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In the event of a flight delay, one of the most important things to consider is the actual length of the delay.
In order to determine whether you are eligible for a compensation, you need to be careful while determining the relevant time of arrival of your flight.
A decision from the European Court of Justice provides useful insight.
How to determine the relevant time of arrival?
The European judges ruled in Germanwings GmbH v Ronny Henning that the relevant time of arrival to consider in order to calculate the delay of a flight 'corresponds to the time at which at least one of the doors of the aircraft is opened, the assumption being that, at that moment, the passengers are permitted to leave the aircraft.'
Please note that an airline may not insert in its Terms and Conditions of Use that the time of arrival will be the time the plane touches the ground, according to European Court of Justice case law.
Details of the case Germanwings GmbH v Ronny Henning dated 4th September 4th, 2014
Ronny Henning, passenger of Germanwings, was travelling from Salzburg (Austria) to Cologne-Bonn (Germany) on 11th May 2012. The flight was supposed to take off at 1.30 pm and to land at 2.40 pm.
The flight was delayed. The wheels touched the runway at 5.38 pm but the plane was parked at 5.43 pm, 3 hours and 3 minutes later than the initial time of arrival.
Ronny Henning claimed 250 euros in compensation for the delayed flight.
The airline refused to pay, arguing that the plane touched the ground at 5.38 pm, 2 hours and 58 minutes later than the initial time of arrival, and that the 3 hour threshold was therefore not met.
The first-instance court ordered the company to pay Ronny Henning compensation, arguing that the relevant time of arrival corresponds to the time at which the first door of the aircraft was opened to enable the passengers to leave.
The company appealed this decision. The appellate court, the Landesgericht Salzburg, asked the European Court of Justice for a preliminary ruling:
'What time is relevant for the term "time of arrival" used in Articles 2, 5 and 7 of Regulation [No 261/2004]:
the time that the aircraft lands on the runway ("touchdown");
the time that the aircraft reaches its parking position and the parking brakes are engaged or the chocks have been applied ("in-block time");
the time that the aircraft door is opened;
a time defined by the parties in the context of party autonomy?
The European judges observed that 'during a flight, passengers remain confined in an enclosed space, under the instructions and control of the air carrier, in which, for technical and safety reasons, their possibilities of communicating with the outside world are considerably restricted. In such circumstances, passengers are unable to carry on, without interruption, their personal, domestic, social or business activities. It is only once the flight has ended that they are able to resume their normal activities'(§20).
They noticed that 'although such inconveniences must be regarded as unavoidable as long as a flight does not exceed the scheduled duration, the same is not true if there is a delay, since the time by which, in the circumstances described in the preceding paragraph, the scheduled duration of the flight has been exceeded, represents 'lost time' in the light of the fact that the passengers concerned cannot use it to achieve the objectives which led them to go at the desired time to the destinations of their choice.' (§21).
'It follows that the concept of "actual arrival time" must be understood, in the context of Regulation No 261/2004, as corresponding to the time at which the situation described in paragraph 20 of the present judgment comes to an end' (§22).
Therefore, 'in that regard, it must be stated that, in principle, the situation of passengers on a flight does not change substantially when their aircraft touches down on the runway at the destination airport, when that aircraft reaches its parking position and the parking brakes are engaged or when the chocks are applied, as the passengers continue to be subject, in the enclosed space in which they are sitting, to various constraints.' (§23).
'It is only when the passengers are permitted to leave the aircraft and the order is given to that effect to open the doors of the aircraft that the passengers may in principle resume their normal activities without being subject to those constraints' (§24).
The Court concluded that 'The concept of "arrival time", which is used to determine the length of the delay to which passengers on a flight have been subject, refers to the time at which at least one of the doors of the aircraft is opened, the assumption being that, at that moment, the passengers are permitted to leave the aircraft' (§25).
You can read the entire decision here.
What is a preliminary ruling?
A preliminary ruling is a decision of the European Court of Justice on the interpretation of European Union law, made at the request of a court of a Member State. The European Court of Justice does not decide the merits of the case, it only answers a question on a particular point of European Union law. The national court rules the case once the preliminary ruling is rendered.
Your flight was delayed but you are unsure for how long exactly? Get in touch now, and we will assess your eligibility!
by Frédéric Pelouze, Weclaim Founder & Director


Clutch puller for Club Car 1988-2011 square style clutch. These Erlandson pullers are the finest pullers made. They are available in two grades. The shop grade puller has a one year warranty and the Commercial grade has a 5 year warranty and was designed with the golf cart mechanic in mind.


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Headlines Opinion
Have Meghan Markle & Prince Harry Earned Any Money Since Leaving Royal Family?
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry haven't exactly been busy since leaving the royal family. Are the couple any closer to financial freedom?
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry left the U.K. to chase dollar signs in North America. So, why haven't they been busy earning? | Image: Ink Drop/shutterstock.com
When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left the royal family, it was with dollar signs in their eyes and big plans for the future.
Aside from Prince Harry appearing at a JPMorgan event in Miami, the couple hasn't made any money.
The L.A. lifestyle Meghan enjoys doesn't come cheap. Harry better get working!
Over the past few months, we've heard a lot about what Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are planning to do, but very little has come of the ideas and lofty ambitions.
Be it scripts that will catapult Meghan to the White House, or providing the next big Hollywood blockbuster to Brad Pitt.
Plenty of rumors, but not much by way of action.
Meghan's pursuit of Brad Pitt has been hilarious. | Source: Twitter
But what about the pandemic, Markle fans cry!
Yes, I know. We've all lived through some peculiar and unsettling times of late, and it is hard to get anything done during a lockdown, right?
Well, not for everyone, it would seem.
The world has continued turning. Yet, for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, it's been all about Zoom calls, telling us how the Queen should go about her business, and shoehorning Grey's Anatomy quotes into speeches.
Don't get me wrong, these antics have provided hours of amusement, but sadly, they haven't brought in any dollars.
Have Meghan and Harry made any money since leaving the U.K.?
A valid question, and one which royal expert Katie Nicholl discussed with Entertainment Tonight:
They do need to make money. They've been in LA since March, they left the Royal Family at the end of March, and as yet, they haven't actually earned anything.
Of course, this isn't to say that the Hollywood Royals will be hurting for money. Together they are thought to have a net worth of around $30 million, so they won't be clipping coupons any time soon.
At the same time, Meghan Markle has been known to enjoy a shopping spree or two, so Prince Harry better get that public speaking career rolling, and quickly.
The $1 million he was rumored to have been paid for speaking at a JPMorgan event in Miami was the last time either of them earned any money.
For all of Meghan's big plans, nothing has come to fruition yet
I could understand the logic behind Meghan Markle wanting to return to L.A. for a career in Hollywood.
She was returning home with a British prince on her arm. This would maybe open doors that were closed previously. I get it.
So, what happened?
She's been chasing Brad Pitt around like a stalker, had Prince Harry pitching her services to anyone who'd listen, and was reported to have lots of huge offers sitting there on her desk.
Why the delay? Is she waiting on that one special project? Or has her Hollywood dream amounted to nothing?
Prince Harry has made one public speaking appearance. | Source: Twitter
Meghan Markle's pivot to social activism tells its own story
Markle deciding to pivot into social activism has less to do with a sudden need to step up and help and more to do with a lack of viable offers in Hollywood.
Make no mistake. If Brad Pitt's agent called her tomorrow, the Black Lives Matter social justice campaign would be placed firmly on the backburner.
At this stage of the game, both Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are getting desperate.
The scattergun approach and constant changing of exactly what Meghan intends to do post-royal life is a telltale sign that things aren't working out as they had hoped.
One thing is for sure: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry need to start earning. They can't rely on handouts and freebies forever.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of CCN.com.
Meghan Markleprince harryRoyal Family
Aubrey Hansen
I'm a full-time royal & entertainment commentator at CCN. I've had my opinions and links to my work on the royal family featured by outlets such as The Daily Mail, International Business Times, and The Express. Reach me at aubrey.hansen@ccn.com, visit my LinkedIn profile here or my Twitter profile here.
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Family Dog Success Story – Jen, Harry and Oscar
3 years ago on July 6, 2020
"Right from the moment he entered our lives, Oscar made a positive difference to Harry. He's my absolute little star."
Jen (41) is mum to two sons and her youngest, Harry (11), has autism and ADD. "Harry is high-functioning and he really struggles with his mental health. His darkest moods take him to places that no parent wants to find their beloved child."
Like most parents of a child with autism, Jen found herself searching online for services and therapies that might help Harry. "I'd heard about autism assistance dogs but felt that Harry's diagnosis meant that he wouldn't qualify for one," she explains. "But, having had a dog myself as a child I felt sure that it would be a positive influence. So, when I found out about Dogs for Good's Family Dog service, I thought that it could be really helpful."
Family Dog service for autistic children
Held at various locations around the country, our Family Dog workshops are specially designed to help parents of autistic children find (if they don't already have a dog) and train a dog to benefit the whole family. The course instructors use a combination of practical demonstrations, discussions, hands-on learning and course handouts. The workshops are also attended by Family Dog workshop dogs, Siren, Fidget and Neville who are all excellent at demonstrating what the trainers are explaining.
Jen booked herself onto a local course and right from the start, knew that she'd made the right choice.
"Everyone was in the same boat as me and it was lovely to be part of a group of people looking for the same kind of help. The instructors were immensely knowledgeable and because the group was small, one-to-one help was easily achievable. I learned so much about choosing the right breed, how to understand dog behaviour and ensure that their needs are met and how to go about training a dog in the right way. Even after the first workshop, I started to feel confident enough to start the search for a companion dog for our family."
Jen decided to get a puppy and after careful consideration, felt sure that a Labrador would be the best choice for her family. "I knew that getting a puppy would be a lot of hard work but I knew that I wouldn't be in it alone because of the post-workshop support that Dogs for Good's Family Dog team offer on the phone and online. That was really reassuring."
Along came Oscar
Jen found a breeder locally who sent her some photos of the litter so she could show them to the family before going to see the pups. "Of course, they were all adorable… but there was something about one of them," she says. "We were all really drawn to him."
Needless to say, Jen instincts were correct and as soon as he was old enough to leave his mum, a little yellow Labrador puppy joined their family. They named him 'Oscar'.
"The workshops taught me not to expect too much of Oscar as puppies aren't hugely trainable until they're much older," says Jen. "But one thing did happen, right from day one. Oscar became Harry's best friend and just that simple thing started a hugely positive change for Harry."
School was something that Harry didn't enjoy but Oscar helped make that less upsetting by just being part of Harry's life. "Even though Oscar wasn't able to go to school with Harry, the school were amazing and and got involved with helping Harry share Oscar with his classmates through visuals," says Jen. "This helped the other children see Harry differently. It also helped Harry's relationships with his teachers," says Jen.
Previously, when Harry came home from school, he would go straight out onto his trampoline to bounce and gain some relief from the sensory overload he'd experienced during his school day. "That changed immediately, too," recalls Jen. "As soon as Harry came through the door, he'd seek out Oscar for cuddles, strokes and laughs. It was absolutely magical to see Harry's anxiety, stress and unhappiness melt away through his interaction with Oscar."
After a few months and as he got bigger, Oscar also showed a natural inclination to 'body rest'; where a dog will lay the weight of its body over a person which gives a comforting sensation of deep pressure. "It's something that autistic children find incredibly soothing so Harry is a big fan," explains Jen. "But Oscar will also do it to any one of us if he senses we're upset about something. His lovely, calm presence is so relaxing."
Building a strong bond
Oscar is now two years old – an impossibly handsome, leggy, 31kg package of joy who Jen describes as "my absolute little star."
Since coming into the family, Harry's moods have stabilised and the love he and Oscar have for each other is unconditional.
And now that Oscar's old enough to teach, the techniques that Jen learned in the Family Dog workshops are starting to come together.
"We're starting to refine the body rest a bit and also teach him just to use his head – a technique called a 'head rest' which we learned in the workshops," Jen explains. She is also teaching Oscar to use 'talking buttons' – another method that the Family Dog workshops teach. "The buttons are devices that you can record a single message on," explains Jen. "They're big enough for a dog to either place a paw or a nose on to set it off.
Jen says she's likely to use the buttons for 'transitions' – for example, letting Harry know when it's time to end screen time, bed time, homework time and helping him to choose which homework to do. "Harry wants to help train Oscar to do this which will, I'm sure, strengthen their bond even more," she says.
Lockdown is hard for everyone but especially for families with a child with autism. Jen says that now, more than ever, Oscar has made everything so much easier to bear. "Lockdown would have been so much harder without him," she says.
The whole family agree, saying: "He provides us with unconditional love and entertainment every day; he's so loveable and playful. He helps to relieve stress and tension and is a great distraction. He always knows if you're having a bad day and is always there for you."
Harry adds: "Oscar makes us all laugh and he makes me very happy. I love the funny dance he does when we give him a treat! Oscar is my best friend and I hope Oscar knows this. I hope I am also Oscar's best friend."
Our Family Dog team gives advice and support to help families with an autistic child to get the most out of their relationship with their pet dog. Find out more about our Family Dog service here.
View Celebrating 10 years of our Family Dog service
View Special 'school leaver' photos with Joel and autism assistance dog, Caddie


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Microsoft's top legal gun decries privacy 'arms race'
By Elizabeth Heichler
Editorial Director, IDG News Service |
Elizabeth Heichler, IDGNS
The conflict between snooping governments seeking to defeat encryption and users demanding ever more robust privacy tools has turned into an arms race—and it's time for arms control talks, Microsoft's general counsel said on Tuesday.
Resolving that conflict requires a new consensus on how to balance public safety and personal privacy, Brad Smith said in a forum at Harvard Law School. "Ultimately there are only two ways to better protect peoples privacy: stronger technology or better laws," he said.
In an expansive conversation about privacy and rebuilding trust in technology after revelations of widespread government spying, Smith talked about Microsoft's first "sea-change" moment. It came in the year after the September 2001 terrorist attacks, when Microsoft, among other Internet companies and telcos, was asked to voluntarily share data with U.S. law enforcement.
In the heat of the moment, in 2002, "it was easy to do things that we wouldn't otherwise do," Smith told Jonathan Zittrain, a professor of law and computer science at Harvard who moderated the event.
The principle that Microsoft adopted at that point and has stayed with is that if it's legally obligated to do something, it will comply, but otherwise it will not. "Our basic message was, if the government didnt feel the law went far enough, it shouldn't ask us to go beyond the law. It should go to Congress and ask Congress to change the law," he said.
The second sea-change was driven by the revelations in mid-2013, by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, of widespread surveillance and data collection by the U.S. government. One of the biggest impacts of that was a significant loss of trust in technology companies by enterprise customers, Smith said.
Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith and Harvard Law School Professor Jonathan Zittrain.
Trust on the wane
"The public's trust on a global basis was changed," he said. The level of concern varies, and is more pronounced in Germany, across Europe, Brazil, and even came up in conversations with large businesses in Japan. Surveys conducted by Microsoft found a 10- to 15-point decline in trust among customers.
Besides strengthening encryption, as most tech companies have done, Microsoft is tackling the issue of trust by bringing its legal resources to bear and implementing changes in its enterprise contracts.
"We said, if the U.S. government came and served a subpoena on us, seeking the email or other records of an enterprise customer, we would resist that, we would go to court, we would argue to a federal judge that that subpoena ought to be served on the customer, not on us. Second, we said that if the data in question were stored exclusively outside the United States, we would go to court and challenge the extraterritorial reach," Smith said.
Asked by Zittrain whether Microsoft has had discussions about extending the same protections to "run of the mill" consumers, not just enterprises, Smith appeared to acknowledge that there are limits to the legal resources that the company is willing to commit on behalf of its customers.
Smith said he has filed three lawsuits against the government in the past year, including one asserting Microsoft's first amendment right to publish more information about so-called FISA letters (these are issued after secret hearings in the U.S. court where law enforcement seeks warrants under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act). "Reform of the FISA court is so important," Smith said. "We should not allow that issue to get lost in the public discussion. Public safety is of course important, but secret courts with secret decisions are not part of the American legal tradition."
Microsoft's second lawsuit challenged an FBI subpoena that was issued late last year, for data on an enterprise customer. In the third lawsuit, where Microsoft is now appealing a judge's ruling against it, it is opposing a search warrant by U.S. law enforcement for emails stored in a data center in Ireland.
The law of the land: but which land?
"When should the United States government be able to reach into another country, into a data center built in another country, to get the data stored inside?" Smith said. "One could understand a rule that would say, if you have an American citizen or resident, that is storing data in another place, one could imagine a public policy rationale that would enable the U.S. government to serve a warrant. That stands in sharp contrast to the current position that the Department of Justice is taking in the lawsuit. They're basically saying, if the data center was built or is operated by an American company then they can reach anything inside. That really goes to the heart of sovereignty."
It's quite likely that Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba will build a data center in the U.S., Smith said. "How will the people in Washington, D.C., feel if the Chinese government, if the Russian government, the Iranian government, the North Korean government, or pick the government of your choice decides to simply follow the principle that's been advocated by the U.S. government? Suddenly the rights of Americans are not being protected by their own laws, they are subject a whole bunch of other laws."
The risk is of fostering chaos on the Internet, he said. "But more important is what it means for people. Are people going to be able to continue to have the confidence that their rights are going to be protected by their own constitution and by their own laws? Or is it going to be something that can be overridden by other governments and their laws?"
Smith said that he wants to see more government action and discussion of a way forward.
"There is no effective broad-based conversation today that is first of all even bringing together the different parts of the United States government. The U.S. government is overdue for an interagency effort" that would bring in the interests of law enforcement and intelligence agencies, the Commerce Department, State Department and others, he said. And he's still optimistic about the role President Obama can play: "The fact that we have a president right now who is a constitutional law professor is a great asset to the country."
"But in the absence of any real discussion we're just going to have an arms race in perpetuity," Smith said.
Elizabeth Heichler is vice president and editorial director of the IDG News Service.


Erie Township had entered into an agreement with Point and Pay LLC which provides E-Payment Services and we would be accepting credit or debit card payments for property taxes only. You will have the options of paying online through a link on our website, calling an 800 number to pay by phone, or at the counter at the township hall.
Please note that only Visa Debit cards fall under the $3.95 flat fee. All other debit cards are accepted but are subject to the 3% transaction fee. Many residents have been asking for this service for some time and we hope you find this to be a convenient alternative. We are sorry that at this time we cannot offer this method of payment for other services.


Choosing the right health insurance plan can be very difficult. If you are looking for a health insurance plan in West Virginia, you are in the right place. Get up-to-date West Virginia health insurance quotes by entering your zip code and compare quality plans from trusted health insurance providers. Learn more about West Virginia health insurance plans and find out how you can save on your health coverage.
Diabetes went up from 7.6 percent to 11.7 percent of the adult population in the past ten years. There are now 171,000 adults with diabetes in the state. Obesity went up 23.2 percent to 32.9 percent among adults in the past ten years. There are now 482,000 obese adults living in the state. Smoking in West Virginia has not decreased in the last ten years. There are 393,000 adult smokers in the state. The rate of preventable hospitalizations is down from 105.4 to 100.7 discharges per 1,000 Medicare employees in the last year.
West Virginia health insurance plans must be sold with a guaranteed renewability clause. This will enable policyholders to renew their coverage every time they see it necessary. Furthermore, health insurance companies are not allowed to terminate a coverage on the grounds of sickness or injury on the part of the insured. Newborns and newly adopted children in the state are automatically covered under a parent's health policy, as long as the policy in question covers dependents. This can last up to 31 days, giving parents enough time to look for a more long-tem solution. When writing new West Virginia health insurance plans, insurers can exclude coverage for a pre-existing condition. This exclusion period can last for months, years, or even permanent. However, when you want to switch plans, the exclusion period you've already spent on one plan shall be credited to your next plan. Health insurance is not strictly regulated by the state government, this allows insurers to deny applications for a new plan based on age, family history, health, and other risk factors. Such factors can also be used to determine the cost of your coverage. West Virginia holds an annual open-enrollment period. During this time, certain HMOs must accept all applications regardless of health status. Small businesses with two to fifty employees can purchase group health plans comparable to what is available to small businesses in other parts of the state. West Virginia health insurance quotes for group coverage can vary according to the risk factors of its members. To avoid cancellation of group health plans, small businesses may have to meet certain requirements like a minimum percentage of employee participation or an employer contribution to the members' premiums. Self-employed residents in West Virginia can purchase group health plans, even without any other employees. In addition, they can also choose an individual health insurance and such plans give them the advantage of being able to deduct a large portion of the premiums from their taxes.
Medicaid provides comprehensive coverage to qualified low-income families who need assistance to pay for their medical care. Services covered include physician services, lab and x-rays, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, nursing home care, health centers and rural health clinics, family planning, immunizations and other early and periodic screening, diagnostic, and treatment (EPSDT) services for children, and many more. To qualify for Medicaid in West Virginia, applicants must: 1. Be U.S. citizens or qualified residents living in West Virginia. 2. Not exceed income limits: Pregnant women and children aged 0-1: 150% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Children aged 1-5 years: 133% of the FPL. Children aged 6-18 years: 100% of the FPL Parents or Caretakers living with children aged 0-18 years: 33% of the FPL. Aged, blind, and disabled: 75% of the FPL with assets not exceeding $2,000 for singles; 83% of the FPL with assets not exceeding $3,000 for couples. Medically-needy: $200/month income with assets not exceeding $2,000 for singles; $275/month income with assets not exceeding $3,000 for couples.
West Virginia Children's Health Insurance Program (WVCHIP) was created to provide health coverage uninsured children and teenagers of working families. Covered services include doctor visits, hospital visits, tests and x-rays, prescriptions, immunizations, vision care, dental care, emergency care, urgent care or after hour clinic visits, mental health, diabetic supplies, case management for special needs, and many more. To qualify for WVCHIP, children must be U.S. citizens or qualified residents living in West Virginia and under 19 years old. Must not be eligible for West Virginia Medicaid or West Virginia State Employee Health Insurance. Must have lost family coverage in the last three months and family income must not exceed 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL).
The West Virginia Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program (WVBCCSP) was created to provide uninsured and underinsured women access to breast and cervical cancer screening services. The program covers screening and diagnostic services including clinical breast exams, mammograms, breast biopsies, Pap tests, and pelvic exams. Eligibility: 1. Must be between 25 and 64 years old. 2. Income must not exceed 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL). 3. Must be uninsured or current insurance does not cover the services offered by WVBCCSP or has an unmet deductible or a required co-payment that may cause difficulties in acquiring the same services from current health insurance.
Medicare is administered by the federal government and provides health insurance coverage for Americans aged 65 and above or those younger than 65 but have a disability or end-stage renal disease. Coverage has four parts: Part A: provides inpatient care in hospitals and rehabilitative centers. Part B: provides doctor and some preventive services and outpatient care. Part C: provides Medicare benefits through Medicare Advantage. Part D: provides prescription drug coverage. Eligibility: 1. Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident. 2. Must be 65 years or older, with you or your spouse having worked in a Medicare-covered employment for at least ten years; or have a qualified disability or end-stage renal disease, regardless of age.
AccessWV is West Virginia's High Risk Pool and offers health insurance to residents who may have been denied coverage due to a serious medical condition. AccessWV offers four comprehensive plans that cover physician visits, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, emergency services, prescription drug, preventive care, home health and hospice, nursing, durable medical equipment and supplies, mental health and chemical dependency services, and prenatal and maternity care. Eligibility: 1. Must be a West Virginia resident for at least thirty days. 2. Must have been denied health coverage in the last 6 months; or only able to access coverage with limited benefits or rates higher than the plans by AccessWV; or be uninsurable because of a serious medical condition. 3. Residents who are eligible for HIPAA or HCTC coverage are also qualified for the program. 4. Must not be eligible for group or public health insurance. 5. Must not be in a public institution.
With the new health care law, children under the age of 26 can choose to stay under their parent's West Virginia health insurance as long as they are not offered an employer-based health insurance. This provision enabled 2.5 million young adults to have insurance nationwide. In West Virginia, 16,232 young adults have insurance coverage through this provision as of June 2011.
The new health care law allowed 39,164 Medicare policyholders in West Virginia to receive a $250 rebate check to help with prescription drug costs when they fell into the Medicare gap in 2010. In 2011, 36,036 Medicare plan holders were given a 50% discount on brand-name prescription drugs covered by their plans when they hit the donut hole. An average of $653 per person or a total of $23,543,921 was saved in West Virginia.
Previously uninsured individuals without health coverage because of a pre-existing condition can now apply for a Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan. This plan is available to U.S. citizens or legal residents with a pre-existing condition and have been uninsured for at least 6 months. In 2011, 76 individuals in West Virginia have benefited from this new law.
When looking at West Virginia health insurance quotes, applicants are assured that at least 80 percent of the price will go directly to health care services and other related improvements. A rebate or premium discount shall be provided if the minimum is not met. With this, 352,000 private policyholders in West Virginia will get greater value for their premium payments because of this 80/20 rule.
Preventive care services like immunizations, colonoscopies, mammograms, or annual wellness doctor visits must be included in all West Virginia health insurance with no deductibles or co-pays. In 2011, 236,654 Medicare subscribers and 300,000 individuals with private policies received such services in West Virginia.
Under the new law, insurance companies are no longer allowed to impose an annual dollar limit - a cap on the yearly spending for your benefits, or a lifetime dollar limit - a lifetime cap for spending for your covered benefits. This law frees chronically ill individuals like cancer patients from worrying about getting further treatment because of such limitations. In 2011, 581,000 West Virginia residents have benefited from this law.
If insurance companies want to raise their premium rates by ten percent or more, they are required by federal law to publicly announce and justify their actions. To guard against such unreasonable increases, the state of West Virginia received a total of $4 million.
All fifty states receive increases in funding for community health centers under the Affordable Care Act. This will help construct new health centers, provide medical services to more patients, improve preventive and primary health care services, and fund infrastructure projects. In West Virginia, 206 community health centers received a total of $69.9 million to fund these improvements.
In 2010, the Affordable Care Act created the Prevention and Public Health Fund. This new fund was created for wellness promotion, disease prevention, and protection against public health emergencies. West Virginia has already received a total of $9.9 million to support its policies, programs, and communities to help its residents lead healthier lives.


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Rich Fury/Stringer/Getty Images
Cardi B's "Bodak Yellow" Lyrics Are Actually Perfect For Your Next Instagram Caption
By Alexa Mellardo
The 2017 VMAs are happening as we speak, and celebrities are seriously slaying it up on the red carpet with the most fab looks. Cardi B kicked off the beginning of this star-studded affair with "Bodak Yellow." Her beautiful, sparkly ensemble (complete with silver sparkling boots to match) made the performance come full-circle. She crushed it and obviously got the audience super pumped up for the evening. And let's be honest here, Cardi B's "Bodak Yellow" lyrics are literally perfect for your next Instagram caption. Needless to say, if you're always hardcore struggling to find the ultimate caption for your oh-so-adorable pictures, look no further than Cardi B's "Bodak Yellow" for solid inspo.
I mean, for starters, if your name is Cardi, the singer's line, "It's Cardi, ayy," was literally made for you. And if you're the coolest person on this planet, and your pics prove as such, why not go for "I'm a boss" or "Goals, b*tch." For all of my boss ladies out there, your picture deserves a caption like "I make money move," "I ain't got no time to chill," or "Only the real can relate," because, duh. If you're all about that party lifestyle throughout the week and into the weekend, go for "You in the club just to party." And for that prime picture of your girl squad, "You a groupie" sums up all the feels.
Never Forget Cardi B makes her VMA debut with a performance at the pre-show #VMAs pic.twitter.com/0FfIbPCx6z — Never Forget Bot (@forgetmebot) August 28, 2017
Since you're all set with some prime Instagram captions for your awesome pictures, it's time for us to chill one hot second here and give our girl Cardi B's sparkling outfit at the VMAs some serious attention. I mean, her look totally shut it down while she was performing "Bodak Yellow." So, it's only appropriate that when you have an outfit that's totally the bomb like Cardi B's silver one, "This sh*t is hot like a stove" is a great caption for you.


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'Accolade' review or 'I'm having a devil of a day'.
Accolade, Emlyn Williams
St James Theatre, 18th November 2014
'Accolade' is a fairly explosive play but it is beautifully contained in this mature and thoughtful production from director Blanche McIntryre. The action is limited to novelist Will Trenting's study and, as the drama unfolds and Will's second life threatens to shame and engulf him, the gentle tick of the clock can be heard in the background. There's sex and scandal and plenty of booze involved in Emlyn William's sophisticated play 'Accolade' but it is also quite a restrained piece, which forces no judgement and gently suggests we judge Will Trenting on our own terms.
The action opens on New Year's Day, with the public announcement of Will Trenting's knighthood for services to literature. Will (Alexander Hanson) and his wife Rona (Abigail Cruttenden) are 'pleased as punch' (we're in the frightfully plummy 50s), although Trenting is a little dubious about this 'accolade'. We soon discover that the seedy life that Will describes so well in his novels has been drawn from his own secret, sozzled and sexy ways, often spent among drinkers and prostitutes above pubs in East London. Trenting might be a renowned and respectable novelist by day but this self confessed Jekyll and Hyde figure is a bit of a scoundrel by night.
McIntryre introduces just the quietest tremble of threat to her production almost from the off. When Will's rowdy 'Rotherhithe' friends, Harold and Phyllis, come over to celebrate Will's news, the atmosphere tightens. The space that Will's wife Rona and his secretary Albert instinctively create around Harold and Phyllis suggest the unbridgeable gulf between these two worlds that Will occupies. Phyllis wears a bright red hat and, as she nervously bobs around Will's imposing study, little sparks of danger fly off her. Will's own transformation is also ominous. As his 'no good' friends arrive, Hanson's Will morphs from a rather tight and plummy chap into a garrulous geezer, his eyes sparkling and his whole body somehow more energetic and alive.
James Cotterill's set also emphasizes Will's impending downfall but slightly over-eggs things. Will is practically cocooned in his study, with a giant wall of painted books curving around the back wall of the stage. Occasionally, this wall of books moves forward and the space grows smaller still. I appreciate that this is meant to emphasize the fact that Will, this self-made man of literature, has trapped himself in a prison of his own making but it feels a bit *much* in an otherwise light-footed production.
The acting really is 'top drawer' all round, old chap, and textured enough to allow our sympathies to easily – and confusingly – sway as the play unfolds. Hanson turns in a fittingly contradictory performance. He is a likeable old rogue and his ability to stick two fingers up to a blatantly hypocritical high society is something to admire. But he is also patronising, conceited and deeply selfish. When chancer Daker (a man so slimy and see through, you just want to punch right through him) turns up and attempts to blackmail Trenting about his seedy and, as it turns out, illegal second life, Trenting's hypocrisy and snobbery ('What a funny little man you are!') takes the breath away. Were Daker (played with exquisite sliminess by Bruce Alexander) not so utterly detestable, then our sympathies would be turned away from Trenting for good – but Williams and McIntrye balance the scales (packed with dirt) so carefully that it's impossible to settle on one side for too long.
Abigail Cruttenden, as Will's wife Rona Trenting, is just knowing enough to keep the play in balance. She is treated fairly terribly by her husband but, as she asks herself in the later scenes, to what extent has she been complicit in her husband's behaviour? There are only two elements that threaten the careful moral balance and distance this production achieves. The first is the presence of Trenting's 'sensitive' son who is frankly so wet, and so obviously tugging on our sympathies, that it is hard not to flee in the opposite direction. The other factor the is the Jimmy Saville sex-scandal that has been unravelling over the past years – along with god knows how many other celebrities and 'respected' figures in positions of power. The horror of that scandal hovers over this piece and threatens to up-end it altogether. In the end, Trenting gets off quite lightly in 'Accolade'. His publisher even admiringly and forgivingly mutters: 'I'll never get into trouble – but I don't know if I'll have ever lived.' But what if that 'trouble' that 'tramp' Trenting (as his friends affectionately call him) is just the tip of the iceberg? It is a horrible fact to live with, but recent events have taught us that sometimes Dr Jekyll really is just the devil Hyde in nice clothing.
'Accolade' review or 'I'm having a devil of a day'...
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'Pomona' review or 'Have you tried clearing the dr...
'Far Away' review or 'I told you not to side with ...
'2071' review or 'Can anyone feel a chill in here?...
Thoughts about 'Schlock!'
'Man to Man' review or 'Is that a hare's foot in y...
'Beached' review or 'Any one for another cream bun...
'This is How We Die' or 'Are there any windows in ...


Country but minutes from city life. Beautiful 7.7 tree lined acres w/3 story farm style house 5 yrs old. Maple hardwood floors throughout main level.Sunny kit includes all SS appliances, 2 pantries,lots of cabinet space & breakfast room. Formal DR, large GR opens to outdoor patio, BA & laundry room w/utility sink complete the main floor. 3 Bedrooms up w/finished bonus room, 31x13 on 3rd floor & finished attic for a total of 3350 sq ft. Master bedroom has walk-in closet, Master bathroom has double sinks, tiled shower, jetted garden tub & water closet. 2 car garage & 32x24 pole barn.


Just got a notification that my moto 5 has a security threat from JavaTcmdHelper v8.1.0 (screenshot below).
But when I run a scan I get the message 'this preinstalled app contains a virus', so I'm not certain.
as before my mobile was clear!
Note : If Virus definition failed to update or above procedure didn't fix the threat alert, please do reinstall McAfee application to get the latest definition.


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Remove filter for Ann Arbor, Michigan
Fair Food Network
Fair Food Network works with a diverse network of partners and pioneer solutions that support farmers, strengthen local economies, and increase access to healthy food—especially in underserved comm
Michigan Future Inc.
Michigan Future (MFI) is the only Michigan organization with the mission to serve as an information resource for state and local decision makers to acquire new ideas for how Michigan can succeed as
Michigan Community Health Worker Alliance (MiCHWA)
This grant will support the Michigan Community Health Worker Alliance (MICHWA) to design and implement a continuing education and training program to engage the community health worker wo
Climate Change, Health, & Equity Initiative
The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is one of the great public research universities of the United States and a leader in higher education.
Net Impact is a global network of more than 100,000 students and professionals and works to develop impact-oriented leaders across the globe.
This grant will provide general operating support for the Build Healthy Places Network, one of the nation's first and most prominent organizations dedicated to fostering collaboration between the c
Pacific Forest Trust Inc.
This renewal grant will support Pacific Forest Trust (PFT) in developing a model for improving water security through investments in natural infrastructure.
Chinatown Community Development Center
This grant provides project support to Chinatown Community Development Center for the expansion of its culturally relevant Creative Placemaking activities.


Just a reminder about the upcoming GPOA meeting on Thursday, December 10 at 7pm at the Bacich School Library (699 Sir Francis Drake). The County will be presenting the Sir Francis Drake Rehabilitation project and the current alternatives. It's a good opportunity for you to learn more about the project, discuss, and provide input.
Note that the annual craft fair in the Bacich community center will just be ending at 7pm, so the parking lot will be impacted. Please allow extra time for your arrival and plan accordingly.
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To book the cheapest flight from Mumbai to Amritsar (a city in the northwestern part of India) check the price of every airline flying the route. For your convenience links to their online flight reservation systems are provided below.
28 Oct 2012. Spicejet commences direct non-stop flights from Mumbai to Amritsar. Neil Mills, Spicejet's CEO said: "We are pleased to be first airline to start direct flights between Mumbai and Amritsar and we hope the new services would be helpful to sections of passengers flying for business and vacation purposes as it would cut travel time significantly." Flight SG151 is scheduled to leave Mumbai on a daily basis at 10h00 and arrive in Amritsar at 12h20.
The distance between Mumbai and Amritsar is some 1411 km.
Amritsar has a semi-arid climate with hot summers, humid monsoons and cold winters. Annual average temperatures range between 4°C and 40°C thlroughout the year.
Use the search engine below to find hotels, guest houses, bed & breakfasts and self-catering accommodation in Amritsar.


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Digital Weapons: Governments, Stockpiles, and International Trading
Cyber Security and Information Warfare February 20, 2019February 20, 2019 Adam Zivo
Governments tend to produce their own cyberweapons in-house, tailoring them to the specific systems they want to infiltrate. However, they often buy its component code from third parties. Specifically, governments are major buyers of 'exploits' – a kind of code that targets a system's vulnerabilities to give hackers undue powers within it. Exploits are the delivery system of malicious code, like the rocket to a missile. They're valuable and bought and sold in 'grey' markets of ambiguous legality and pervasive secrecy. The notable thing about an exploit is that, once one becomes aware of it, one can patch the vulnerability it targets, thereby rendering the exploit useless. Therefore, when governments purchase exploits they're put into a difficult ethical quandary: do they tell people about it or not? Revealing the exploit, and working with firms to neutralize it, increases citizens' overall cybersecurity, but deprives the government of a potentially valuable weapon. Keeping it secret does the opposite, increasing a government's offensive capabilities while leaving citizens vulnerable.
It's not a theoretical problem. In 2014 the Heartbleed vulnerability affected hundreds of thousands of users, allowing hackers to potentially steal their social security numbers from the Canada Revenue Agency. It was alleged that the National Security Agency ('NSA' – one of America's intelligence agencies) had known about the vulnerability for two years, and, by failing to disclose it, bore partial responsibility for exposing Canadians to the risk of fraud. Though the NSA denied prior knowledge of Heartbleed, the accusations seemed sufficiently plausible for the Obama administration to announce that, going forward, it would have a 'bias' towards disclosing new vulnerabilities. What that means remains a mystery to most commentators and harkens to a more general problem. A lack of transparency on government cyberwar programs, while necessary to the success of these programs, prevents citizens from evaluating what kind of risk their governments expose them to, which then creates gaps in democratic accountability. This differs from traditional warfare, where offensive capabilities have little direct bearing on domestic security. Producing a new fighter jet doesn't make citizens more vulnerable to being bombed, for example.
While governments do make rhetorical appeals to the importance of defending domestic cybersecurity, there are simply too many incentives to maintain robust stockpiles of exploits. A recent RAND report, based on previously-secret data, indicates that exploits have an average lifespan of approximately seven years. An exploit's lifespan marks the time between when an exploit is developed to when it is effectively "killed", meaning when the vulnerability it targets is patched in enough systems to render the exploit functionally worthless. What happens between birth and death isn't known in detail. An exploit can be bought and used right away, but designed well-enough that it remains undetected for years. Alternatively, it can sit on a shelf for years and then, once used, be detected relatively quickly. A seven-year lifespan is surprisingly long. While it doesn't mean that the average exploit is used for seven years, it implies that exploits tend to sit unused for a substantial period of time, meaning that government stockpiles expose citizens to risk that is measured in years, not months. Though cyber policymakers are still sifting through the ethics of this system, and the public is slowly becoming more aware of its trade-offs, we've yet to see a comprehensive regulatory or legislative response.
Beyond domestic stockpiling, there's also the question of how exploits are traded internationally. While exploits can be weaponized, they're ultimately just pieces of code and so they fit poorly into pre-existing arms control frameworks. In the absence of clear regulations on how they can be sold, the grey market has stepped in with some level of self-regulation. Private firms that buy or develop exploits make assurances that their customers only include states approved by NATO, the EU, ASEAN, and so on. These assurances are often met with justifiable skepticism. Firstly, a lack of formal oversight makes them difficult to guarantee. Secondly, firms have historically had no issue selling to countries that, while not necessarily branded as enemy states, are nonetheless morally questionable customers. In one high-profile case, 'Hacking Team', an Italian firm, sold tools to Ethiopia that were later used to infiltrate, monitor, and disrupt Ethiopian journalists operating in the United States and Europe.
Some headway is being made into regulating international exploit trading, though solutions have largely been haphazard and relatively uncoordinated. Regulators scored a major victory through an amendment to the Wassenaar Arrangement, an arms control pact which, at the time of writing, has 42 participating states – mostly EU members, along with some other significant players such as the United States, Canada, India, and South Korea. In 2013, Wassenaar categorized exploits as dual-use technology, formally recognizing that they had both a civilian and military component. This consequently placed them under strict export controls. While this is a major achievement in regulating exploit trading, one that shows states increasingly protecting citizens from the risks of digital weapons, it isn't without limitations and hiccups. Wassenaar is only a voluntary framework and it lacks any mechanism to enforce its policies. It also only covers an elite class of countries. This may limit the filtration of exploits from rich democracies to poor autocracies, but, mirroring traditional arms control, it does little to stop delinquent nations from disseminating exploits to each other. Lastly, the Wassenaar amendment demonstrates a more general problem in cyber-legislation: a lack of clarity on terminology. The initial language defined exploits too expansively and risked criminalizing researchers using technologies that, while similar to exploits, aren't weaponizable. Cyber-related firms pushed to fix this, but it took five years to rectify the language.
Featured Image: Computer restart screen. Via Pexels.com
About Adam Zivo
Adam Zivo is a social entrepreneur, photographer, and content producer. His past clients include brands such as America's Next Top Model, Flixel, and Bell Media. He is the founder and director of LoveisLoveisLove, an LGBTQ+ arts campaign that has engaged 400,000+ people to date. Adam completed his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at the University of Toronto, and in 2018 will be commencing his Masters of Public Policy and Governance at The Munk School, University of Toronto. Adam maintains a broad knowledge base, but is particularly focussed on cyber and information warfare, the political use of social media, as well as larger intersections of technology and governance.	View all posts by Adam Zivo →
Bulgarian Infrastructure: A Bottleneck to Energy Security on NATO's Eastern Flank?
China's Cyber-espionage on NATO Allies


Florida Court Expands Statute of Repose for Improvements to Real Property - Advise & Consult, Inc.Advise & Consult, Inc.
The Fourth District Court of Appeals in Florida recently issued a decision in Gindel v. Centex Homes, that increases the amount of time homeowners have to file a lawsuit against homebuilders. The Court relied on basic principles of statutory interpretation to conclude that issuing pre-suit notice is an "action" under Florida's statute of repose.
The statute of repose for improvements to real property provides a ten-year time period for homeowners to file an action against the homebuilder.1 In the Gindel case, homeowners moved into a townhome complex built by Centex Homes on March 31, 2004. Based on the statutory timeline, the homeowners had until March 31, 2014 to file an action against Centex Homes for any defects in the townhomes.
On February 6, 2014, before the ten-year deadline, the homeowners sent Centex a pre-suit notice of defect. The homeowners sent the notice to Centex in compliance with Florida's mandatory pre-suit procedure statute. The statute requires a homeowner to notify the homebuilder of any construction defects before filing a lawsuit.2 The purpose of the statute is to give the homebuilder a chance to cure the defect as an alternative to litigation.
For the homeowners in this case, the additional procedural steps almost cost them their entire claim. Once Centex notified the homeowners that it would not cure the defects described in the pre-suit notice, the homeowners filed a lawsuit on May 2, 2014, a month past their ten-year deadline. Centex filed a motion to dismiss based on the statute of repose.
The court held that the requisite pre-suit notice was sufficient to satisfy the statute of repose. Because the action commenced prior to the March 31, 2014 deadline, the homeowners were not barred from then filing suit.
The court's interpretation of the statute of repose allows the homeowners to continue their suit against Centex to recover damages for construction defects made over 14 years ago. While this ruling likely will not open the flood gates of litigation, lawyers representing both homeowners and homebuilders should be aware that the statute of repose for improvements to real property does not require a formal lawsuit; rather pre-suit notice of a construction defect will protect plaintiffs from having their case dismissed.
1 Section 95.11(3)(c), Florida Statutes (2014).
2 Section 558.004, Florida Statutes (2014).
This entry was posted in Construction Defects and tagged Advise & Consult, construction defects, Florida, Statute of Repose by admin. Bookmark the permalink.


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Simon Sharkey and a Hirab Johnny
At ITAC3, the International Teaching Artists Conference in Edinburgh, we gathered in a small room for a session with Simon Sharkey of the National Theater of Scotland, and we were not disappointed. Simon's Scottish brogue was thick, melodious, and inviting. He began talking about his company (which was founded in 2006), and he catalogued the staggering number of productions they have created in their short history. Most famous is surely Blackwatch, an international hit based on a Scottish regiment's witnessing of the war in Iraq. I saw Blackwatch in New York in 2007, and though I had not seen any of its work since then, I was impressed enough by that experience to take its claims seriously.
Simon began to describe his theater's central artistic approach to collaboration. He said it had to do with a certain Hirab Johnny. I was sitting next to a fellow American, Tricia Tunstall, and she and I both turned to one another quizzically, as if to say, "what did he say?" After one or two more references to the stages of Hirab Johnny, Tricia asked me, "who is he? Is he someone we are supposed to know about?" It still took a few more paragraphs of that smoky Scottish brogue before we realized that Hirab Johnny was at the center of Joseph Campbell's take on mythology, and therefore was not a specific person at all. All along Simon had been saying "a hero's journey," not "Hirab Johnny."
In fact, a hero's journey is central to the way Simon and his colleagues work when devising a play with far-flung collaborators. They begin with five steps of the journey (a distilled version of Joseph Campbell's more elaborate breakdowns):
The Mundane World – the hero has no desire to be where he/she seems fated to be
The Call to Adventure – something or someone beckons to the hero
The Trials – the hero meets new people, learns new skills, faces new challenges and learns of an insurmountable obstacle that must be overcome
The Moment of Doubt – the hero turns away from the task, unsure of whether success is possible
Return with the Elixir – the hero is triumphant and come back with the prize of the quest, which releases and frees his/her people
Working through a variety of exercises that introduce the hero's journey, they then embark on the creation of theater pieces that tell a heroic tale. Since the National Theater of Scotland seeks collaborations with communities from all over the world, they naturally learn about stories from other cultures that inspire and stimulate exchange among nations. Rather than thinking of a national theater that enshrines its own heritage, Scotland's national theater reaches out to create relationships with other countries and communities.
The company's newest venture is entitled "Home Away," and it answers the company's initiative from its first year, "Home." They are collaborating with communities in Chicago, New Delhi, Jamaica, Brisbane, Rio De Janeiro, and in Scotland: (Glasgow, South Uist, Dundee, Tomintoul & Glenlivet), and internationally through the World Wide Web. The new pieces will be premiered this Fall in Scotland, along with a five day participatory arts conference. More info at www.homeaway2016.com
You are invited to attend, and if you go, please say hello to Hirab Johnny for me.(And oh, Simon, too, pictured below)
Ellie Harrison
I don't know Ellie Harrison. I have never met her in person. But that is just as she would have it.
I encountered her via Skype at the International Teaching Artists Conference in Edinburgh last week. Ellie prefers Skype because she does not travel, at least she is not travelling at present. Why? For all the reasons you might predict. Most forms of modern transportation take fuel, notes Ellie, and Ellie is not into the fossil fuel thing. She admits that even with all the precautions she takes, it is impossible to avoid the use or consumption of fossil fuels entirely, but she is trying her best. She is in Glasgow, and even though it is a short hour by train to Edinburgh, she insisted she should not travel.
Ellie is an artist and activist, and she has a clear mission. She wants her work to be free of the obligations that come with the support of traditional capitalist funding sources. So instead Ellie is working on a novel idea. What if you could invest in clean, sustainable energy, like a wind turbine? I mean what if you bought and built a wind turbine? Really. And what if you could take the money you made through those investments and pay for the arts education projects that mean the most to you? That way you would not be subject to possible restrictions on your free speech, you would be free to say what you believe, what you mean, what you think is important in an age where climate change and unfettered capitalism threaten our future. Teaching artists could fund themselves through the creation of sustainable energy. There's something I had never considered before my trip to Edinburgh.
And Ellie is serious about it. In 2015 she initiated the Radical Renewable Art + Activism Fund (the "RRAAF"). Check her out at www.ellieharrison.com.
OK, ok, so I know what you are thinking. There is no such thing as "pure money." Even if you were to succeed with the wind turbine plan, you'd end up using fossil fuels in getting the construction materials to your site, you'd be drawing on funds that were derived from compromised investments, etc, etc., etc. And yes, you would be right. It is just what I thought as I listened to Ellie lay out her utopian plans.
But there is something that transcends all the counter-arguments, and that is plain and simple, Ellie's joy. She can't seem to help laughing in between every other sentence, and she readily admits all the flaws and holes in her logic. She just loves the idea of upending our ideas of the status quo, of how things should work, and she has an uncanny way of making you feel joyful about it all, too. Sometimes ebullience trumps all.
Perhaps Ellie just made me feel mischievously youthful. Perhaps I couldn't resist her gap-toothed smile. Perhaps she forced me to question the pillars that support my own work. Perhaps Ellie is onto something. Why should we always be looking to others to support our work? What can we do to sustain our world and pursue our teaching artist projects?
It might be a simple thing to brush Ellie off as young and naïve, but I wonder, should we?
 Yasmin Fedda and the Syria Mobile Film Festival
"In the front is red fire
In the rear is red smoke
Stay wisely in between
Stay near the standard bearer
The first ones always die
The last ones are also hit
Those in the center come home."
---Bertolt Brecht
War is unimaginable to those of us who have not been in it. We depend on reporters and cameras to tell us what it is like, and even then we can feel numb to the explosions and "collateral damage," as the spinspeak goes. As a teaching artist, I think of myself as more of a domestic worker, someone working to strengthen schools and community centers back home, rather than as someone who could be involved in telling the stories of the tragic outcomes of armed conflict.
This past year I congratulated myself repeatedly on how adept I had become at using my iPhone to record snippets of song ideas in workshops I led at Carnegie Hall in New York City. I even mentioned it again as part of my presentation at the International Teaching Artists Conference in Edinburgh (ITAC3, #ITAC3C), you know, cleverly urging people to use the technology at hand, and that sort of thing. Imagine how my mind was blown when I learned at that same conference about Yasmin Fedda and the work she does with filmmakers in Syria to create heart-wrenching and thought-provoking documentaries with nothing but a mobile phone.
A film about a young boy who loses his hand and much of his mental ability as a result of the detonation of a bomb he thinks is a toy. A film about a teenager who watches the devastation of his country and responds by building elaborate models of a new city that could someday rise out of the ashes. A film about the barbed wire fences at the border between Syria and Turkey, which eventually beckon desperate Syrians to hurl themselves directly into the face of death. All these stories told through footage shot entirely on the same iPhone I carry in my pocket, the same iPhone I use to casually check the weather or receive a text from home. The films are edited in a hurry, usually no more than 2 hours per film, and under conditions that are as hard to imagine as the stories they tell.
Teaching artists in Syria bring equipment and coaching expertise, support, and the opportunity to share the work beyond the borders of Syria. Just as we try to allow songwriters to write their own songs and conceive their own arrangements, these film editors support their directors as they storyboard and then edit their documentaries, fighting the clock all the way. There are so many things we have in common, as teaching artists, and yet there are so many ways in which they are war journalists, and so many ways in which I strain to imagine the complexity and danger of the work they do.
Yasmin Fedda said, "I have a bias. And I have to acknowledge I have a bias, otherwise I cannot work in such a situation [like Syria]…" She is opposed to the actions of the Assad regime, and she has a specific agenda when it comes to what she believes should happen to resolve the conflict. She said, "I must be totally transparent about my opinions, with my collaborators, but most importantly, with myself." I realize that that is true of me, too. I do not work in a war zone – though this work certainly makes me ask why not? – but I have a bias, too. It has to do with growing income inequality and racism and the place of education in the United States, but she made me realize how important it is to recognize our biases and be transparent about them. Often we are timid about our own political stances because we work for cultural institutions, and we don't want to rock the boat or needlessly offend a board member or a funder. But more and more it seems, we are in need of clarity and confidence about the purpose of our work. And that includes acknowledging we have an opinion about what should happen in the world.
Yasmin Fedda and her amazing project have helped me think more deeply about that this summer. I am grateful to ITAC3 for bringing me into an international community of teaching artists whose work I am only beginning to learn about.
You can learn more at: http://highlightarts.org/projects/category/syria/
http://syriamobilefilms.com/en/
More stories of ITAC3 to come!
International Teaching Artists
This week and next I'll be writing up a few summaries from my visit to Scotland in early August. I was lucky enough to attend the International Teaching Artists Conference in Edinburgh. It will come as no surprise to my teaching artist friends that Eric Booth is the driving force behind it. He has found some wonderful colleagues from Norway, Australia, and Scotland who are in league with him, and we here in New York are hoping to host the next gathering. This was the third iteration of the conference (thus the acronym, ITAC3). It was my first visit, but other New York colleagues had attended the past two conferences, including Sarah Johnson, Hilary Easton, LeeAnn Westover, and this year Jean Taylor, Barbara Ellman, and Jose Velez, all from Lincoln Center Education.
I was inspired by many of the presentations and workshops, and of course I could not get to all the rich offerings, but I do want to share a few that struck me most deeply, and so I'll be doing that in this little micro-burst of blogging. Like a late day thunderstorm in August, I promise it will be brief and hopefully a little noisy, too!
Tomorrow look for a piece about mobile phone films from Syria.


Owners are needed for two loving, playful special-needs puppies. They are vision-impaired – not blind, but they don't see as well as they should – which means that their other senses will probably develop to be especially keen. They are great pets, stay close to home and will grow to be medium-sized dogs. For information, contact Dawn Scott at sadascott@aol.com or 2654-4774.
Atocha Muebles y Accesorios and Bermuda Hotel Supply have relocated from the Villarreal Royal Palm Plaza to Paseo del Mar on the main road to Brasilito from Huacas. Park on either side of the business complex and walk to the back of the building to find both new stores. For information, contact Atocha's María Luisa Borges at 2653-9060 or marialuisa@atochacr.com, or Bermuda's Abby McDonald at 2653-6811 or stabby@bermudacr.com.
Latin dance lessons are now being offered by Carolina at Marie's Restaurant in Flamingo every Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. The cost is ₡3,000 ($6) per person. Come comfortably dressed with some solid shoes, and be ready to rumba!
U.S. Thanksgiving will be celebrated Nov. 25 at Marie's with a traditional turkey dinner starting at 1 p.m. The price is $20 per person, $10 for kids 12 and under. Reservations and deposit are required; call 2654-4136 or e-mail maricris@racsa.co.cr. Friday will be leftover day with hot and cold turkey sandwiches, turkey enchiladas and more.
A reminder that the Country Day School Holiday in Paradise fundraiser celebration will be held Dec. 3 at the Reserva Conchal Beach Club, with a buffet dinner, live music and raffles. Part of the proceeds will go to the nonprofit CEPIA and Mano a Mano outreach. Tickets can be purchased at several location; for details, contact Maureen Thompson at costaricamom@gmail.com.


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Gerry Toms Pavilion Project
It started in the winter of 2001/2002 with an attempt to put together the proposals and funding required to replace the (in)famous Dresselrigg portacabins with a permanent, serviced pavilion. This is our story from January 2004 onwards. Don't think that nothing was done in the intermediate period, as a vast amount of effort by many of the members and committee had been put in to get us to this position. Culminating in granting of full planning permission on 17th November 2003.
17th January 2004 - Emptying and Removing the Portacabins
The portacabins are removed from Dresselrigg after a five season stay. At 8am on a cold crisp saturday, a few of the club members and committee arrived at a ghostly looking Dresselrigg, just before dawn. Its an eerie sight as the early morning dew rises from the field of dreams. (left). An hour later, the dawn has risen and the portacabins lie empty with its contents spilled onto the grass as the first of the two lorries reverses in to begin the removal. (right)
A rather melancholic Bud Campbell takes one last wander round the club area of the old pavilion surveying just how well his labours of five years ago had lasted. The old girl has stood up well to the rigours of the wet and cold Murieston summers and winters. As has the portacabins ;-) (near right)
The state of the art removal lorry, stretches its legs to ensure a stable position from which it can easily and safely lift the cabins up onto its load. For all the geeks and boys toys enthusiasts out there, the arm is controlled by remote control. Fascinating to watch, and effective. (far right)
Gently does it as the first few inches of clear ground are made.....Hopkins was keeping a close eye on progress as he had opened a book on how many seconds it would take before the unit fell apart after it had been lifted! Needless to say he shouldn't have worried as they survived the task with consumate ease. (left)
Ever so slowly, inch by inch the combined thoughts of the terrified threesome of Mackay, Campbell and Wilson force the portacabin onto the lorry. Never again will it disobey the Groundsmans rules as its set to be banished for ever to live the life in a dark place (or Fife as its sometimes called). (right)
The Rodster and the Budster look on forlornly as a major part of our cricketing lifes is being removed. Jimbo on the other hand decides that now is the ideal time to throw that forced smile at the camera !! (left)
Bud decides to take a few steps closer as he really can't believe what he's just seen. Never did a man look so surprised! Carefully Bud makes a note to use the same technique for getting Pete Taylor to leave his crease next season (right)
Its one last look and a fond farewell as the portacabins disappear down Murieston Valley off into the distance and unknown. (left)
All thats left now is the tidying up as the winter sun comes up on the field of dreams. Is it an omen? (right)
(Pictures courtesy of 'BP' Hopkins and Rhino Wilcock)
4th March 2004 - Foundations, Water & Light
On the left is the trench for the main water and electricity pipes. On the right, the elevated foundations.
Further views of the foundations.
(Pictures courtesy of BP Hopkins)
9th March 2004 - The Chairmans Birthday Present Arrives!
On a clear and Sunny Tuesday morning at 7.30am, the huge crane rolls into action slowly lifting each individual unit off the delivery trucks and into their position.
Th first unit is safely down, and the construction team start to strip off the packaging from transport. The chairman looks relaxed, not realisng what was to come! Two down, the third middle unit is airlifted into place.
The east end unit is put in place, and on the right hand side the view of the open internal building before the west end unit closes it all up.
13th March 2004 - Internal Fit Outs Commence
Roddy explains the concept of a wall and how to build one, whilst Barry shows how to glue your head to a pillar. Altogether a good training lesson! and the final picture shows that we have got the technique off to an art!
Some more pictures from the 13th showing the gawping Jim Wilson and the lesser bearded Rodster
(Pictures courtesy of Rhino Wilcock and BP Hopkins)
27th March 2004 - Internals Continue
Things beging to take shape, as YDO strives for the picture with the most planks of wood in it! before finally achieving an angle that almost blocks out the light completely.
(Pictures courtesy of Rhino Wilcock)
28th March 2004 - and More Internals
Graham and Chris decide how big to make the candy floss (top left). Cic walks away in disgust at the state Bud has made of plumbing the hot water tanks, whilst Filipino Boy takes up his guaranteed pulling position (middle left). Roddy asks the guys for a dance (middle right) as Hopkins continues to hold up that pillar!! (top right, bottom left AND bottom centre) Meanwhile the plumber and sparky show how to do proper work!! - 'Mine's a black coffee and a bacon roll Bud!' (bottom right)
April 2004 - External Progress
The foundations for the steps and ramp at the front door are completed. The mess that is around the pavilion shows how well the car park has been put back into place.
22 August 2004 - Official Opening Day
A crowd of over 200 turned up and the sun shone as Chairman Iain Murdoch, along with the official opening Party - Mary and Susan Toms,Andy Kelly from sportScptland and Graeme Morrice from WLC prepared to start the ceremony (left). On the right are the players from the club who took part in running the events that were held on the opening day. Left to Right, Sohaib Ashgar, Hamed Ahmed, Navid Ashgar, David Hopkins, Mukhtar Ahmed, Fahad Ahmed, unknown, Brad Palmer, Richard Wilcock, David Vettese, Graham Whitehouse, Shazad Gul. Iain Murdoch, Jon Bestwick, Barry Lothian, Faisal Anwar, Andy Kirkland, Richard Carrigan, Kevin Sumpter, Jim Wilson, Roddy Mackay, Andy Bell, Willie John and Paul Hammersley. Mention must be made of the Rodsters pose!
How the Press Reported the Official Opening Day
Oct/Nov 2004 Scottish Cricketer (top), August 26th West Lothian Courier (bottom)
The Doers and the Acknowledgments
Whilst the pictures above give a decent understanding of what happened, a few members of the club (and one or two outwith) require to be properly accredited for their effort.
The management of the project was initially undertaken by David Hopkins, and then latterly by Iain Murdoch. This thankless, but necessary, role ensured that everyone who was involved, be it external suppliers, external contractors or internal workers, knew what was expected of them and when. Without the efforts of David and Iain, there is no way the project would have completed within the timescales it did. There were one or two fraught moments and once or twice hackles were raised, but at the end everyone was still on speaking terms!
The architectural design, drawings, planning application and building control applications were all done by Barry Lothian. His skills, knowledge and expertise were invaluable to the project. Any issues/concerns/questions we had with anything to do with building control, Barry was quick to provide the necessary guidance.
The internal fit out was planned and managed by Roddy Mackay. Given the timescales he had to work to, what he managed to achieve in that time was tremendous. He was working 12 hour shifts every saturday and sunday to ensure that the insides looked as good as they do. His expertise with wood ensured that all the lackeys knew how to put up a partition wall, or hang some plasterboard like the best of them. The benching in the changing rooms, the toilet cubicles, the shower floors the doorframes are all Roddy's own work, but we will be forever indebted to the his efforts in the clubroom. Not withstanding the tables, nor the trophy cabinet, nor the honour boards, nor the skirting and finishing his piece de resistance has to be the bar itself. It really does enhance the room considerably, and is a fitting tribute to the hours of effort the 'Rodster' put in.
All the plumbing and electrical work within the building was designed and installed by Bud Campbell and his brother Colin (Cic), with the occasional help from Kevin Sumpter when time and his work permitted!. Like Roddy, Bud and Cic put in considerable hours of effort, and Bud continues to do so, as he satisfies continual requests for a socket here, a wee heater there!!
Throughout the build there was a ready (and eager?) supply of club members to labour. From basic ditch digging to learning new skills, every task was a treated as a challenge to be overcome. And to a man (and woman) it was acheived.
Not everyone put in the same amount of hours, but those that were there for the vast majority of all the weekend shifts (plus a few nights as well) over a 2 month period were Bud, Roddy and Barry plus Jim Wilson, David Hopkins, and Iain Murdoch. Others who put in time as well to varying degrees, and in no particular order, were Richard Wilcock, Paul Hammersley, David Vettese, Graham Whitehouse, Chris Greenall, Jon Wadey, Kevin Sumpter, Colin Heaney, Richard Carrigan, Brad Palmer, Danielle Boon, Lindsay Philips, Jon Bestwick and Andy Bell. These names were lifted from the timesheets filled in between March and May 2004. This confirmed that well over 2000 man hours were done in this period, plus the non accounted hours worked since. Altogether a phenomenal effort.
Outwith the above, donations of materials, resources etc were made by one or two members, plus by guys like Ged Nixon from Presidential Decor, Telford College, Ian 'Joe' Walsh at Convenience Carpeting. Not forgetting the considerable donations of time and material from CBC Homes Ltd and Colinton Furniture.
It will be interesting to see what the future brings, in terms of further development of the pavilion, but if this project is anything to go by, then we have the drive and willingness and skillset within the club to achieve it!


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