under lock and key"? In fact, Dmitry Tymchuk of Information Resistance announced this morning that the Ukrainian military is finishing up a border-closure operation.
Tymchuk also said that 2 T-64 tanks had entered Lugansk and 5 BTRs [armored transport vehicles[.
And the National Guard is declaring that they have seized a Russian BTR in Donetsk Region, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov has reported on his Facebook page.
We have not confirmed this information.
The Interpreter has provided a translation of Avakov's post:
Last night, during an attempt by a group of terrorists to break through on the Russian side in the region of Maryinovka, deep into Ukrainian territory, divisions of the national Guard of Ukraine seized a BTR-80. Terrorists were partially destroyed and partially detained.
In the photos below its the BTR seized and its record book. Note the stamp of the Russian military unit. That is for diplomats and doubters.
There are the great words of the great Russian warrior. Putin must remember them. "Who comes to us with the sword, will perish by the sword!" Glory to Ukraine!
Arsen Avakov BTR incursion invasion NAtional Guard Russians are coming T-64 tank
Russia-Backed Forces Attack 56X; 2 Ukrainian Soldiers Killed, 1 Wounded; Fight Breaks Out at Blockade
1 Separatist Fighter Killed; 1 Ukrainian Soldier Wounded Near Avdeyevka; 67 Attacks by Russia-Backed Forces
Yanukovych Appears As Witness In Ukrainian Court Via Video Link, But Hearing Rescheduled Until Monday
2 Ukrainian Teens Injured by Grenade; Poroshenko Plans to Send National Guard to Front Line
Despite Fears And Tensions, Yesterday's Anniversary In Odessa Passed Relatively Peacefully


This is a simple slot machine which does not resemble the real machines in a casino. However, it does demonstrate the concept of probability in an actual slot machine. Slot machines is a game of chance , many different outcomes will appear when the player press the play button.
Randomness can be achieved by using the RND function. We also insert a timer to create the animated effect of a slot machine. The time interval is set to 10 so that the shapes change at a fast rate thus creates the illusion of animation. The program also uses a variable x to control the timer so that it can be stopped when x achieve certain value, otherwise the program will loop forever.


For many of us, the quest for wisdom grows stronger as our earthly journey continues. That quest is over when we open and begin to study the Bible, particularly the Book of Proverbs.
Now, author Scott Lindsey has written a wonderful guide for us to enjoy the relevance of Proverbs in our own time. Combining insightful commentary with specific verses to help us in our daily living, The Wisdom of Proverbs will be a precious gift for those wanting to unlock the treasure chest of knowledge.


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Building on National Climate Momentum, Lawmakers Re-Introduce GREEN Act With Key Solar Provisions
Monday, Feb 08 2021
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Lawmakers on the House Ways and Means Committee's Subcommittee on Tax Policy have re-introduced the Growing Renewable Energy and Efficiency Now (GREEN) Act. The bill includes several key solar provisions, including a five-year extension of the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), and a direct pay option for large projects when claiming the ITC.
Following is a statement by Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) on the re-introduction of this critical legislation:
"SEIA appreciates the work of committee leaders, particularly Chairman Thompson, a devoted clean energy champion, for the inclusion of a long-term extension of the solar ITC in the GREEN Act. Long-term tax policy drives deployment of solar energy, giving companies the certainty needed to make business investments at the scale we need to tackle the climate crisis.
"This is a moment of critical national momentum for climate action, clean energy and environmental justice. Now is the time to act and help our economy and our communities recover. We look forward to working with the committee to continue to refine the legislation, including ways to expand access of distributed generation solar to more families through the tax code, and capitalize on this momentum and address key details as the legislation advances."
About SEIA®:
The Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA) is leading the transformation to a clean energy economy, creating the framework for solar to achieve 20% of U.S. electricity generation by 2030. SEIA works with its 1,000 member companies and other strategic partners to fight for policies that create jobs in every community and shape fair market rules that promote competition and the growth of reliable, low-cost solar power. Founded in 1974, SEIA is a national trade association building a comprehensive vision for the Solar+ Decade through research, education and advocacy. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org and follow @SEIA on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Morgan Lyons, SEIA's Senior Communications Manager, [email protected] (202) 556-2872
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Media Inquiries? Please contact Morgan Lyons at [email protected].
Wednesday, Dec 14, 2022
Solar Industry Statement on Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Report
WASHINGTON D.C. —Today the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis issued a report outlining recent progress made toward addressing the climate crisis and opportunities for further policy action. Following is a statement from Erin Duncan, vice president of congressional affairs for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) on the report:
Solar and Storage Industry Statement on Midterm Election Results
Today, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) congratulates newly elected governors, state lawmakers and members of Congress who will play an important role in shaping the future of clean energy in the United States.
Tuesday, Aug 16, 2022
President Biden's Signature on Historic Inflation Reduction Act Secures America's Position as the Global Leader on Clean Energy
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, sparking the biggest investment in clean energy ever made in U.S. history. The law contains 10-year tax incentives for solar and storage deployment, investments in domestic solar manufacturing and other critical energy provisions.
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Search Engine Guide > Jennifer Laycock > AOL Search Introduces New Search Features
AOL Search Introduces New Search Features
AOL announced the addition of new search features to its site this morning. The new AOL Search continues to be powered by core results from the Google index while adding relevant content from the AOL network.
Users will find an updated design that does away with the traditional tabbed interface and introduces quick text links for navigating between Web, image, audio/video and news results. AOL claims that the new design will lead to a more directed search experience. The new interface also features a drop down option on the query box that allows users to view recent search strings and suggestions for searches related to a users current query. AOL calls these suggestions "SmartBox�" and explain that it's designed to help users "refine and clarify their search." The example provided by AOL is that a user who types in the word "eagles" will be prompted by SmartBox to specify �The Eagles� (the band), �The Philadelphia Eagles� (football team), or �Eagles� (the bird).
AOL has also licensed clustering technology from Vivismo in order to add a new sense of organization to search results. While search results from the Google index are still displayed when a search is conducted, AOL has added a column to the left side of the results that aims to categorize content related to a user's query. The idea is to help users dig down to more specific information by narrowing their queries with additional keywords. The move makes AOL Search the first major search site to incorporate clustering technology.
I conducted a few test searches just to give AOL's new feature a test run. The results were accurate, but the text descriptions for narrowing the searches could use some work. For example, my first search query was "how much should my two month old eat." The first few search results listings were pretty spot on and included some forum threads from a variety of parenting Web sites. Had I simply been looking for an answer to my question, I would have been satisfied with what was presented. Taking the extra time to look over the new clustering feature left me a bit confused though.
The clustered results were divided into two categories: "baby eat" and "boy." Now, the phrase "baby eat" wouldn't be so bad if the first sub-listing under it wasn't "your child." I'm not sure I want to see the results generated by "baby eat + your child." As for the second category...my baby is a girl, so the word "boy" doesn't seem all that relative and kind of makes me wonder why they assume that my baby is a boy. Semantics aside, narrowing the results with these options proved to be pretty handy. Selecting the somewhat scary "baby eat your child" option resulted in quite a few articles by pediatricians designed at answering any and all questions about feeding infants. Even clicking "toddler," which was the first sub-listing under "boy" provided accurate answers to my original question. In other words, AOL is providing what they promise, they just need to work a bit on their presentation.
AOL has also introduced a new feature dubbed "Snapshots" that is designed to help searchers take advantage of the information found in the AOL content network. Snapshots results only show up for relevant search terms and are more likely to be triggered by searches for products or services. A quick search for "columbus, ohio bbq" revealed no Snapshots information, but a second search for "dvd player" provided links to by DVD players or movies from an AOL partner site. This was slightly disappointing as AOL's press release about the new service made it sound like I was more likely to find AOL member reviews of various DVD players along with content like "how to buy a DVD player" or other informational articles.
AOL has also announced plans for partnerships with Fast Search & Transfer, Inc. and Copernic to further expand their local search and desktop search capabilities in the coming year.
Discuss the new AOL Search features at the Small Business Ideas Forum.
AOL Search Adds New Features
Ask Jeeves Butler Returns
Ixquick Metasearch Engine Introduces New Features
Beta Version of Yahoo! News Goes Live


An ultra-fine plastic point with metal clip. Soft and smooth writing feel for general writing, drawing and designing. High-density dye ink.
Fine Bullet Point. Pump-action alcohol-based liquid ink whiteboard marker. For use on white oards, porcelain boards and electronic copy boards. Pigment ink. 1200m average writing distance.
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