text:
The Murgatroyd Diary and Resources
Deep Thoughts from The North and More Serious Materials
Other Writing….
Presentations and Papers (The Serious Stuff)
The Centre for Strategic Foresight
June 3rd
Let's take a walk around the world and see what is happening…
The US has descended into chaos: leaderless, lawless and desperate for answers. On top of which, public health policies have been replaced by crowd violence and the complete absence of social distancing. COVID-19 is winning and law and order, at least in some significant parts of the US, is failing. At a moment like this leadership is key – it can make a difference. Some police forces, taking a knee or quietly joining with the protestors, show true leadership. Some Mayors and Governors are showing leadership. Absent is Presidential leadership. Declaring many governors as weak and ineffectual and urging them to meet violence with greater force; declaring burning the flag a serious crime, which the Supreme Court has twice defended as a right; declaring Antifa a terrorist organization as if this solves anything; using force to clear the street for a photo-op holding a bible; and speaking only to his deplorables in racist code is not leadership. Nor is declaring martial law. Let's hope American's can see their President for what he is: a lost and self-defeating little boy in a big body with a psychological disorder. He will be seen like Nero, fiddling with himself in a bunker while the US burns.
To make things worse, some doctors are lying. The official autopsy suggested that George Floyd died of "natural causes", including pre-existing heart conditions. This account is flatly contradicted by an independent autopsy, which found no evidence of heart disease and is explicit: he was killed because a police officer killed him. End of story. Murder is murder.
Even the Amish are protesting. Peacefully. A sign that things this time are different.
The world goes on (for some):
Restaurants are opening again, but with seat restrictions, social distancing rules and strict cleaning requirements both front of house and in the kitchens. It will be difficult. Kitchens are designed around the brigade system – different people have different roles – and the line, where chefs stand next to each other performing different tasks. Having grown up in restaurant kitchens (grandfather was a chef), the kitchen will be tough. Many famous restaurateurs – Rick Stein in Padstow, Marcus Wearing in London, Gordon Ramsey worldwide – are unsure whether their various establishments will survive. Nando's Canada is closing 21 of its venues permanently. VJ's Rangoli and Holy Crab in Vancouver are also gone as is Doan's Vietnamese in Edmonton. In Canada, this is an $85 billion industry (4% of GDP) that employs 1.2 million people (7% of the workforce) in 97,000 locations. 20% of young people – students in particular – work in the sector, with many using their pay as a means of paying for college or university. 70% of restaurant owners have indicated that they may not make it.
Britain is willing to offer a path to citizenship for Hong Kong passport holders if China now imposes the law it passed last week restricting the rights of HK citizens. China tore up its agreement with Britain which led to the repatriation of HK to China.
Britain's response to COVID-19 is about as clear as banana smoothie. Yes you can have people visit at home, but they can't be old or stand close by, go to the toilet or enjoy themselves. Yes you can travel, but not to Barnard's Castle. Yes you can go to church, but do stand 6' apart and don't sing. Yes, you can fly into Britain but self-isolate for 14 days before you do anything, like go to church unless you're from a country which permits singing in church. No you can't go on holiday abroad, but Ireland is OK. Yes, you can visit the Pizza Express in Woking, but don't get too near Prince Andrew, just back from having his eyes tested in Barnard Castle. It's so confusing.
There is talk in Britain about tourists from countries with R numbers (reproduction rate in the population for COVID-19 – the number of people a person with the virus will infect) lower or the same as the UK being able to come to the UK without having to self-isolate. This is called "an air bridge" – a bridge between nations via air travel. UK has an R rate of between .7 and .9 (it needs to be below 1 otherwise the virus will expand exponentially) depending on which part of the country we're talking about – Cornwall has a much lower rate than Wales or Tayside. While there is no "safe" number, a number of .5 or below may become acceptable level of risk. If the rule is that only those traveling from countries with a lower R number than the UK will be permitted to enter the UK, then almost anywhere except Portugal and the US would be eligible. It is already possible for tourists from the Island of Man, Ireland, Jersey and Guernsey to travel to the UK without self-isolating. There are just so many people wanting to see Barnard Castle, now that Dominic Cummings has made it the #1 tourist destination.
Having had his troops tear-gas and assault peaceful protestors so he, as President of the United States, could walk to a Church he has never attended to hold up a Bible he has never read for no apparent reason, the White House Press Secretary now compares President Trump's actions to Churchill surveying parts of London after the blitz. A few subtle differences: (a) Churchill didn't do the bombing of London; (b) Churchill had read the bible; (c) Churchill did his walkabouts to offer comfort to people hurt by the bombs not to gloat over the mayhem; and (d) Churchill always had something intelligent to say; and (e)Trump is about as close to Churchill as a pit-bull is to a budgerigar. The end of history has happened, at least in the near empty head of the Press Secretary. The end of the Presidency is happening, thanks to the voices now speaking out like General Mattis and Trump's own Defence Secretary, Mark Esper.
Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, gave Donald Trump the bird this week by saying "no" to an in-person G7 summit, no to inviting Russia and no having anything to do with a clinically obese orange alien with all the skills of a Muppet. Justin Trudeau took 21 seconds of careful thought to answer a question about what was going on in the US – we'll have to await his memoirs to find out all the expletives he was editing out during those 21 seconds. Even some GOP stalwarts are struggling to find the words to continue their co-dependency.
On 3rd May 2007 a young girl disappeared from a hotel bedroom while her parents (both doctors) ate a meal with friends at a resort in Portugal. Madeleine McCann, then aged three, has never been found. There is now a clear suspect for the first time in thirteen years – a German 43-year-old man called Christian Brueckner who has convictions for child sex abuse and the rape of a senior. The German authorities have said (with some certainty) that Madeleine is dead. This case gripped Britain and the world at the time and has been the subject of ongoing investigations. Maddi's parents were, at one point, suspected of her murder. This dreadful saga may now be coming to an end. Let's hope so.
Sex workers in Amsterdam's red-light district have been instructed not to work until at least September 2021. Many of them are having to find new ways of describing their services, since they still need to earn money to live. "Body mechanic", "body tester" and "skilled enabler" were all terms in use this week (according to the BBC). My own favourite is "pre-Trump visit preparation worker" – a job Stormy Daniels once had, according to Melania.
New developments in breakthrough inept government are now happening daily here in Alberta, thanks to the UCP kakistocracy. Our Minister of Health, fresh from disabling rural hospitals, avoided an independent recruitment process for a key mental health advocate position and appointed a friend instead (at least he didn't appoint his wife). Our inept Minister of Education, fresh off cutting 20,000+ positions from the school system, has complained that elected officials are not being invited to Zoom or drive by graduation events (perhaps because they are not welcome) and the UCP has passed legislation (yet another Bill – Bill 1) which falls foul of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms outlawing protests against things like, well the government. It is no wonder that Albertan's (according to polling this week) now prefer Justin Trudeau over Jason Kenney – but then I would prefer a flatbill platypus over Jason Kenney (who sometimes resembles one).
The US Senate is unable to pass legislation outlawing lynching (just pause for a moment and read that again). What is amazing here is the legislating banning lynching is having to be considered at all. What kind of "greatest country on earth" is this? One problem is that some Senators do not want the proposed law to include protection for LGTBQ2+! Answer to the question posed: a country rushing to become third world country, getting worse every day, thanks to corruption, capitalism and idiocy.
As an example of how sad things are in the US, a gay escort is hinting on social media that Lindsey Graham has used the services of several male escorts over the years, including himself, and made them sign non-disclosure agreements. Apparently, the Senator likes to be called Lady G. The "real" Lady Gaga is not amused and neither is Lady Glenconner. But then Lindsay Graham is not happy either, well until his friend "Mitch" arrives.
Vladimir Putin (Trump's re-election agent) has said that the US would benefit from focus on democracy – something he knows a lot about. Robert Mueller took note. The President of China is also encouraging the US to remember the need to ensure minorities have equal rights, which is a pretty rich thing for him to say,given the fact that over 1,000,000 people mainly Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz and other ethnic Turkic Muslims, Christians as well as some foreign citizens such as Kazakhstanis, are being held in secretive internment camps.
Black Lives Matter has stimulated protests around the world focused not only on discrimination, police brutality and inequality for black people but for others, such as First Nations and indigenous people's around the world. As George Floyd was put to rest in Texas, the world watched carefully as the US begins the process of looking at what happens in practice now. Some cities are exploring shifting funds allocated to police services to community organizations (the so-called "defund the police" campaign). Others are looking at changes in the law. But inequality and poverty are at the heart of this challenge together with systematic in-built discrimination in things such as voter registration, education funding, access to services. A long walk to freedom will continue.
COVID-19 is gradually getting worse in many parts of the world (but not New Zealand – the first country in the world to be COVID-19 free after Vatican City). The US will soon hit 2 million cases and 120,000 deaths and a second wave is now beginning, especially in those states who defied the White House guidelines (with the encouragement of a rogue President) and "opened up" , enabling the virus to go on killing people in the name of capitalism.
Swedish investigators have determined who killed Olof Palme, Prime Minister of Sweden in 1986 as he left a downtown cinema. They have named Stig Engström, a graphic designer working at a financial services company and a prominent gun club member, as his killer. Stig died in 2000 of a suspected overdose. He was interviewed several times by police, at first as a witness and later as a prime suspect. Stig vehemently disagreed with the left-leaning views of the government. The murder shook Sweden and sent shock waves around Europe. He also hated all Abba songs.
For the second time ever, astronomers have detected a pattern in a mysterious fast radio burst (known as an FRB) coming from space. The signal is repeating in a 90 day window, then is silent for 67 days and then repeats again. The pattern repeats consistently for 157 days. Speculation as to what it might be is mounting. Some suggest that it is the source of Trump's big ideas. Others that it's Tommy Hunter making a comeback. But the explanation is likely something simple – Taylor Swift rehearsing or repeats of Seinfeld bouncing off rogue satellites.
Prince Phillip celebrated his 99th birthday with a large glass of something serious and a pork pie. Never one to worry about protocol, he has been at Windsor in lock-down with the Queen, who he married 72 years ago. He is the longest serving consort of a British monarch and the couple have had the longest royal marriage of any British monarch. The secret: he doesn't give a flying monkey about all the fuss and folderol but rather enjoys putting his foot in a journalists mouth.
Let's take a walk around the world and see what's happening…
The Trump Campaign is spending app, $500,000 a week advertising on shows it knows Trump watches on Fox news and other channels. The aim is to persuade Trump that they are hard at work trying to get him re-elected. They are also posting large posters in the White House toilets and bunkers and sponsoring his diaper providers. Trump's approval rating remains flat at 42% and Biden appears to be leading in many US states, but not all. Trump has a 20% chance of winning – last time round in 2016 it was a 30% chance. We are now 147 days from the US election (12th June).
Kayleigh McEnany, Trump's blond bombshell press secretary, is about as smart as a bucket of pea and ham soup. Defending President Trump's claim that the 75 year old peaceful protestor pushed to the ground by police in Buffalo was sent in to taunt the police by walking in "an elderly fashion" – a common Antifa tactic. In a tweet, Trump had claimed that the old man fell "harder than he was pushed". Young Kayleigh defended the President's right to be a complete covidiot by tap-dancing in words and clapping. She has made other remarkable claims – like Trump has done more for civil rights than any President in history – and is now in training as a covidiot.
COVID-19 is on the rise (again) in the US. 21 states have seen a spike in cases, with Arizona up 40%. The (smart) Governor of New York State is sharing his frustration with the pressure from the White House to give up on medical / scientific advice. Brazil is even worse. The pandemic will be with us for some considerable time. Get used to it. Meantime the US has shuttered its COVID task force and is hellbent on letting it pandemic run rife. Indeed, President Trump is hosting a series of rallies starting next week so as to spread COVID-19 and his message of "let's defeat democracy".
Prince Andrew, finally out of the Pizza Express in Woking, is cossetted with lawyers deciding whether to testify in person to the Epstein investigators about his deviancy and activities with under-age girls. He likes the cosset, reminds him of corsets. The former Queen's favourite child, he is now persona non grata in royal circles. His behaviour is even making Fergie look responsible – quite the achievement.
Speaking of causing offence, statues around the world – many of which have been in place for a hundred years or more – are suddenly causing offence. Lord Baden Powell, founder of the scouting movement, is to be removed as are statues of Cecil Rhodes and others. In the US, statues of confederate generals who fought to defend slavery are being toppled. These symbolic removals are intended to keep up the pressure for change – Black Lives Matter. I do fear for the statue of Desperate Dan in Dundee. He was the cartoon comic character who used to champion the eating of meat pies (with mushy peas) as the health food of the Britain. No doubt vegan protestors are plotting its demise as we quietly sip coffee and eat pork sausage rolls at Second Cup.
Even more ridiculous is the decision of the BBC to remove the German's episode of Fawlty Towers and the whole of the Little Britain series in case it offends anyone. Comedy is meant to offend in some cases. Stop it! This is over the top stupidity. I can understand the removal of the Black and White Minstrel show, but Fawlty Towers? Get real!
IBM and Amazon have blocked the use of facial recognition software, especially by police forces. This has come as a great relief to some. Boris Johnson's face was always seen to be the same as a mop head and Trump's face was recognized by IBM Watson as the "rear end of a bullock". Ivanka Trump was always confused by facial recognition, which is why she ended up marrying Jared Kushner – the forever young face she remembers from a book she read as a child: Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray".
Alberta's neo-liberal kakistocracy is really excelling itself in showcasing what idiotic government looks like. Since it came to power just over a year ago, the UCP will have added $30 billion to Alberta's debt, cut services to health, education (schools, colleges and universities) and government operations while still managing to undermine investor confidence in oil and gas. They have lost several billions in misguided investments, denuded rural hospitals of medical care and now threaten to make further cuts to health and education in the despairing hope of balancing a fictional budget which is in no need of "balance" – debt is almost free and debt is what government need in a recession / depression. With all the skills of Elmer Fudd of Looney Tunes, the Premier continues to prattle in ways that make no sense and will further alienate those on whom we all depend. The most recent deal: oil sands companies no longer need to talk directly to the government about using and abusing our land and resources – see Bill 21. They can do direct to the regulator! No more real oversight – a sad day for Alberta.
The new mantra of the woke protestors is "safetyism" – the right of people to feel physically, emotionally and psychologically safe. "Safetyism" trumps values such as free speech. In the name of the safetyism, television shows are being removed, journalist are having to resign at the New York Times and all who write or speak are now conscious that they could be "summoned" at any moment. A cartoonist for the Marxist Morning Star newspaper was fired for doing what she does best – satire. This has all the hallmarks of an inquisition. When comedians can no longer poke fun at something, even if it makes us all uncomfortable, then intolerance is on show. I am for equity. I am for respect. I agree that ending racism, sexism, ageism, poverty, slavery, child labour, domestic violence, food poverty, homelessness are all things we need to do. But I also value independence of thought and free speech. When we lose free speech we lose community and the chance of getting something done.
A new book about Melania suggests that she delayed her arrival in Washington as First Lady because she was renegotiating her pre-nuptial agreement with the Donald. No surprise there. She wanted not only more freedom from his control – they live largely separate lives – but full recognition for their son, Barron. Love to know what she really thinks about her "stable genius" husband. Probably not a lot. She is fully aware he is a total plonker.
Speaking of books, John Bolton (aka Il Mustachio), one of many of Trump's former National Security Advisors, is going ahead with his "tell all" book about his time in the White House – a book the White House has tried to prevent us seeing and continues to try and supress. It will not be that exciting. Just look at his clothing choices! If that's Mr. Excitement, then we are all in for a dull few days of reporting along the lines of the eleven other books about life inside the toilet bowl of the Trump bunker. He will not likely reveal Trump's psychological condition and his growing dementia, on show at the speech at West Point this last week when he had difficulty getting a class of water from a table to his mouth and even more difficulty walking down a slight incline – signs of some brain dysfunction.
More interesting, perhaps, will be the book by Trump's niece who has a PhD in psychology and knows the Donald well – she has sued him twice over his "theft" of her inheritance from the family estate and the Donald's arbitrary cancellation of her medical insurance, issued by the Trump company. Another tell all, this will be more personal and detailed about Trump's early life. Expect to have confirmed what we all already know.
Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, to give him his full name, has lost the plot and, in doing so, lost the trust of the British people – he is now seen as more de Pfeffel than Johnson. He doesn't seem to be the same, confident and focused Prime Minister he was before he caught COVID-19. His "let's open schools / let's not" and "let's end the 2m rule / let's not" is confusing. He's young baby is obviously keeping him up at night and affecting his thinking. But come on, make some bold decisions – and stop trying to use distraction (like the move of foreign aid into the Foreign Office) and bad hair to avoid the key issues the UK faces.
Brexit trundles on, with trade negotiations with the EU continuing to falter. The UK will be "out" on January 1st 2021. A "no deal exit" is now looking the most likely scenario. As predicted at the beginning of this looming hundred year war, the battleground is the rights of access of EU member countries to UK fishing waters. Before Brexit, most fish caught in UK waters was caught by non-British boats which had higher quotas than UK boats. The EU wants no change post-Brexit and Britain wants to control quotas. It will not end well. We can expect cod-wars and a load of pollock.
The Swiss authorities are looking for the person who left US$191,000 worth of gold bars in a suitcase on a train – so easy to do, as I am sure you can all attest. I once left $10 in a taxi in a wallet. The owner has five years to collect. I am sure I was in St. Gallen last week…
A young man called Carlos Acutis was aged fifteen when he died in 2006 of leukemia. He was kind and generous, going out of his way to prevent bullying and help the homeless. He was also a "nerdy man" – highly skilled in coding and a computer "whiz". He was deeply religious, setting up a website The Eucharistic Miracles of the World, celebrating the work of saints. This young man is now on a journey to sainthood – in 2018 Pope Francis named him "venerable" and more recently a miracle in Brazil in 2013 has been attributed to him, so now he will be beatified in October. If a second miracle is attributed to him, he will become a Saint. Maybe he could help connect the gold in Switzerland to its owner…that would be a miracle.
Let's take a walk around the world and see what is happening..
A man in Vienna has been fined €500 (£447 / $750 Can) for breaking wind loudly in front of police in a move the Austrian police force was at pains to defend. The Fart Fine is a complex offence in public decency law, especially in Vienna. In London, it is expected and usually rewarded with fireworks, especially after a late-night curry.
Aunt Jemima syrup is to get a new name. Quaker, who make this dentist delight, recognized that it has origins which are offensive to – the branding is based on a racial stereotype. It took just 130 years for this PepsiCo owned business to realize this. The search for a new name is on. Suggestions welcome. I think it should be called Bad for Your Health.
A smart guy conducted an interesting experiment. He created a fake Facebook (FB) account – Will They Suspend Me? – and populated it with exact copies of Trump's FB posts. FB demanded that the posts stop and closed the account for a time. The accusation: the posts incited violence. Enough said.
President Trump is planning an assisted dying event in Tulsa as part of his campaign to put America Last Again and win re-election. So sure is he that people will become sick as a result of listening to him lie and spread half-truths that he is asking all who attend his rally for COVID to sign waivers saying that will not sue him, Ivanka or the Trump campaign when they are infected with COVID-19 or are arrested from doing what he suggests. Cases of COVID-19 have been rising in Tulsa exponentially since June 1st.
Mike Pence, who claims to be Vice President of the United States when he is fact a submissive sycophant actor hired to play the part, says that COVID-19 is basically "over" in the US – all talk of a second wave is "fake news" from "the media". He also suggests that the Titanic never sank, and Barry Manilow is in fact a gifted singer, like Florence Foster Jenkins. Pence is supporting Trump's line that, if the US stopped testing, then there would be no new cases. This would be true for all diseases – cancer, heart disease, diabetes and dementia. If we stopped diagnosis based on tests there would be just life, half-life, village idiots and death. This idea comes from a village idiot, aka as Mike Pence.
Private polling by the Trump campaign shows that he is leading in all 72 US States, especially Xargon. Other polls, some conducted by people who know what they are doing, show Biden leading in every state except Georgia, where his lead is within the margin of error (2%). As Trump's vote declines, the Trump campaign have taken to suing those who publish polling data, like CNN. They will soon be suing weather forecasters, sports forecasters and, well anyone who has evidence or forecasts of any kind. Trump's evidence spokesperson, Stormy Daniels suggests that "he loves big data". I think that what she said…it was big something……I should check with Melania.
There are new cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand, which had been the first country in the world (after Vatican City) to be virus free. The new cases were traced back to two middle aged Briton's allowed in to visit a dying parent. New Zealand has suspended its "compassionate exemptions". Just 22 people have died in New Zealand which has a population similar in size to Alberta, where deaths due to COVID-19 are 151 (June 15th).
At the India – China border in the Himalaya's 20 Indian troops were killed in hand-fighting with their Chinese counterparts. It is not yet clear how many Chinese troops were injured or killed – unconfirmed reports suggests that up to 43 were injured, some fatally. Tensions over the border have risen recently, causing Prime Minister Modi to caution that severe responses will occur. The world watches anxiously – both nations have nuclear capabilities.
China is also experiencing a new wave of COVID-19, this time hitting Beijing hard. Some flights have been cancelled, parts of the city locked down and college / university classes cancelled. The outbreak has been traced to a market selling Make America Great Again hats left over from 2016 and the new hats no longer required by the Trump campaign – Let's Start a Civil War Again.
A new series of Alan Bennett's monologues Talking Heads begins on 23rd June on BBC Television. The actors include Jodie Comer (Killing Eve), Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake), Sarah Lancashire (Last Tango in Halifax, Happy Valley), Tamsin Grieg (Friday Night Dinners, Belgravia, Emma 2009), Dame Kristin Scott Thomas (The English Patient, Military Wives, Gosford Park), Maxime Peake (Theory of Everything, Silk, Peterloo), Martin Freeman (Sherlock, The Hobbit) and several others. It will be wonderful television, including some new never seen before episodes. These monologues are part of the A level syllabus in the UK (high school diploma) and many students write to Alan (now 86) for advice. His advice is to treat him as a dead author who is unavailable for comment – a bit like Proust or Spike Milligan.
On his tombstone, Spike Milligan – amongst the funniest men who ever lived – has the inscription "I told you I was ill!" and then, in very small letters "If you can read this, you are standing on my balls!". His acceptance speech at the 2009 Brit Awards when he was given a lifetime achievement award is a wonderful example of him at his best.
Arizona now leads the world as the worst place to be in terms of COVID-19 – worse than Brazil, Russia and Peru. It has the highest rate of infection, hospitalizations and ICU admissions per capita worldwide. Arizona's infection rate has reached 60.5 per 100,000 people, compared with New York's 12.5 per 100,000, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Well done Doug Ducey, the Governor and ardent Trumpkin.
In Florida, another hub of covidiots, some bars and restaurants have been forced to close, having just opened a week ago. COVID-19 cases are rapidly rising and have been traced back to gatherings in such places. Ron de Santis, another ardent Trumpkin and Florida's governor, dismissed talk of a "second wave" of the virus as fake news. It is still in fact the first wave, made worse by reopening Florida too soon. The GOP is considering moving its convention to Florida so that more of the deplorables can be infected.
Leaked extracts from John Bolton's book on the Trump Whitehouse confirm what smart people knew before: Trump is a narcissist and has no interest in politics, reading, thinking or people other than himself. He asked China to help him win the 2020 election. He encouraged China to build more concentration camps. He had no idea that Britain was a nuclear power. He wasn't sure whether Finland was an independent nation or part of Russia. He still is unsure where Puerto Rico is or what its connection to the US is, even though it has been a US territory since 1898. His life is a sad story of tweets and twinkies. As America declines, both as a nation and as a player on the world stage, Trump continues to be preoccupied with one thing: himself.
MIT engineers have designed a "brain-on-a-chip," smaller than a piece of confetti, that is made from tens of thousands of artificial brain synapses. When asked why, the team leader at MIT said "we're trying to build real neural network hardware for portable artificial intelligence systems. Imagine connecting a neuromorphic device to a camera on your car, and having it recognize lights and objects and make a decision immediately, without having to connect to the internet. We hope to use energy-efficient memristors to do those tasks on-site, in real-time." Maybe they could implant half a dozen in the brain of the leader of the free world, having loaded the chips with key information needed to make sound decisions.
Now that the oil and gas industry world-wide is challenged by a fall in investor confidence in the future of the sector and the rise of green energy alternatives, which can produce the same or a higher return on capital, the UCP Kakistocracy in Alberta is looking to invest in other industries. They are doing this so that pensioners who used to work in the public service will have to return to work, since it is their pension funds that will be used as risk capital. They have already blown app. $10 billion in less than a year. They have, sensibly, ruled out investing in fax machine manufacturing, pagers, hula-hoops and rotary phones. Their big new idea is to invest in gas and oil. Premier Kenney pointed out that this is a very different sector from oil and gas. Such progressive thinking is the hallmark of the UCP Alberta government.
Alberta might want to look at buying Hertz – the bankrupt car rental company. It has $19 billion in debt (which would clear out the funds in the Heritage Trust Fund). Its unsecured bonds are currently trading at around 40c on the $1. What's amazing is that some idiots are buying Hertz stock (creditors always come before shareholders), even as Hertz plods along in its bankruptcy proceedings (it filed on June12th). Even the court is now complicit in letting Hertz raise $1 billion from clueless shareholder investors who will be 100% guaranteed to lose their investment. Come on Jason Kenney. Buy Hertz – you know it doesn't make sense!
Canada failed to secure a seat on the UN Security Council, losing out to Norway and Ireland. Canada has been trying to get back the seat it lost in 2000 for years, led by every Prime Minister from Chretien through to Justin Trudeau. No big whoop. The Security Council is about as effective as Canada's do not call register. Better to focus on an effective foreign policy and strategy for the post-Trump era (whenever that may be).
Staying in Canada, the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) is, rumour has it, in the midst of an election for a new leader. The term "new" is a little incorrect as the front runner used to lead a version of this party until he realized he wasn't up for it and called in Stephen Harper. The candidates are seeking to replace Andrew Scheer who was to the CPC what a butterfly is to a supersonic flight. Neither front runners are fluent in French or in words which resonate with the needs of Canada at this time.
Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the British Labour Party, seems to be doing well against a weakened and unfocused Boris Johnson. An Ipsos Reid poll shows he is the most popular opposition leader since Tony Blair in 1994. Blair went on to win the general election in 1997. The next UK election is in May 2024. Mind you, given Boris's recent performance, a dead rabbit or a one-legged Alsatian dog could beat him. He is also a great improvement over his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn.
Dame Vera Lynne, voice of the forces during the second world war and a wonderful woman, died aged 103. Her song "We'll Meet Again" has been used since the war at key moments in British history – most recently as an anthem for lock-down. RIP. Another smart lady – Jean Kennedy Smith (92) has also died. She was the sister of President John F Kennedy and a former Ambassador to Ireland. She wrote a sensitive and compassionate account of the Kennedy family called The Nine of Us (2016). She was a gentle woman. RIP. A colleague and fellow academic, Professor Jerry Kachur at the University of Alberta, has also died – suddenly at home. He leaves a very loving partner, a son and a daughter and grandchildren. RIP Jerry.
The UCP Alberta kakistocracy has decided that the equalization payments that all Canadians contribute to are unfair to Alberta and will hold a pointless referendum so that they can spend more money for no apparent reason. The current equalization formulae were developed by the same people who now oppose it – Stephen Harper and Jason Kenney – during their many years as Federal cabinet members. Federal taxation is a federal matter and the referendum will be about as useful as a mosquito trying to bake a cake. The referendum will also ask questions about whether Albertan's want to retain the RCMP and the Canada pension plan – something recent polls show that Albertan's overwhelmingly want to do. This exercise in pointlessness is a distraction from the lack of a strategy and leadership for the future of Alberta. Next there will be a competition to find the largest cabbage grown in Alberta and a referendum on whether Alberta should enter the Eurovision song contest. An expert panel will also be established to decide how best to prevent the spread of songs by ABBA.
This same government has decided to prolong COVID-19 and deepen Alberta's economic challenges by not making the wearing of masks in public places compulsory. Just because Jason Kenney, who claims to be "our" Premier, can't find a mask big enough to cover his cakehole doesn't mean that the rest of us don't understand the need to protect each other. A US economist colleague has suggested that not wearing a mask means that you want a longer, deeper recession.
COVID-19 infections world-wide will, at some point this week, have hit 9 million people and killed 500,000 with the US being the epicenter of the disease (over 2.25 million cases and 120,000 dead) closely followed by Brazil, Russia and India. An entrepreneur in Miami has set up a shop called COVID Essentials selling face-masks, hand sanitizer, wipes and other paraphernalia to help protect people and property: a sign that late stage capitalism is alive and well.
The Trump reality TV show "Lies and Misdemeanors" is back on the road. The first episode was in Tulsa – not as many showed up as the show's organizers anticipated. An after show for the "overflow" crowd had to be cancelled since the crowd did not overflow. Trump was "punked" by several thousand people who booked tickets with no intention of showing up. Officials say that between 6,000 and 9,000 attended the 19,000 stadia. During the show Trump made stuff up, lied, exaggerated and attacked people who think he is an idiot, ironically demonstrating that these people are right. He managed to speak for an hour and forty-two minutes without saying anything of substance. Those there seemed to enjoy it – let's hope so: many will soon be forced into self-isolation. Almost no one was wearing a mask and social distancing averaged about four inches, according to Stormy Daniels who knows about size.
One thing that was rumoured to be true but isn't: Trump did not sign an executive order renaming the San Andreas Fault Barack Obama's Fault. He's just thinking about it.
Britain's contact tracing app, developed to ensure that anyone who encounters someone later diagnosed with COVID-19 can be traced, has been scrapped and replaced by the Apple/Google app which does the same thing. The UK tracing app did not work on buses or underground trains and cannot tell the difference between 1 and 3 metres. Most elderly people – the most vulnerable – do not carry a phone which will be recognized by the app or have the Bluetooth links turned on. We all might as well carry a banana.
Two Canadians held in China – Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor – in retaliation for Canada's prosecution of Ms. Weng in Vancouver have now been charged with espionage. Ms. Weng, a Huawei senior executive and a member of the elite within the Chinese communist party, is charged with fraud and is likely to be extradited to the US. China is engaged in "hostage diplomacy". Things do not look good for the two Michael's.
Malala Yousufzai (22), the Nobel prize winning Pakistani girl who was shot by the Taliban for championing the rights of women and girls to engage in learning, has just completed her PPE degree at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. She is an honorary Canadian citizen. The youngest Nobel laureate, she says she will now spend some time sleeping, reading and binge-watching Netflix – exactly what I would do with a degree and Nobel prize behind me at age 22.
Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI (93) has travelled to Germany to visit his ailing brother, Rev. Georg Ratzinger (96) who is dying in Regensburg. They were ordained together in 1951 and have been close since childhood. Benedict said he "would spend the necessary time" with his brother. Pope Francis is saying prayers for both Ratzinger's daily, he said.
Daniel Thorson is a Buddhist monk in training in Vermont, US. On 11th March he went into a silent retreat and for 75 days stayed there – not connecting with television, radio, or people until recently. He innocently asked, on his return to sound, "did that virus thing happen or did it just go away?" and is slowly piecing together the story of how the US did not (and is not) handling the pandemic very well. He's thinking of going back on retreat as soon as possible.
The Alberta legislature, at the request of the ruling kakistocracy via MLA Todd Loewen, debated whether or not to permit the establishment of a militia to support the police. Soon they will be debating whether to arm the militia and call them the Armed Sons of Odin. This is about as useful a development as those masks people have cut holes in so they can breathe more easily. What MLA's should be discussing is the strategic choices for the future of Alberta.
Many see Trump as a failure and disaster and think it is inevitable that he will be out of office next year and that Joe Biden will become President-elect in November. After all, Biden is leading across the US in the polls and the Biden campaign will be boosted by his choice of VP. But there is five months to go – a lifetime in political time ("a week is a long time in politics" – Harold Wilson; "in politics, there is no use in looking beyond the next fortnight" – Joseph Chamberlain). Trump's campaign is a mess (it was last time). Trump seems to be fighting himself as well as everyone else (he was last time), Trump is just trying to ensure his own supporters show up and vote and is not interested in broadening his base (no change there). He may still win in the electoral college despite losing the popular vote (he did last time). Don't write him off yet. He is involved in a different "game" from everyone else – it's a reality TV show to him while the rest of us see it in terms of politics, economics, social wellbeing and the nature of law.
Whenever Trump says something truly outrageous – which he often does – some of his sycophantic covidiot staffers or cabinet members defend him, saying "he was just kidding" or being sarcastic. We know that this is not true. Trump's attempts at humour have all been a dismal failure. He doesn't have a funny bone in his body – according to Stormy Daniels. What you see is unadulterated and unfiltered Trump. He only laughs at other people's misfortunes or at catastrophes, including those he is complicit in creating. The US continues to pile on cases of COVID-19 at an alarming rate – there are more deaths each day due to the policies and practices Trump is encouraging. He is a killer President. No humour there.
Baroness Scotland is the controversial head of the Commonwealth – the organization which seeks to leverage the collaborative power of the fifty-four member countries. Her term of office ends on June 27th, and her future is now uncertain. Some want her to continue, but others point to her cronyism and questionable use of funds as barriers to her reappointment. Her fate was due to be decided by now but has been postponed until the next meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Government.
English pubs will reopen on July 4th, much to the delight of my sister, who owns one in Filey (North Yorkshire) – Bonhommes Bar. The social distancing rules in Britain are now changed from 2 metres to 1+ metres. The "+" is meant to indicate "one meter and as much more space as you can, preferably up to two metres". This is Brexit-like in its simplicity – we're changing the rules but don't really want to. Many pubs and restaurants will not survive. Le Caprice – favourite Piccadilly eatery of the rich and famous – has already gone, and many more will not reopen. The food and drink business is tough – ask my sister – and depends on cash flow and tight margins. With months of rent / mortgages due and loans to pay back, it is now even more precarious. Scotland and Wales are not reducing social distancing and not reopening in the same way.
The World's #1 Tennis Player, Novak Djokovic, has tested positive for COVID-19. He organized a tennis tournament in Belgrade so as to stimulate interest in the sport and raise money for charity – it is part of the Adria exhibition tour, with events now due in Croatia. Two other players who participated have also tested positive (Dimitrov and Coric). This tour has received a great deal of criticism from other players who refused to play ball.
The former CEO of Wirecard – one of Germany's biggest technology companies – has been arrested on fraud charges. A $2.1 billion hole has been discovered in the accounts – roughly a quarter of its purported assets. Markus Braun, the man in question (who is very clean-shaven) is accused of defrauding investors through false accounting. Wirecard is a fully integrated financial services platform offering a global payment system and related services for digital banking. It has over 5,500 employees and 300,000 customers worldwide.
The US Federal Appeal Court has ordered the immediate dismissal of the case against Michael Flynn, yet another of Trump's former National Security Advisors. Flynn had twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI but changed his opinion of his own behaviour and now wishes to withdraw his own guilty plea. It has been established that the US Attorney General has been working behind the scenes in this case – another example of him responding to Trump's needs and politicizing the courts.
The terms "customer service" and "the building trades" are generally not terms that sit well together. Trying to get someone to do something for which we are willing to pay good money is like trying to get a polar bear to sing a Madonna song (they prefer Lady Gaga). Four contractors contacted via phone and their websites and zero response in three weeks – only one of the websites has set up an acknowledgement system for contacts. Even approaching workers engaged in a similar task in a nearby house produced the response, "you will have to ring the office" – when we did, nothing. How difficult can this be? Say "we're too busy" or "just go away". It is better than the purgatory of silence and being ignored and still have downspouts that need fixing.
One challenge of living long is that you keep coming across inventions that are pointless – the toothbrush that also lets you floss while you brush, the razor with five blades, a walking sleeping bag, a pet rock with a USB connection – yet someone manufactured them. One domain for failure is the bathroom – shared toilets, the domestic urinal amongst them. Another is health products, like some of the insanely useless products from Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop. Finland celebrates failure with a national holiday on October 13th. There is also a museum of failure in Los Angeles. I think they will be building an extension to the museum and making the holiday a two-day event soon, since lock-down is encouraging even more weird inventions.
Another feature of ageing is that tolerance for idiocy declines over time. When university and college students gather in a church in Phoenix, Arizona to hear a lying orange man spout total gibberish with no social distancing, mask wearing or sense that they are witnessing not only the loss of logic and decency, but also the collapse of ethical behaviour while risking their own lives and that of their community. A sense of loss seems appropriate. Arizona is the new epicentre of COVID-19 in the US. These students should fail social studies, economics, health, and compassion credit courses simply because they were there.
Margaret Wente, retired columnist for the Globe and Mail, has resigned from her appointment as a Senior Fellow and member of the Quadrangle Society at Massey College, Toronto. She was one of the new senior fellows at the College, which is an intellectual community – an idea gathering point – for graduate students. Wente was a controversial opinion columnist who has been accused over a long career of all sorts of things, which is what happens to opinion columnists. She was, however, accused of plagiarism and a specific column written in 2016 led to the Globe and Mail offering an apology. There were more general concerns about her recognition and attribution of sources. Buzz Feed identified seven specific instances of questionable source use in a single year of columns. Some have suggested that Wente's voice has been "silenced" due to political correctness. Senior Fellows should be role models for graduate students and, within the groves of academe, plagiarism is a serious issue that can lead to expulsion.
Speaking of academic misconduct, 30% of civilian pilots in Pakistan arranged for someone else to sit their pilots exam in their name – they are not qualified to fly. That is 262 pilots who actively fly domestic and international flights endanger lives each time they turn up for work – they have all had their licenses revoked. This was revealed as a result of an inquiry into the fatal crash that killed 97 people in Karachi in May of this year, now clearly blamed on pilot errors.
81% of the COVID-19 deaths in Canada occurred in senior care facilities. While there are a variety of factors – related health conditions, age, too many episodes of Hot in Cleveland – there is a clearly an issue here, especially in Quebec, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. An underlying cause – privatization – cannot be ignored. Profit before people is not a good prescription for longevity.
A string quartet from the Liceu Opera in Barcelona performed Puccini's Chrysanthemum in their concert hall to 2,292 house plants. No reaction. Next week they hope to play Prokofiev's For the Love of Three Oranges and Eric Satie's Three Pieces in the Form of a Pear to trays of fruit.
The Dixie Chicks have changed their names to The Chicks in respect of Black Lives Matter – rejecting history in favour of wokeness. Lady Antebellum, the group, have also changed their name for the same reason – they are now known as Lady A. The record label One Little Indian, whose most famous signing is Björk, has changed its name to One Little Independent. The label's logo will also change. Other names that might change include Fox News – soon to become Just Lyin' – and CNN into Breaking News You Already Know.
Liverpool Football Club are the new Premier League Champions in Britain. An outstanding team with a coach who is a cross between Clint Eastwood and Robert Redford and as enigmatic as John Malkovich, they are simply stunning in the way they play the beautiful game. Way to go Jürgen Klopp – hero of the week.
@stephenmurg
Author, imagineer and creative consultant, Stephen was Dean of the School of Business at Athabasca University and creator of the world's first online MBA. A prolific writer, frequent broadcaster and keynote speaker, Stephen lives and works from a base in Edmonton, Alberta.
One thought on "June 2020"
Karoline Grant Charil
Ich habe es genossen, Ihren Artikel zu lesen. Karoline Grant Charil
Why I Write a Diary
I love diaries. James Lees Milne and Alan Bennet provide role models for these notes, which I began in December 2016. I do not claim any special status for thee thoughts - I am a writer who also keeps a diary.


text:
"Baby Cakes" is the only single released by British garage trio 3 of a Kind. It debuted atop the UK Singles Chart on 15 August 2004, becoming the band's only chart hit. Mixmag included "Baby Cakes" on their "40 of the best UK garage tracks released from 1995 to 2005" list. The music video shows the band in a cake shop and contains several double-entendres. A follow-up song, "Wink One Eye" was recorded but was never released.

Background
The song's title was inspired by the 1989 American made-for TV movie Baby Cakes, which starred Ricki Lake in the title role. In the book 1000 UK Number One Hits, member Liana 'Miz Tipzta' Caruana said the song was written in 1998, and she came up with the title after having seen the film that mirrored her own experiences: "The words are written about someone I knew, but generally it's based on the film's love story. Basically, the girl knows the man is 'The One' but he doesn't realise it".

Track listings

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

"Bbycakes" version

In February 2022, a version by Guernsey producer Mura Masa, American rapper Lil Uzi Vert and English singer/producer PinkPantheress featuring English rapper Shygirl was released as the third single from Mura Masa's third studio album Demon Time, titled "Bbycakes". The song peaked at number 71 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Shygirl's first entry on the chart.

Mura Masa described the song as "a mission statement for the vicarious and playful nature that I think popular music needs to be looking to in order to soundtrack those crucial moments of fun and hedonism in an increasingly cynical culture".

Personnel
 Nathan Boddy – mixing engineer
 Liana Caruana – songwriting
 Nicholas Gallante – songwriting
 Ema Gaspar – art direction
 John Greenham – mastering engineer
 Lil Uzi Vert – songwriting, vocals
 Mura Masa – production, songwriting, synthesizer, drum programming, engineer
 PinkPantheress – songwriting, vocals
 Marc Portelli – songwriting
 Shygirl – songwriting, vocals

Charts

References

2004 songs
2004 debut singles
Relentless Records singles
UK garage songs
UK Singles Chart number-one singles

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Jim Parrini Gives The Tutoring Solution 5 Stars!
Jim Parrini's daughter, Kylie, has been receiving tutoring with us since October 2014. We have been helping Kylie with Algebra II. Kylie and her family have been a pleasure to work with. In March 2015, we selected Kylie as our Student of the Month. We are excited to continue working with Kylie and seeing her achieve all her goals.
We provide tutoring in Chino, Corona, Ontario, Eastvale, Chino Hills, Mira Loma, Alta Loma, Norco, Rancho Cucamonga and all the surrounding cities. We have students from Sky Country Elementary, Oxford Prepatory Academy, Townsend Junior High School, Roosevelt High School, Alta Loma High School, Norco High School, Centennial High School, Chino Hills High School, Ontario Christian High School and Ayala High School.
If your child needs help in improving his or her grades, do not hesitate to contact us today. We can help your child grow into a confident and motivated learner. We provide tutoring in Southern California in all subjects and grade levels.
Ruth-Anne Marinello Parrini Recommends The Tutoring Solution Sola Kimo Gives The Tutoring Solution 5 Stars!


text:
Casebook Articles
Over a century of service
MPS Medical Director Dr Priya Singh pays tribute to the cornerstone of MPS's longevity – quality of service to members.
This year marks the 120th anniversary of the founding of MPS. This section of Casebook looks back at how MPS has responded to member needs and legislative changes over this period by adapting and transforming services to become the world's leading medical defence organisation.
It is this commitment to service that I believe is the foundation on which MPS has been built. From the very start, as the London and Counties Medical Protection Society, the ethos has been focused on putting members' needs first, reflecting members' values and ensuring a personalised, proactive and professional service.
MPS is committed to providing the breadth of assistance that anticipates members' needs throughout a career and an indemnity that offers the best possible protection from the costs of clinical negligence claims. Together with the security offered by MPS's financial strength, this is a potent combination that gives confidence that MPS will be there for you when you need us, with the voice to protect and promote the interests of members and the wider profession.
From the very start the ethos has been focused on putting members' needs first, reflecting members' values and ensuring a personalised, proactive and professional service
The development of education and risk management tools has been designed to help avoid problems occurring and the collective expertise of MPS is now available to members in an unparalleled range of publications, workshops, e-bulletins and conferences, reflecting more than a century of experience.
As a mutual, not-for-profit organisation, MPS is owned by and accountable to members; your subscriptions do not go to shareholders or commercial partners – the mutual fund is there to provide the best protection for you. This financial strength has enabled MPS to remain independent: here solely to meet members' needs long into the future.
120 years of MPS
On 1 May 1892 the London and Counties Medical Protection Society was formed. Sarah Whitehouse looks back at 120 years of providing indemnity for doctors.
In the 19th century, before medical defence organisations were established, local groups of doctors would subscribe to each other's legal costs to challenge defamation cases – in essence, working as local defence organisations. With membership costing around a guinea or less, this informal arrangement suited doctors whilst issues could be settled cheaply and easily.
As legal costs and the value of claims began to rise, so too did the public's expectations of the medical profession. In 1858 the Medical Act laid down the basis for a minimum standard of medical education, leading to the formation of the General Medical Council (GMC).
Amidst this evolving medical backdrop, 1885 saw the birth of the Medical Defence Union, a national rather than local organisation. But the union's turbulent early years, plagued by accusations of irregularity and lack of accountability to members, resulted in a breakaway group forming an alternative defence organisation; the London and Counties Medical Protection Society. The rest, as they say, is history.
Led by the surgeon Sir Jonathan Hutchinson and doctors George Heron, George Mead and Hugh Woods, the new society aimed to "support and safeguard the character of legally qualified practitioners and to advise and defend members when attacked". The society went from strength to strength.
By 1894, the London and Counties Medical Protection Society had grown to 1,000 members – with an annual subscription rate of ten shillings. Premises were taken in Sloane Square, London, and Le Brasseur and Oakley were retained as solicitors – the start of a lasting association, as the firm's successor, Radcliffes LeBrasseur, remains one of MPS's panel law firms today.
Until 1910, MPS only bore its members' own legal costs, which could cause serious hardship for members if there was an adverse outcome. In 1911, MPS purchased collective insurance for members, to fund adverse costs and damages up to £2,000 for any individual member and up to £20,000 in any one year, at an additional cost of ten shillings.
The new society aimed to "support and safeguard the character of legally qualified practitioners and to advise and defend members when attacked". The society went from strength to strength
By 1935, some hospitals and authorities had made membership of a defence organisation a compulsory pre-requirement to employment, which boosted MPS membership, and in 1939, MPS launched the Overseas Indemnity Scheme to afford protection to members practising outside the UK.
The "London and Counties" part of MPS's title was dropped in 1947, but it was still affectionately referred to as "the London and Counties" by older members.
With the advent of the National Health Service in 1948 and the Legal Aid fund in 1950, costs to members began to rise substantially, as did requests for assistance. In 1962, MPS introduced unlimited indemnity for overseas members, resulting in another substantial increase in membership. Schemes of co-operation were agreed with the Medical Defence Association of Western Australia, the Medical Defence Association of Tasmania, and the Trinidad and Tobago Medical Protection Society.
Between 1910 and 1923 MPS handled more than 50 cases of libel, slander and "patients grizzling about their doctors".
By 1985, MPS had established a general practice advisory board and had expanded its number of medicolegal advisers – dealing with more than 1,000 claims each year. The first £1 million claim was settled in the UK in 1986; a watershed moment in high claims.
Faced with such spiralling costs, an NHS indemnity scheme was introduced in the UK in 1990 to assume the costs of claims against hospital doctors. MPS membership remained strong, however, to ensure that hospital doctors had access to advice and assistance for a range of medicolegal matters not covered by the scheme, and to provide cover for GPs.
The first £1 million claim was settled in the UK in 1986; a watershed moment in high claims
Today, MPS has offices in London, Leeds, Edinburgh, Brisbane, Wellington and Auckland, which provide assistance for more than 270,000 members in more than 40 countries, including the UK, Ireland, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, and the Caribbean and Bermuda. MPS's most notable presence outside the UK is in South Africa, where it has been active for more than 50 years.
In the early days, challenges to the medical profession would often arise from quackery. MPS members would act as decoy patients to try and catch those posing as doctors with weird and wonderful treatments. A group of "Hindoo Oculists" boasted of a cure for blindness by excising the 'skin' over the cornea. They were driven out after MPS brought a prosecution against them for falsely styling themselves as doctors.
In its 120th year, MPS has chosen to hold its first international conference – Quality and Safety in Healthcare: Making a Difference – which will bring together international experts from around the world to share their knowledge, experience and expertise on quality and safety. With an increasing focus on education and risk management, MPS looks set to remain at the heart of the medical profession for the next 120 years, responding to the needs of members in an ever-changing medicolegal climate.
In 1936, the first action was brought against the estate of a deceased doctor (Rubra Ats Connolly). Damages of £5,000 were awarded to the plaintiff and paid by MPS – the benefits of membership extend beyond the grave.
1892 1 May – London and Counties Medical Protection Society forms
1894 – Sloane Square, London, office opens
1947 – Name changes to Medical Protection Society
1947 – First overseas scheme of co-operation (Medical Defence Society of Queensland)
1970 – Leeds office opens in Park Square
1994 – Leeds office relocates to Granary Wharf House
2007 – Brisbane office opens (acquisition of Cognitive Institute)
2009 – Edinburgh office opens
2011 – Wellington office opens.
Headlines and deadlines »
Show oldest on top Show newest on top Leave a comment

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
1333 Columbia Park Trail, Suite 220 | Richland, WA 99352 | 509.735.4444
1333 Columbia Park Trail, Suite 220
Craig Walker is a Tri-City native and founding partner of Walker Heye Meehan & Eisinger, PLLC. Mr. Walker enjoys an AV Peer Review Rating through LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell. His law degree was awarded at University of Washington Law School where he graduated in the top 10% of his class. His practice consists of transactional real estate, related litigation, small business operation, formation and guidance, and commercial litigation.
Mr. Walker also assists with sales and acquisitions of small businesses, provides counsel to multiple homeowners associations, and enjoys a significant estate planning practice. He graduated from Richland High School and attended Washington State University where he obtained a degree in Business Administration. In his spare time, he enjoys golf, snow and water skiing, reading and travel.
Washington, 1976
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington, 1978
Washington State University (B.A. with distinction, 1973)
University of Washington (J.D., 1976) (Order of Coif)
General counsel to the Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC) (since 2004)
Served 5 years on the Richland School Board
Past President of the Benton-Franklin Bar Association
Thomas J. Heye
Tom Heye is well known in the Tri-Cities for his work in the areas of elder law, estate planning, trusts, probate, and guardianships.
He has worked with many families in guiding them through the trauma of dealing with parents faced with Alzheimer's and other problems brought on by aging. He has assisted many families in applying for Medicaid and avoiding the pitfalls involved in the process.
Mr. Heye has prepared thousands of wills, community property agreements, durable powers of attorney, and trusts including revocable and irrevocable living trusts, special needs trusts, and testamentary trusts. He works with clients to ensure that their estates pass to their heirs at the least expense possible and in the most expeditious manner. Mr. Heye handles probates and litigation among heirs on a regular basis, aiming to accelerate the probate process so that heirs do not have to wait years before receiving their inheritances.
When family members are no longer able to care for themselves personally or manage their financial affairs, Mr. Heye has helped many families set up guardianships for loved ones in need of special assistance.
Catholic University of America (B.A., 1962)
Cornell University (LL.B., 1966)
Law Clerk, Washington State Supreme Court Justices Ott and Neil (1966-1967)
Thomas Heye
Shea C. Meehan
Shea C. Meehan is the managing member at the law firm of Walker Heye Meehan & Eisinger, PLLC. Shea is a tenacious trial attorney with both a federal and state court trial practice. Shea's federal trial practice involves vindication of rights as well as defense of claims brought pursuant to federal statutes, including RICO and the False Claims Act. Shea's state trial practice focuses on contracts, construction, real estate and business disputes and representation of fiduciaries in probate and trust litigation. Shea is also a trusted advisor for many small business owners assisting with entity formation, business development, contracts, real estate, and succession and estate planning.
District Court, Eastern District of Washington, 2005
District Court, Western District of Washington, 2011
Oregon, 2015
District Court, District of Oregon, 2017
Idaho, 2002
District Court, District of Idaho, 2002
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 2016
University of Idaho (B.A., 1995)
University of Idaho (M.A., 1996)
University of Idaho (J.D., cum laude, M.S., 2001)
Law Clerk, Idaho Supreme Court, Justice Wayne L. Kidwell (2002-2003)
Law Clerk, Idaho Fourth District Court, Judge Ronald Wilper (2001-2002)
Co-Chair of the BFCBA Federal CLE 2011-2017
Member of the Tri-Cities Estate Planning Council 2004-present
Member of the Washington State Bar Disciplinary Board 2007-2010
President, Benton and Franklin Counties Bar Association 2009-2010
Lawyer Representative to the 9th Circuit Judicial Conference 2016-2018
Appointed by Washington Supreme Court as a Conflicts Review Officer Pro Tem 2016
Chairman, Tri-City Development Council Commerce and Industry Committee 2016-2018
Shea Meehan
Eric B. Eisinger
Eric Eisinger is an experienced trial attorney with more than 15 years of litigation experience in civil and criminal law. Eric has handled over a thousand cases and tried more than sixty-five cases to a jury in a variety of practice areas including DUI, personal injury, breach of contract, and employment law.
For most people litigation is disheartening and stressful, but litigation can be managed by clear counsel and strong advocacy. Eric has helped many clients navigate through the litigation process to successful outcomes.
Eric has been a partner with the firm since 2012. He was a prosecutor for more than six years before going into private practice. Eric graduated summa cum laude from Washington State University with a Bachelor's Degree in 1999 and obtained his law degree from the University of Idaho College of Law in 2003. Eric was admitted to the Washington State Bar Association in 2003.
Eric was President of the Benton and Franklin Counties Bar Association for the 2016-2017 term.
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, 2010
University of Idaho College of Law (J.D. 2003)
Washington State University (B.A., summa cum laude, 1999)
Eric Eisinger
Bret Uhrich
Bret Uhrich began working at Walker Heye Meehan & Eisinger in 2013, joining the firm as a partner in 2016. Bret has a commercial and real estate litigation focused practice along with a civil appellate practice. Bret has represented clients in administrative hearings, in arbitration and at trial.
Bret has personal experience guiding clients through a variety of litigation and pre-litigation actions including agricultural lien filings and enforcement, judicial foreclosures, easement litigation and contract disputes. Additionally, Bret advises businesses, entrepreneurs and other clients in transactional matters in order to put the client in the best position going forward.
Prior to joining Walker Heye Meehan & Eisinger, Bret served as a law clerk for Washington State Attorneys' General Office – Antitrust Division representing Washington in complex civil litigation. At the King County Prosecutor's Office, Bret worked in the civil department defending the County in employment discrimination litigation and assisted with employment termination arbitrations.
Bret attended Gonzaga University School of Law where he graduated cum laude. While at Gonzaga, Bret was an editor for the Gonzaga Law Review and externed as a clerk for the court commissioners of the Washington State Court of Appeals – Division III. As an undergraduate, Bret attended the University of Idaho where he received Bachelor's Degrees in Economics and Business Management & Human Resources. At the University of Idaho, Bret met his wife Kara who currently works as an elementary school teacher in Richland. Together, they enjoy the outdoors, raising their daughter Elizabeth, and visiting friends and family.
Gonzaga University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2012)
University of Idaho (B.S. in Business Economics, B.S. in Management & Human Resources, 2009)
Jillian Harlington
Jillian Harlington joined Walker Heye Meehan & Eisinger in 2017. Jillian's practice focuses on federal and state court litigation, including contract, construction, and real property disputes, as well as the vindication of personal rights. She also assists businesses with formation and compliance with WLCB regulations.
Jillian takes pride in helping her clients understand the intricacies of their legal dilemmas and formulating a plan that best fits their unique needs. She is dedicated to giving her clients peace of mind knowing that their legal troubles are in the hands of attentive counsel who will give them the tenacious advocacy they deserve in the midst of trying times.
Jillian grew up in Oregon's Willamette Valley and graduated from the University of Oregon with a B.S. in Psychology, and a focus on trauma and crisis intervention. After leaving her home state to pursue her legal career, Jillian graduated cum laude from Gonzaga University School of Law in 2014. Jillian served as the Membership Committee Chair and an Editor of the Gonzaga Law Review. While at Gonzaga, Jillian assisted clients in the Consumer Protection Law Clinic and interned with local firms representing clients in both civil litigation matters and federal criminal cases.
Jillian is admitted to practice in the courts of the State of Washington, the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Washington, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She is a member of the Washington State Bar Association and the Benton-Franklin County Bar Association.
Jillian joined the Tri-Cities community in 2015 with her husband Tyler, a local winemaker. In their spare time, Jillian and Tyler are avid outdoors enthusiasts who enjoy backpacking, camping, and snowboarding.
University of Oregon, (B.S., 2011)
Gonzaga University School of Law, (J.D., cum laude, 2014)
© 2017 Walker Heye Meehan & Eisinger, PLLC. All rights reserved.
1333 Columbia Park Trail, Suite 220, Richland, WA 99352 | (509) 735-4444
Web design by Cougar Digital Marketing & Design, LLC.
Custom photography by Peter Mahar


text:
Christian Benteke signs Crystal Palace contract extension
Christian Benteke has signed a two-year contract extension with Crystal Palace.
The Belgium international, who joined Palace five years ago for a club record fee, netted 10 goals from 30 league appearances in 2020/21.
The striker has also recently been called up to Belgium's squad for the 2020 European Championships this summer, where he will be expecting to add to his 39 international caps and 16 goals.
After signing the extension, Benteke said: "I'm happy and proud to commit my future to Crystal Palace. Five years already and still a lot more to come.
"We have a great group of players and staff, and I'm looking forward to the season ahead and playing in front of our fans again."
Chairman Steve Parish added: "Christian has been an integral part of consolidating our position as an established Premier League club over the last five years.
"He is an outstanding professional and has more than proven that he still has the quality and the hunger to perform for our club at the highest level, and I couldn't be happier to see him in red and blue for another two seasons."
READ NEXT: Benteke on Congolese identity, England and Klopp's swoop for him and De Bruyne


Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease, first described in 1869 by the noted French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot. ALS (aka Lou Gehrig's Disease) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed. Although the cause of ALS is not completely understood, the last decade has brought a wealth of new scientific understanding about the disease that provides hope for the future.


Well I have to admit, this whole outfit was created around these HOT HOT HOT D'Ann Hucci Heels.
Al Vulo! released Sakia yesterday, I hopped on over there despite crashing a billion times to pick up this Beauty. I am not one for the darker skin tones usually, but this bronze just glistened and is absolutely fabulous. Also includes many different lipstick colour layers, this one is metallic red.
Of course the Sugarsmack Cate Hair and the Dolly Capri's I have been dying to wear since I picked them up from the Vintage Fair.
Posted in AnotherDamnSlBlog and tagged as AlVulo, Baiastice, chelle, Dew, DieselWorks, Dolly, Hucci, MagicNook, Sugarsmack, U+RDogs.


text:
In response to all the condemning responses, Deepika says she finds 'Padmavati's' journey extremely relevant.
'Padmaavat' may be soaring heights at the box office and garnering profits of unprecedented levels, but like they say – every story has two sides, just like a coin. So does the story of 'Padmaavat' which on the other side, is dark and not so lovable. Critically and commercially acclaimed actress, Swara Bhaskar in an open letter to Sanjay Leela Bhansali, spoke about how his at the end of his Magnum Opus, she felt reduced to her vagina.
On 29th January, Deepika in an exclusive interview spoke about her take on the character she played. She says, "It looks at the power of women. Today again we are standing up for ourselves with dignity… I find her journey so relevant today,"
In the film, she and other Rajput woman perform 'jauhar' when the defeat of their kingdom is evident.
Deepika went on to talk about her overwhelmed state of mind, on the thundering success of 'Padmaavat'. "At this point I am not thinking about the last three months. The last three days have been so overwhelming that nothing else matters. I am in a mood to celebrate. I am grateful for all the love and support."
'Padmaavat' highlights the fierce story of the Queen of Chittorgarh, who choses dignity over life.
In the same context, Deepika spoke about how she like the queen, believes in fighting her own battles. "When Rani has so much strength, why would she need others? In my personal life I fight my own battle, I don't need anyone."
About the rumors of a dream sequence between Padmavati & Khilji that caused not only chaos but nationwide protests she said," "We (Ranveer and I) don't have even a moment together in this film. When I was shooting he was not there and vice versa. I was not aware what work he has done in the film. Being a central protagonist as a female actor and with this kind of budget, I did feel a sense of responsibility so at times I used to go to the sets when I saw a little bit of what they were doing. Other than that, it seems as if we have shot two different films."
She recalls how impactful and heavy the scene prior to the 'jauhar' scene was. "The jauhar speech was done in one take. I felt I would forget the lines. I did rehearsals for it. It was an intense moment on the sets. Everyone was quiet. They had kept three days for this but we did it in half a day."
All responses kept on a backseat, the one that shines highest and brightest for Deepika, are the ones she got from her parents. "My parents have seen the film and they were proud of my work, but there was a sense of disbelief, like they were thinking is she our daughter? As I don't stay with them, they don't know much in detail about the role or the film. I want them to enjoy the film as a normal audience. They had no idea about Padmaavat and the story. The last 15 minutes of the film for my parents were tough… they hate it when I die in films."
She was all soaked in gratitude and beaming with love when interviewed. The responses to the film are gratifying and fulfilling for her. "The amount of love, support is unprecedented and most important the blessings that I am getting. I feel what have I done to deserve this (love)," she said.
To explain how challenging the role of 'Padmaavati' was for the talented, young actress she spoke says, "This role of a queen had no crutches like she doesn't have a sword, she doesn't get on a horse and goes on battlefield — but there is sheer inner strength and resilience which I had to show through my eyes."
Previous articlePadmaavat supersedes Tiger Zinda Hai, Dangal, PK and other hits
Next articleSpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket is ready to launch
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan turns investor, invests ₹50 cr in Bengaluru-based Ambee
Shahid Kapoor's Kabir Singh box office collection reaches 250 Crores in 22 days
Box office collection day 20: Shahid's Kabir Singh emerge as the highest-grossing Hindi film of 2019
suviralshukla - July 17, 2019
North Korea hints may resume nuclear tests, accuses US of 'reneging' on treaty
BB Ki Vines: "Chakhne Pe Charcha" on YouTube is all about honest drunk conversations
Deepika spotted at Dhobhi Ghat!
Gully Boy experiences a drop in collection on second Monday; continues...
Saif Ali Khan to co-host IIFA'17 with Karan Johar and Varun...
Sanjay Leela Bhansali worried about Deepika's bold photoshoot!
Deepika wishes to treasure her 'jauhar' outfit


When you think Audio Visual what strikes you first?
Do you think a 'movie'? Perhaps a 'TV show'?
You might be a frequent theater attendee, or you visit museums on a regular basis and you have a picture of the kind of Audio Visual commonly used in high end fashion stores (Dior is one company that does incredible use of Visuals in their stores).
The truth lies in all of these and also beyond.
On Jan 4th 2019 the first Audio Visual Live Yoga Show will start it's 2019 run throughout the world.
Covering 12 cities in 12 months, each month will feature 2 consecutive shows, in the spirit of The Moon visiting each house for just over 2 days in The Moon astrological transit.
Each part of the show has been meditated and pre planned, from the first video that went out on 4/10/2018, to this video blog post that is appearing on 4/11/2018.
The Moon transit and the choice to focus on the full moon visit as it illuminates our reality, also ties in to the performance and the meaning behind the show.
While this video blog post offers a glimpse and perhaps raw footage of my project, subsequence posts will focus on each part of the show and its meaning.
The Kickstarter link for the show will be live on April 24 - because 2*4 = 8. And 8 in sanskrit is Ashto, and Patanjali's Yoga Sutras which I discovered by random on a library computer search (all I did was look up meditation and India and ran through the library looking for the letter and numbers I had stenciled on my paper. Out of the 8 books I picked that day, one of them was called 'Dreams of a Yogi, The yoga sutras of Patanjali').
The show will utilize modern media clips and audio. Those that are not original (meaning that I personally film) will be exclusively extracted from YouTube, and this the show will be an Artistic Show of the Modern Time.
There will be 3 visual displays (whether LCD screens that can be moved, or projector screens is yet to be decided, it will be based on Kickstarter success, so please keep in mind how incredible and valuable YOU are in making this a reality). 3 is the number of existence. Described by Patanjali as giving rise to the 3 states of awareness we all possess (we tend to only be conscious of the "wake" and "dream" state, with the state of "connection" eluding us or glimpsed in moments of Laughter, Love, or Achievement).
The title of the show "Movement in Stillness" is a play of words in the style that Osho would use. But it also a reminder of what Yoga is about. Yoga is a tool. A tool to help anyone experience and enjoy this life in it's full joy, and magic. A tool that can help any individual find new approaches to handle anything from the stress of traffic to the challenges of getting older.
I have been teaching and practicing Yoga since 1994 and with the popularity of Yoga today, it is often easy to see the commercialism side masking the deeper essence.
In the spirit of Van Gogh and Banksy, this One Man Yoga Show, is designed to tough the heart and minds of the viewer. To bring up questions, offer insight from living as well as deceased masters, and give tribute to the teachers and students that have made my physical practice what it is today.
Often we see yoga performances by incredible practitioners. Yet they have a feel of a far way reach to the viewer. As if they are watching a Cirque De Soleil Show and deep inside they are transformed, but they also are not moved to try any of it at home.
This Show intends to inspire you to take Yoga home.
If you have a practice, it will inspire you to approach your practice with the 'effortless' that Patanjali hints at.
If you don't have a practice and don't care to have one, you will leave in awe and inspired, in the same way that you feel when you leave a good movie, or a fulfilling trip to the museum.
In the end, you are breathing all day, every day.
This show will bring the focus back to the simplicity that lies in the roots of Yoga Commercial Success.
Thank you for sharing this video with your friends and your social media outlets.


text:
Relative Articles
Search Results: 1 - 10 of 100 matches for " "
Page 1 /100
The On-orbit Calibrations for the Fermi Large Area Telescope [PDF]
The Fermi LAT Collaboration
Physics , 2009, DOI: 10.1016/j.astropartphys.2009.08.002
Abstract: The Large Area Telescope (LAT) on--board the Fermi Gamma ray Space Telescope began its on--orbit operations on June 23, 2008. Calibrations, defined in a generic sense, correspond to synchronization of trigger signals, optimization of delays for latching data, determination of detector thresholds, gains and responses, evaluation of the perimeter of the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA), measurements of live time, of absolute time, and internal and spacecraft boresight alignments. Here we describe on orbit calibration results obtained using known astrophysical sources, galactic cosmic rays, and charge injection into the front-end electronics of each detector. Instrument response functions will be described in a separate publication. This paper demonstrates the stability of calibrations and describes minor changes observed since launch. These results have been used to calibrate the LAT datasets to be publicly released in August 2009.
Testing astroparticle physics with the Fermi Large Area Telescope [PDF]
Aldo Morselli
Physics , 2010, DOI: 10.1016/j.nuclphysbps.2011.03.046
Abstract: Our understanding of the Universe today includes overwhelming observational evidence for the existence of an elusive form of matter that is generally referred to as dark. Although many theories have been developed to describe its nature, very little is actually known about its properties. Since its launch in 2008, the Large Area Telescope, onboard the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, has detected by far the greatest number ever of gamma rays, in the 20MeV 300GeV energy range and electrons + positrons in the 7 GeV- 1 TeV range. This impressive statistics allows one to perform a very sensitive indirect experimental search for dark matter. I will present the latest results on these searches.
Pulsar Results with the Fermi Large Area Telescope [PDF]
Paul S. Ray,Pablo M. Saz Parkinson
Physics , 2010, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-17251-9_3
Abstract: The launch of the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has heralded a new era in the study of gamma-ray pulsars. The population of confirmed gamma-ray pulsars has gone from 6-7 to more than 60, and the superb sensitivity of the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on Fermi has allowed the detailed study of their spectra and light curves. Twenty-four of these pulsars were discovered in blind searches of the gamma-ray data, and twenty-one of these are, at present, radio quiet, despite deep radio follow-up observations. In addition, millisecond pulsars have been confirmed as a class of gamma-ray emitters, both individually and collectively in globular clusters. Recently, radio searches in the direction of LAT sources with no likely counterparts have been highly productive, leading to the discovery of a large number of new millisecond pulsars. Taken together, these discoveries promise a great improvement in the understanding of the gamma-ray emission properties and Galactic population of pulsars. We summarize some of the results stemming from these newly-detected pulsars and their timing and multi-wavelength follow-up observations.
Search for Dark Matter in the sky with the Fermi Large Area Telescope [PDF]
A. Morselli,E. Nuss,G. Zaharijas,on behalf of the Fermi-LAT collaboration
Physics , 2013,
Abstract: Can we learn about New Physics with astronomical and astro-particle data? Since its launch in 2008, the Large Area Telescope, onboard of the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, has detected the largest amount of gamma rays in the 20 MeV - 300 GeV energy range and electrons + positrons in the 7 GeV- 1 TeV range. These impressive statistics allow one to perform a very sensitive indirect experimental search for dark matter. We will present the latest results on these searches and the comparison with LHC searches.
Fermi Large Area Telescope Bright Gamma-ray Source List [PDF]
A. A. Abdo
Physics , 2009, DOI: 10.1088/0067-0049/183/1/46
Abstract: Following its launch in June 2008, the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (Fermi) began a sky survey in August. The Large Area Telescope (LAT) on Fermi in 3 months produced a deeper and better-resolved map of the gamma-ray sky than any previous space mission. We present here initial results for energies above 100 MeV for the 205 most significant (statistical significance greater than ~10-sigma) gamma-ray sources in these data. These are the best-characterized and best-localized point-like (i.e., spatially unresolved) gamma-ray sources in the early-mission data.
Fermi Large Area Telescope First Source Catalog [PDF]
The Fermi-LAT Collaboration
Physics , 2010, DOI: 10.1088/0067-0049/188/2/405
Abstract: We present a catalog of high-energy gamma-ray sources detected by the Large Area Telescope (LAT), the primary science instrument on the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (Fermi), during the first 11 months of the science phase of the mission, which began on 2008 August 4. The First Fermi-LAT catalog (1FGL) contains 1451 sources detected and characterized in the 100 MeV to 100 GeV range. Source detection was based on the average flux over the 11-month period, and the threshold likelihood Test Statistic is 25, corresponding to a significance of just over 4 sigma. The 1FGL catalog includes source location regions, defined in terms of elliptical fits to the 95% confidence regions and power-law spectral fits as well as flux measurements in 5 energy bands for each source. In addition, monthly light curves are provided. Using a protocol defined before launch we have tested for several populations of gamma-ray sources among the sources in the catalog. For individual LAT-detected sources we provide firm identifications or plausible associations with sources in other astronomical catalogs. Identifications are based on correlated variability with counterparts at other wavelengths, or on spin or orbital periodicity. For the catalogs and association criteria that we have selected, 630 of the sources are unassociated. Care was taken to characterize the sensitivity of the results to the model of interstellar diffuse gamma-ray emission used to model the bright foreground, with the result that 161 sources at low Galactic latitudes and toward bright local interstellar clouds are flagged as having properties that are strongly dependent on the model or as potentially being due to incorrectly modeled structure in the Galactic diffuse emission.
Detections of millisecond pulsars with the Fermi Large Area Telescope [PDF]
Lucas Guillemot
Abstract: The Fermi observatory was launched on June 11, 2008. It hosts the \emph{Large Area Telescope} (LAT), sensitive to $\gamma$-ray photons from 20 MeV to over 300 GeV. When the LAT began its activity, nine young and energetic pulsars were known in $\gamma$ rays. At least several tens of pulsar detections by the LAT were predicted before launch. The LAT also allowed the study of millisecond pulsars (MSPs), never firmly detected in $\gamma$ rays before Fermi. This thesis first presents the pulsar timing campaign for the LAT, in collaboration with large radiotelescopes and X-ray telescopes, allowing for high sensitivity pulsed searches. Furthermore, it lead to quasi-homogeneous coverage of the galactic MSPs, so that the search for pulsations in LAT data for this population of stars was not affected by an \emph{a priori} bias. We present a search for pulsations from these objects in LAT data. For the first time, eight galactic MSPs have been detected as sources of pulsed $\gamma$-ray emission over 100 MeV. In addition, a couple of good candidates for future detection are seen. A similar search for globular cluster MSPs has not succeeded so far. Comparison of the phase-aligned $\gamma$-ray and radio light curves, as well as the spectral shapes, leads to the conclusion that their $\gamma$-ray emission is similar to that of normal pulsars, and is probably produced in the outer-magnetosphere. This discovery suggests that many unresolved $\gamma$-ray sources are unknown MSPs.
The First Fermi Large Area Telescope Catalog of Gamma-ray Pulsars [PDF]
A. A. Abdo,for the Fermi LAT collaboration
Abstract: The dramatic increase in the number of known gamma-ray pulsars since the launch of the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (formerly GLAST) offers the first opportunity to study a population of these high-energy objects. This catalog summarizes 46 high-confidence pulsed detections using the first six months of data taken by the Large Area Telescope (LAT), Fermi's main instrument. Sixteen previously unknown pulsars were discovered by searching for pulsed signals at the positions of bright gamma-ray sources seen with the LAT, or at the positions of objects suspected to be neutron stars based on observations at other wavelengths. Pulsed gamma-ray emission was discovered from twenty-four known pulsars by using ephemerides (timing solutions) derived from monitoring radio pulsars. Eight of these new gamma-ray pulsars are millisecond pulsars. The pulsed energy spectra can be described by a power law with an exponential cutoff, with cutoff energies in the range 1 to 5 GeV. The rotational energy loss rate (\dot{E}) of these neutron stars spans 5 decades, from ~3x10^{33} erg/s to 5x10^{38} erg/s, and the apparent efficiencies for conversion to gamma-ray emission range from ~0.1% to unity, although distance uncertainties complicate efficiency estimates. The pulse shapes show substantial diversity, but roughly 75% of the gamma-ray pulse profiles have two peaks, separated by >0.2 of rotational phase. For most of the pulsars, gamma-ray emission appears to come mainly from the outer magnetosphere, while polar-cap emission remains plausible for a remaining few. Finally, these discoveries suggest that gamma-ray-selected young pulsars are born at a rate comparable to that of their radio-selected cousins and that the birthrate of all young gamma-ray-detected pulsars is a substantial fraction of the expected Galactic supernova rate.
Dark Matter Searches with the Fermi Large Area Telescope [PDF]
Christine Meurer,for the Fermi LAT collaboration
Abstract: The Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope, successfully launched on June 11th, 2008, is the next generation satellite experiment for high-energy gamma-ray astronomy. The main instrument, the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT), with a wide field of view (> 2 sr), a large effective area (> 8000 cm2 at 1 GeV), sub-arcminute source localization, a large energy range (20 MeV - 300 GeV) and a good energy resolution (close to 8% at 1 GeV), has excellent potential to either discover or to constrain a Dark Matter signal. The Fermi LAT team pursues complementary searches for signatures of particle Dark Matter in different search regions such as the galactic center, galactic satellites and subhalos, the milky way halo, extragalactic regions as well as the search for spectral lines. In these proceedings we examine the potential of the LAT to detect gamma-rays coming from Weakly Interacting Massive Particle annihilations in these regions with special focus on the galactic center region.
Determination of the Point-Spread Function for the Fermi Large Area Telescope from On-orbit Data and Limits on Pair Halos of Active Galactic Nuclei [PDF]
Fermi-LAT Collaboration
Abstract: The Large Area Telescope (LAT) on the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope is a pair-conversion telescope designed to detect photons with energies from 20 MeV to > 300 GeV. The pre-launch response functions of the LAT were determined through extensive Monte Carlo simulations and beam tests. The point-spread function (PSF) characterizing the angular distribution of reconstructed photons as a function of energy and geometry in the detector is determined here from two years of on-orbit data by examining the distributions of \gamma rays from pulsars and active galactic nuclei (AGN). Above 3 GeV, the PSF is found to be broader than the pre-launch PSF. We checked for dependence of the PSF on the class of \gamma-ray source and observation epoch and found none. We also investigated several possible spatial models for pair-halo emission around BL Lac AGN. We found no evidence for a component with spatial extension larger than the PSF and set upper limits on the amplitude of halo emission in stacked images of low and high redshift BL Lac AGN and the TeV blazars 1ES0229+200 and 1ES0347-121.


Losing a job can be a devastating experience. Losing your unemployment benefits can be equally devastating. The Law Firm of Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman, L.L.C., is committed to helping you obtain and protect the unemployment benefits you deserve.
There are three basic steps to determine eligibility.
Did you earn sufficient wages from the employer covered by unemployment law to qualify for benefits?
Are you out of work through no fault of your own? If you were fired due to "willful misconduct," you may not be eligible for unemployment compensation. Did you voluntarily leave your job for real and compelling reasons or were you laid off due to workforce reduction? If so, you will likely be eligible for unemployment compensation benefits.
Are you able and available to accept suitable work?
Do I Need An Attorney For This Process?
If your employer contests your eligibility, you will be entitled to a hearing before an Unemployment Compensation Referee. The issues described above are not always straightforward. The lawyers at Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman, L.L.C., understand the subtleties of unemployment law and can present the relevant written evidence and testimony to combat the employer's arguments at the hearing. They will prepare you to testify and make sure your side of the story gets heard. If you still are declared ineligible for benefits, our experienced attorneys will make an appeal to the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review.
Call or email our law firm today for a free initial consultation.