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International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam
NEWSLETTER N° 487: December 4, 2010
............. WELCOME TO OUR NEWSLETTER N° 487: December 4, 2010	Follow this LINK if you cannot read the newsletter properly	Contact the Editor, Advertise on the sites. Our newsletter reaches 82 000 film profession...
05.12.2010 | Newsletter's blog
IDFA Films: Inform And Engage
As someone who appreciates attending documentary-only film festivals, I must admit that after a few days, it can become a bit of a slog. This is not due to the excellence of the films, particularly at a high-end event like IDFA, the acclaimed International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, which ends its 11 day run today. If anything, it is the opposite. The films presented are so visceral, so challenging, so disturbing, so awakening, that it truly is a shock to the system to see th...
28.11.2010 | IDFA International Documentary Festival Amsterdam's blog | 1 comments
IDFA Opener Is Festival's Big Prize Winner
POSITION AMONG THE STARS (Stand van de Sterren) by Dutch/Indonesian filmmaker Leonard Retel Helmrich was the big winner at the awards ceremony of IDFA: International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam. The film won both the VPRO IDFA Award for Best Feature-Length Documentary (the Festival's top honor and winner of a cash prize of 12,500 euros) and the Dioraphte IDFA Award for Best Dutch Documentary. The director won the same top prize at the 2004 IDFA for the second film in his trilo...
28.11.2010 | IDFA International Documentary Festival Amsterdam's blog
American Film Festival Wrap
The AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL (AFF), the first film event in Eastern Europe solely devoted to the works of contemporary and classic American cinema, announced the two winners of its Audience Awards, chosen by the public as their favorites among the films presented over the past five days in Wroclaw, Poland. The winner of the American Independent Narrative Audience Award is WINTER'S BONE, the celebrated debut by filmmaker Debra Granik that won the Grand Jury Prize and Best Screenpl...
25.10.2010 | American Film Festival's blog
The AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL (AFF), the first film event in Eastern Europe solely devoted to the works of contemporary and classic American cinema, announced the two winners of its Audience Awards, chosen by the public as their favorites among the films presented over the past five days in Wroclaw, Poland. The winner of the American Independent Narrative Audience Award is WINTER'S BONE, the celebrated debut by filmmaker Debra Granik that won the Grand Jury Prize and Best Screenplay awards at the...
Documentary Deluge At New Directors New Films
For the first time in memory (if my faulting memory serves me well and it increasingly does NOT), the New Directors New Films showcase opened last evening with a documenary feature. This annual rite of the Spring film season, co-presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center and the Film Department of the Museum of Modern Art, was ushered in by BILL CUNNINGHAM NEW YORK, a fascinating look at the New York Times photographer and his love/hate obsession with the city he calls both his mu...
26.03.2010 | FilmNewYork's blog
Chinese Mass Migration At Sundance FF
After winning the top prize at the IDFA International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, the world's most prestigious showcase for non-fiction film, the Canadian/UK co-production LAST TRAIN HOME is making a splash at its International Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. Now the clear favorite for awards recognition in the World Cinema Documentary competition here, the film seems poised for a distribution deal. LAST TRAIN HOME by director Lixin Fan is a beautif...
29.01.2010 | Sundance's blog | 1 comments
All Eyes Turn To Tallinn
In the year-round film festival circuit, a roundelay of more than 2000 individual film events held in almost every corner of the globe, one moves as if part of a gypsy caravan, lingering in one place before taking up stakes for the next location. For me, it is a lateral move across Europe from Amsterdam, where I have been attending the IDFA International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, and the host of the 13th annual POFF, Tallinn Black Nights F...
28.11.2009 | Tallinn Black Nights Film Fest's blog
In the year-round film festival circuit, a roundelay of more than 4 000 (as in this website's festival directory) individual film events held in almost every corner of the globe, one moves as if part of a gypsy caravan, lingering in one place before taking up stakes for the next location. For me, it is a lateral move across Europe from Amsterdam, where I have been attending the IDFA International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, and the host of the 13th ann...
IDFA Forum Gathers Doc Pros
If you are an industry professional who works in the world of documentaries, it is a pretty sure bet that you are spending this week in Amsterdam at the IDFA International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam. Aside from the hundreds of completed films on display, the Festival sponsors a co-production market for filmmakers to network with potential financiers and distributors for new projects (that will most probably come to IDFA next year as completed films). IDFA's annual c...
HOMBRES DE SAL
Director: MANUEL JIMENEZ NUÑEZ.
Life in the sea is disappearing from our shores... and not only underwater.
NOVASOFT's videoblog
Late Deals As Sundance Eases Into Final Weekend
Friday, January 25---------Although the Sundance Film Festival continues through this Sunday, with the culminating Awards Ceremony to be held on Saturday night, many film professionals have already skipped town, mulling the films they have seen (bid or passed on) and, frankly, warming up their external digits after 9 days of frigid weather. What began as a barren landscape for dealmaking has made a rebound, although Festival veterans have described this year's event as very lowkey compared to ...
25.01.2008 | Sundance's blog
Although the Sundance Film Festival continues through this Sunday, with the culminating Awards Ceremony to be held on Saturday night, many film professionals have already skipped town, mulling the films they have seen (bid or passed on) and, frankly, warming up their external digits after 9 days of frigid weather. What began as a barren landscape for dealmaking has made a rebound, although Festival veterans have described this year's event as very lowkey compared to earlier years (a result of th...
An Interview with IDFA director Ally Derks
As International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam puts finishing touches on its 20th edition, set to launch November 22-December 2, festival director Ally Derks takes a moment to muse on this year's standout themes, the joys of playing with a three-million-euro budget and the merry mischief of hiding a fake film for audiences to smoke out. Filmfestivals.com reached her in Amsterdam during the calm before the storm. FF: Is it a challenge to program a documentary festival that comes a week af...
IFDA: Amsterdam's other peep Show
International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam will celebrate its 20th incarnation November 22-December 2 in the Dutch city dubbed the "Venice of the North." Though relatively unknown in the States, IDFA is a critical stop on the documentary festival circuit. The 10-day fest will screen more than 300 documentaries in 20 sections, starting out with Richard Robbins' Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience. A collage of letters, essays, poems and diary excerpts by U.S. soldier...
Encounters South African International Documentary Festival
Since its inception nine years ago, the South African International Documentary Festival has gained in popularity and grown significantly. We received a record number of over 500 films from around the world this year, and have chosen 51 which tackle pertinent and quirky issues, tell tales and true stories, introduce audiences to illustrious, forgotten or little known figures, charismatic revolutionaries and leaders, and milestone events in world history. Among the 52 films, from 18 countries, we...
2007 Sundance Film Festival Awards
Sunday, January 28-----The Sundance Film Festival roared into its Awards Ceremony last evening with the speed of an on-going train, as the nervous anticipation of filmmakers, sales agents and distributors filled the cavernous Racquet Club for the festivities. Anchored by the unflappable Festival Director Geoffrey Gilmore, the choices for Jury and Audience Awards in the US and International Feature and Documentary categories were a bit of a surprise, since many of the films that received nods w...
28.01.2007 | AwardsWatch's blog
Sundance 2007 Awards
The Sundance Film Festival roared into its Awards Ceremony last evening with the speed of an on-going train, as the nervous anticipation of filmmakers, sales agents and distributors filled the cavernous Racquet Club for the festivities. Anchored by the unflappable Festival Director Geoffrey Gilmore, the choices for Jury and Audience Awards in the US and International Feature and Documentary categories were a bit of a surprise, since many of the films that received nods were not high on the radar...
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27.10.2006 | IDFA International Documentary Festival Amsterdam's blog | 3497 reads


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The Minister of Industry and Trade recently requests intensification of the inspection and handling of violators in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) trading.
Under Directive 13/CT-BCT dated October 4, the Minister said despite the recent efforts of functional agencies in the management of LPG trading, many prestigious LPG businesses still have their LPG bottles improperly used and illegally marketed by others after modifying or reshaping them, thus causing fire and explosion risks and threats to consumers' property and lives.
The Minister requests provincial-level Industry and Trade Departments, the Vietnam Gas Association, and units under the Ministry to enhance the state management of LPG production and trading; strictly supervise the operation of LPG producers and traders in their localities, and carry out extraordinary inspection so as to early detect and handle violators.
LPG producers and traders that fail to maintain law-prescribed business conditions, and conditions on safety, and fire and explosion prevention and control would be suspended from operation or have their business eligibility certificates revoked, said the Directive.
Under the Directive, local market surveillance branches are tasked to coordinate with functional forces in inspecting the observance of regulations on business conditions, and conditions on assurance of fire and explosion safety of LPG wholesalers and agents, bottled LPG stores, filling stations and supply stations, LPG bottle production and repair establishments.
Units under the Ministry will coordinate with related agencies in reviewing the consistency of current legal documents on management of LPG trading activities with the production and trading reality.


Wan's prowess as a storyteller and director in this more interesting and well-plotted second chapter may ironically end up luring in those who weren't even onboard with Insidious in the first place.
Insidious: Chapter 2 picks up right where chapter 1 ended, with Renai Lambert (Rose Byrne) discovering the corpse of murdered medium Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye), with her husband Josh Lambert seemingly the culprit. After a police investigation fails to connect the fingerprints that strangled Elise to Josh, the Lamberts are set free to return to life as normal - only normality never comes, as more supernatural occurrences begin to plague Renai and her once-comatose son, Dalton (Ty Simpkins), with Josh oblivious to it all in his militant insistence that the family get back to normal.
Meanwhile, Elise's former assistants Specs (Leigh Whannell) and Tucker (Angus Sampson) recruit a veteran medium named Carl (Steve Coulter) to help contact their former mentor and solve the case of who murdered her. However, as the team digs into Elise's death, they quickly find connections to Josh Lambert and the entities haunting him, getting closer to a dark truth that spans time and space, life and death.
James Wan is, by now, an established name in the horror genre, and he's enjoyed recent horror movie success thanks to his summer hit The Conjuring. However, Insidious was a much more divisive movie in terms of fan reception, and that stigma - combined with high expectations based on Wan's other 2013 horror entry - are likely going to challenge Insidious: Chapter 2 in regards to viewer satisfaction. Harder still will be the adjustment as viewers realize that Wan has less interest and re-heating old Insidious ghost-story leftovers, and instead uses the sequel to truly expanded the mythos of his characters and world, ultimately creating something that is more akin to The Shining.
While Chapter 2 does include a few effectively creepy signature Wan scare sequences, the majority of the film is dedicated to laying out a two-handed narrative (once again co-written by Wan and Whannell). On the one hand we get a Shining-style psychological thriller centered on the Lambert household; on the other hand, a supernatural horror-mystery revolving around Elise's team and their investigation into the history of the ghostly old woman who killed Elise.
Whether or not those two plot threads appease fan expectations, Wan and Whannell do an effective job of using the first film to create an intriguing and tense (if not scary) second chapter, which does what so many other "Chapter 2" pieces fail to: expand upon a self-contained story in an intriguing and smart way, making creative and logical use of all the various elements of the first film while tweaking and evolving those ideas in new ways. Taken altogether, Insidious parts 1&2 form a complete unbroken story whose various threads weave together into a logical and cohesive whole - one that even offers a few twists, and juggles powder keg plot devices like time-travel with a clarity and focus that is impressive. Just seeing the whole saga come together is worth a theater ticket price - a rarity in horror movie storytelling.
Wan's directorial imagination is as keen as ever - even when it's not being used to terrify at rapid-fire pace. The changed setting (now located in Josh's childhood home) is more ominous, the visual palette is more dismal and dreary - and as stated, there are still those set pieces and sequences throughout the film that will give you chills. It may be fewer chills than you want or expect from a horror film like this, but they're memorable enough to make the overall experience worthwhile.
The cast are given new angles and arcs to play out in this second chapter. Without spoiling anything, Wan's "muse" Patrick Wilson is given something much more dynamic than his usual straight-man role and does fairly well with it - even if he fails to reach that Nicholson "Jack Torrance" level of slow-burn mania. Byrne, by comparison, does a better Shelly Duvall, blending matriarchal concern with wide-eyed naiveté - though that sort of character feels a bit outdated in modern context.
Supporting characters like young Dalton (Simpkins) Josh's mom Lorraine (Barbara Hershey), and ghost-hunters Specs (Whannell) and Tucker (Sampson) are given expanded roles and all manage to create more interesting and essential characters than we saw in the first film. Coulter quickly and concisely establishes Carl as a solid and likable exposition tool, and Lin Shaye (Something About Mary) is a welcome sight again, even in her small cameo role.
As stated, by the time the third act of the film rolls around - and Wan truly goes for broke with his Shining homage - we're left with a movie that has plenty of narrative meat and good tension - but not that many scares, per se. Then again, horror movie scares are always a subjective (and very divisive) thing, so maybe it's for the best that Wan and Co. focus instead on providing us with a fun ride of intrigue and suspense, instead of trying emphasize the horror build-up/pay-off catharsis. Insidious: Chapter 2 has a lot of moving parts, and on the whole they are arranged into a proper and fitting closing arc to one of the more memorable horror movie tales of the last few years.
Is it the next Conjuring? No. But even while working at a slightly lower level, Wan's prowess as a storyteller and director in this more interesting and well-plotted second chapter may ironically end up luring in those who weren't even onboard with Insidious in the first place. Proof positive that there is benefit in not making your "Part 2" a "Part 1 Redux."
Insidious: Chapter 2 is now in theaters. It is 105 minutes and is Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of terror and violence, and thematic elements.
Want to talk about the film without ruining the ending for others? Join our Insidious: Chapter 2 SPOILERS discussion.
Want to to see how the sequel compares to the first film? Read our Insidious Review.
Want to hear the editors discuss the film? Check out the Insidious: Chapter 2 episode of our podcast.


DeKalb County Police, during an automobile accident investigation on LaVista Road Wesnesday night involving DeKalb County Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton, learned that she has four outstanding warrants for writing bad checks in Gwinnett County from January, 2008. Interestingly, after learning that the warrants were active, DeKalb's finest did not arrest her.
The four warrants all appear to involve bad checks written at a Costco in Duluth.
Court records show Sutton also had previous problems with bad checks. In 1996, she pleaded no contest in Gwinnett to writing bad checks to West Building Supply in Stone Mountain.
Sutton, who represents District 4, did not immediately return phone calls left at her office nor an email. She also did not show up at a commissioner's meeting on Thursday.
A spokeswoman for the county said she could not comment for the commissioner.
As of 4 p.m. today, her name does not appear on booking records at the Gwinnett County Jail. Nor has her image appeared here.
[UPDATE @ 7:00 p.m.] Well, it appears that membership has its privileges. The warrants have been dismissed after the debt was paid.
Sutton said she paid Costco the outstanding money late Thursday and her attorney had the warrants dropped.
This isn't a unfortunate situation. This is a situation that she knew had developed long ago (See O.C.G.A. 16-9-20 (a)). Would you like to guess often warrants like this are dismissed at the Magistrate level? 'Rarely' is the operative word.
I just saw on the news that she is alleging possible identity fraud. If it had just been an "ordinary" citizen instead of an elected official, more than likely the ordinary citizen would have already been carted off to jail.
1) It's possible it's really a case of identity fraud.
2) If it was a case of fraud, she could easily have handled this before the point where the court has outstanding warrants dating back 2 years. You just have to: prove it wasn't your bank account (which should be easy to do, because the checking account would have needed a signature on file), swear out an affidavit to that effect (you don't even need a lawyer for this part), and promise to help prosecute.
So much for "fraud". The only fraud is the County Commissioner claiming "fraud".
It's just like tax-cheat Geithner, we don't need folks who can't obey the laws themselves governing us, especially laws involving money.
"But it be fraud" she stated in her own defense.
The fact she paid them off make me think she knew about them in advance. I have a family member who was a victim of Identity Fraud in 1992 before this crime was widely known. He started getting letters within six weeks of bounced checks and took aggressive action to clear his name. The process back then was harder than now.
While I would love to give her the benefit of the doubt, the article said the warrants were two years old and she has a history of writing bad checks, which she pays when pressure is applied. If she is this careless with her own money, then she is a threat to the taxpayers, who would have probably been arrested. She needs to be voted out, so Dekalb, make your votes count.
Unbelievable. Pete writes a post calling out a black politician, complete with the usual photo and everything… and this time I actually agree with him.
I'm okay giving the benefit of the doubt on an identity fraud story. I was an identity fraud victim myself about ten years ago, and was lucky that the bank figured it out before any real damage was done. However, the plain fact is that if such damage HAD been done, and I were in the exact same situation as this… the police would have arrested me pursuant to the warrant and sorted it out after the fact. They let her go instead because she has political power. That is simply wrong, plain and simple.
Well, Game Fan has learned that Petey is an actual Atlanta resident which I suppose gives him some leeway here. But don't forget, with politics, perception = reality.
Commissioner Sutton sounds as bad as my mother was on bouncing checks.
Might people be overestimating the influence and recognition of a freshman Dekalb County Commissioner?
True. It might have more to do with "short skirt syndrome".
If not her influence, then what does it say about the DeKalb Police and judicial system. I await an explantion from the new DeKalb public safety director, a position created by CEO Ellis.
Maybe she's run for Governor now. She has the credentials now.
Not only is she on the budget committee for the county commission, she teaches business, yes business, for the DeKalb County School System. When she won her seat on the commission, she was teaching business classes at MLK High School before she got elected (they say she spent most of her class time with students sitting on her phone dealing with her campaign). She was then conveniently transferred to teaching for the DeKalb Online Academy.
How did her opponents in the election not pick up on this stuff?
I read what the above officers have written regarding this incident and I have to post my two cents. The GBI or the FBI needs to do an investigation to determine if Sharon Barnes Sutton has embezzled any county funds. Seriously, if she can write bad checks and get the warrants dropped, she could steal taxpayers dollars and feel she is above prosecution.
As for Lt. Whittington and the higher ups, if you are too scared to do your jobs by arresting politicans, then you are not fit to lead. If you don't mind corrupt officials and find a way not to arrest them then you are telling them, "trample on our rights and Consitutional freedoms because we will look away as you do so." How do you expect the rank and file to respect you when you don't respect what you were hired to stand for?
The Oath of Office does not have a line in fine print that says, "Uphold the Constitution unless the perp is a politican." If she gets mad and tries to interfere with the police budget, then file an ethics charge against her or a civil rights violation with the FBI if the officer is victimized by the department, and point the misbehavior out to the voters. Not arresting her shows the citizens that there are two levels of law enforcement, one for regular citizens and one for politicians. Doing it the way Dekalb did lost them confidence in their ability to be fair with the general public.
The leadership dropped the ball in this case and they need to be investigated for violation of Oath of Office. Lt. Whittington and the higher ups, shame on you!
The crazy is strong within you.
Guess you better beware huh!


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Buckley es una villa ubicada en el condado de Wexford en el estado estadounidense de Míchigan. En el Censo de 2010 tenía una población de 697 habitantes y una densidad poblacional de 146,5 personas por km².

Geografía
Buckley se encuentra ubicada en las coordenadas . Según la Oficina del Censo de los Estados Unidos, Buckley tiene una superficie total de 4.76 km², de la cual 4.6 km² corresponden a tierra firme y (3.27%) 0.16 km² es agua.

Demografía
Según el censo de 2010, había 697 personas residiendo en Buckley. La densidad de población era de 146,5 hab./km². De los 697 habitantes, Buckley estaba compuesto por el 95.27% blancos, el 0.72% eran afroamericanos, el 0.86% eran amerindios, el 0.14% eran asiáticos, el 0.86% eran isleños del Pacífico, el 0.14% eran de otras razas y el 2.01% pertenecían a dos o más razas. Del total de la población el 2.01% eran hispanos o latinos de cualquier raza.

Referencias

Enlaces externos

Villas de Míchigan
Localidades del condado de Wexford (Míchigan)

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Q. When I'm using Safari Books Online, why does the site time-out so quickly?
When I'm using Safari Books Online, I get frustrated because the site logs me out after a very short time. Can't you extend it so that I can use the book!
Unfortunately, we are not able to change the time out period in Safari Books Online. We share the resource with a number of other libraries, and there are a limited number of "seats" available at one time. In order to let other users have a chance to use materials at Safari, the system logs out any user who is inactive for a set period of time. If you navigate to another page periodically, the timer will reset and you will be able to stay logged in.


Bike locking to the letter—courtesy of musician, artist, and cyclist David Byrne.
Musician and avid cyclist David Byrne has designed two sets of bike racks for BAM. Located in front of the Peter Jay Sharp Building, the racks are an interchangeable system of letters of the alphabet which can be assembled to spell words. The Byrne bike racks allow the creation of only certain letters in the alphabet, creating a special ' Byrne Bike Rack Alphabet.' The first word formations—"PiNk cRoWN" and "MicRo LiP"—are selected by Byrne himself.


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Godrej Consumer Products elevates Somasree Bose Awasthi to CMO
Awasthi has been with Godrej for close to 18 years...
Updated On Nov 2, 2021 at 01:45 PM IST
Awasthi has been with Godrej for close to 18 years.
Godrej Consumer Products has elevated Somasree Bose Awasthi to chief marketing officer. Prior to this, Awasthi was head of marketing in the homecare category.
Awasthi has been with Godrej for close to 18 years. She has also been the head of marketing in the personal care and aircare category, from 2016 to 2019 and has launched Godrej ProClean, a home hygiene brand.
Awasthi started her career with Godrej Sara Lee as sales manager in 2003.
Godrej Nupur ropes in Shilpa Shetty as its brand ambassador
The association is to drive penetration of the brand's mehendi based powder hair colour across urban and rural markets...
Published On Nov 2, 2021 at 01:45 PM IST
somasree bose awasthi
godrej sara lee
godrej proclean


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Q: How to convert string to date in pyspark I have a file name from which I'm extracting date: some_file_name_20201103114823.csv using substring:
substring(input_file_name(),16,8)
I extracted date part, which is now string: 20201103
How can I convert this string to date in format: MM-dd-yyyy ?

A: This is what i did, formatted string and then cast it to date - not pretty but does the work:
to_date(concat(substring(input_file_name(),16,4),lit("-"),substring(input_file_name(),20,2),lit("-"),substring(input_file_name(),22,2)),"yyyy-MM-dd")
Reference: https://sparkbyexamples.com/pyspark/pyspark-substring-from-a-column/#:~:text=In%20PySpark%2C%20the%20substring(),using%20substring()%20from%20pyspark.

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Huguang Pioneer Character Exhibition-Qiu Xiaofeng, Product Development Department
In 2012, Qiu Xiaofeng officially joined Huguang, engaged in SYS engineer, CUV project coordination, engineering manager and other positions. In every position, he is conscientious, united and cooperative, focusing on the interests of the company and customers, responding positively to customer needs, and giving full play to the role and value of his position!
On weekdays, in order to ensure the smooth progress of the projects in charge, Qiu Xiaofeng often runs between Shanghai and Kunshan. Even on weekends, we can still see his busy figure. When a customer finds a problem on the production site, he rushes to the site as soon as possible to think about what the customer wants and what the customer needs. He will work with all parties to study and formulate the solution to the problem in the shortest time. His meticulous and conscientious work attitude and sense of responsibility not only won the high praise of customers, but also won the honor for huguang!
In May 2018, emergency problems were found at the customer production site. Knowing this situation, Qiu Xiaofeng rushed to the customer production site at the first time. In three days, he spared no effort to cooperate with the customer to carefully and repeatedly investigate the causes of the problems. Finally, it is confirmed that the cause of the problem has nothing to do with our wiring harness, but Qiu Xiaofeng is still dedicated to helping customers successfully solve this problem.
In huguang, Qiu Xiaofeng silently devoted nearly eight years, and handed in excellent answers in his job. He also gained the honor he deserved, realized the value of life, and also gained precious friendship among colleagues. His most unforgettable work experience is that his colleagues always cooperate sincerely, work side by side, overcome difficulties together, showing a strong sense of team execution and intimate cooperation, such friendship and atmosphere, often touched him, but also gave him the incentive to climb and move forward!
We look forward to the emergence of more pioneers like Qiu Xiaofeng in Huguang, who are brave enough to shoulder and overcome all kinds of difficulties in their work and are extraordinary in their ordinary lives.
Pre:Huguang was awarded "Excellent Service PNext:Innovation, wisdom, green and security,


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NGOs and Social Movements: The Politics of Protest and Change
HB | 27th June 2018 19th December 2018 | Development Studies
Dr Feyzi Ismail, Convenor of the summer school course NGOs and Social Movements: The Politics of Protest and Change is interviewed by Isabel Langdale, Graduate Intern, SOAS Academic Summer School:
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, your academic interests and research focus?
I finished my PhD in Development Studies at SOAS in 2013 with a thesis focused on analysing the relationship between the left parties and the NGOs in Nepal – two social forces that have had an enormous influence on the shape of political and social change in the country over the past three or so decades. I continue to write and research on Nepal and am currently working on two projects, one on the financialisation of development and the other on women's labour in the construction industry. My academic interests also include social movement strategy in Britain and globally, the role of NGOs, neoliberalism and imperialism, and I teach courses on neoliberalism, the working poor and labour and social movements.
What led you to design the course 'The Politics of Protest and Change'?
Pick up any newspaper on any given day and you will find reports of protests, strikes, demonstrations, occupations – some sort of resistance to capitalist crisis and the state of things, large or small, in practically any country around the world. So a course like this grounds these developments, considers some of the history behind the current wave of movement struggle and its pre-history: the end of the 1960s and the subsequent rise of neoliberalism. NGOs became key players in post-Cold War politics in the neoliberal era, and this course analyses their structural and ideological roles. At the same time, the course would be incomplete without a consideration of the movements that have been built to attempt to overcome the global problems we face – poverty, inequality, war, climate change etc.
What do you think makes it distinctive from similar courses available at other summer schools?
Very few summer schools will offer courses such as this. But this course also brings with it a particular critical approach that is hard to find elsewhere. It involves academics who have done a great deal of thinking and writing about the issues they are teaching – democracy, civil society, humanitarian intervention and wider questions of social change – but who also possess vast experience of the issues covered in the course: NGOs, social movement organising, trade unions etc. It therefore combines theoretical knowledge and practical experience, supplemented with a range of activities, fieldtrips and documentaries. To draw on that wealth of knowledge, in the format offered, is priceless.
What are some of the activities and projects you have planned for this year's summer school?
This year is a particularly special summer school because we have planned all the activities as in previous years but more. We will take students to visit the protest archives at the Bishopsgate Institute – the archivist there is outstanding and knows a lot about the material available. We will visit the British Library for a discussion about feminism and radical politics, and we will hear from Marion Molteno, a novelist who has written about aid work. We will watch two films – one on the politics of humanitarian aid, the other on democracy movements – and we will participate in the protest against Donald Trump's visit to the UK. This protest will form the material for a photo essay that students will present in the final tutorials.
What makes London/SOAS a good place to study?
London in the summer comes alive and there is always a buzz at SOAS, whether cultural, political or social. SOAS is an amazing place to get to know, and it challenges and changes everyone who studies here. One of the highlights of the summer school at SOAS is that we organise a walking tour called Rebels and Radicals in 19thCentury Londonwhich brings the content of this course to historical and contemporary London, and also situates the other courses in the summer school. London is not only one of the world's biggest financial centres, but has also been a site of resistance – a city of pamphleteers, agitators, exiles and revolutionaries – which has at times changed the course of history.
Find out more about this and other courses on the Summer School website.
Be sure to follow us on twitter and facebook for all the latest news and updates directly from the Summer School office.
The Academic Summer School
Email: summerschool@soas.ac.uk
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text:
Cet article traite de l'architecture de Suède dans une perspective historique.

Moyen Âge

Architecture romane
En Suède, le Moyen Âge dura approximativement 500 ans, depuis le baptême d'Olof de Suède en l'an 1000 jusqu'à ce que Gustave Vasa prenne le pouvoir en 1523. À l'origine, presque tous les édifices, qu'ils soient réalisés en ville ou à la campagne, étaient construits en bois. Au  la pierre devint prédominante dans la construction des monastères et des églises d'architecture romane. Les meilleurs témoignages de cette époque sont la cathédrale de Lund, le monastère de Sigtuna, l'église d'Husaby et le monastère d'Alvastra. Les plus petites églises romanes de campagne étaient par ailleurs le plus souvent fortifiées.

Architecture gothique
L'avènement du style gothique apporta en Suède la brique en tant que nouveau matériau de construction. Les cathédrales de Västerås, de Strängnäs et d'Uppsala furent construites en brique, tandis que la pierre de taille fut employée dans la construction des cathédrales de Skara et Linköping.

Alors qu'environ  des quelques  églises suédoises datent du Moyen Âge, les seuls bâtiments laïques de cette période nous étant parvenus sont quelques maisons de bourgeois à Stockholm et à Visby et quelques ruines de châteaux, forteresses et fortifications. Ainsi, les enceintes datant du  autour de Visby comptent parmi les murailles médiévales les mieux préservées d'Europe. La trame des rues de la vieille cité de Stockholm constitue elle aussi un vestige médiéval.

Renaissance

Avec l'arrivée de Gustave I Vasa et le début de la Réforme, la physionomie du pays change radicalement. La construction d'églises et les projets de bâtiments aristocratiques se tarissent. Ce fut l'époque où la magnificence des châteaux de la dynastie de Vasa éclot ; ils furent érigés aux endroits stratégiques pour contrôler le pays aussi bien que pour accompagner le parcours de la cour royale et son escorte ; le château de Gripsholm, le château de Kalmar et le château de Vadstena impressionnent tous par la massivité de leurs murs et la combinaison d'éléments médiévaux avec l'architecture Renaissante.

et

Architecture baroque

Alors que la Suède connaît une nouvelle ère de grandeur au , l'aristocratie recommença à bâtir. Au même moment, la notion d'architecte s'établissait et la profession se développait. Cette discipline fut assise par la réputation d'architectes comme Simon de la Vallée ou Nicodemus Tessin l'Ancien. De nombreux hôtels particuliers et des villas sont alors construits selon les modèles-types d'Europe occidentale, et surtout de France. De plus la construction d'églises connait également un nouvel essor. L'église Catherine à Stockholm devient un modèle pour de nombreuses constructions et édifices religieux dans le royaume.L'œuvre de Nicodème Tessin le Jeune pousse le développement architectural suédois vers le haut baroque, à l'image du palais royal de Stockholm et de la cathédrale de Kalmar.

Le  voit aussi la création de nombreuses villes nouvelles. Elles sont projetées sur une grille régulière de voies et comprennent une place centrale. Deux régions font pourtant exceptions à cela : la province de Skåne, danoise à l'époque, ainsi que Göteborg qui ont été aménagés sur le modèle hollandais en 1619 et incluent des canaux. Le plan reste encore aujourd'hui reconnaissable, même là où les bâtiments d'origine en bois ont disparu.

Néoclassicisme

Pendant la seconde partie du , et surtout après le coup d'État de Gustave III, une nouvelle direction fut prise employant les éléments classiques précédents. En 1773 l'école de construction de l'Académie des Arts fut fondée, peu de temps après l'Office pour la supervision de l'industrie de la construction fut institué. Toutes deux élevèrent le niveau de la qualité architecturale, mais au détriment des traditions architecturales locales. On trouve un témoignage de ce nouvel idéal architectural dans le théâtre-palais de Gripsholm, le bâtiment botanique à Uppsala ou la grande école de Härnösand.

Style Empire
Après les guerres napoléoniennes et la perte de la Finlande, l'activité constructive nationale se concentra dans le secteur militaire. La forteresse de Karlsborg et le canal Göta, qui employa  personnes sur une période de 23 ans, furent les plus importants projets de construction suédois de tous les temps. Le principal architecte de la première moitié du  était aussi un militaire, le colonel Fredrik Blom. Il dessina une série de casernes et aussi l'église Skeppholm à Stockholm dans un style classique. Mais encore, en tant qu'architecte personnel de la famille royale, il construisit le palais Rosendal.

Historicisme

L'industrialisation de la Suède commença dans la seconde moitié du . La population urbaine tripla en l'espace de trois décennies. Cette urbanisation rapide impulsa un nouvel élan au secteur de la construction : des maisons de rapport et des bâtiments publics comme des écoles, des hôpitaux, des prisons, des hôtels, des banques, des marchés, des théâtres et des églises furent alors bâtis. De nombreux édifices sont alors conçus dans un style éclectique, d'inspiration historique.

Certains architectes se distinguent alors par leur adresse à manier et à s'approprier des styles tout à fait divers : l'allemand Friedrich August Stüler reçut ainsi la commande prestigieuse de la construction du musée national suédois des Arts plastiques qu'il dessina dans un style néo-Renaissance. La synagogue de Stockholm dessinée par Fredrik Wilhelm Scholander est inspirée par l'architecture assyrienne. Son élève Helgo Zettervall, suivit ses traces avec les rénovations en profondeur des cathédrales d'Uppsala, de Skara et de Linköping qui expriment son interprétation du style gothique. Johan Fredrik Åbom, le plus prolifique des architectes suédois de sa génération, dessina de nombreuses églises et une série de mairies dans un style néo-Renaissance. Le Berns Salonger avec son restaurant et ses scènes est aussi une expression notable de la nouvelle fierté civique, comme l'a immortalisé August Strindberg dans son roman la Chambre rouge.

Art nouveau et style national romantique

À la fin du  émergea une nouvelle génération d'architectes qui se détourna de l'historicisme et de l'académisme. Cela donna lieu dans un premier temps à une floraison de réalisations Art nouveau, plus précisément inspirées du Jugendstil allemand (« Art nouveau » se dit d'ailleurs en suédois Jugend, en référence à la célèbre revue artistique munichoise, Jugend).

Ainsi, Gustaf Wickman se distingue par le désir de concilier les apports étrangers avec la création d'une nouvelle architecture nationale et moderne. Ainsi, il réalise dans cet esprit la Banque de Scanie à Stockholm, usant d'un appareil de pierre puissance, d'un couronnement massif et ramenant les formes architecturales à des proportions plus trapues, plus lourdes, comme pour traduire par cet édifice ramassé sur lui-même l'hostilité du climat et la rudesse du pays. Mais malgré sa façade rectiligne, monumentale, froide, l'immeuble de la Banque de Scanie révèle une recherche décorative originale. Ferdinand Boberg poursuit le même idéal à travers sont Hôtel de postes, réalisé en 1904, qui mêle lui-aussi l'austérité et la rigidité des formes à une décoration délicate et soignée, d'un faible relief. Les creux y sont pratiquement absents pour des raisons autant esthétiques que pratique : la neige, en s'y déposant et en fondant risque de faire éclater la pierre en gelant.

Rapidement, comme ailleurs en Scandinavie, ces architectes s'attachèrent à s'affranchir des influences étrangères pour élaborer un style explicitement national et très original, intégrant aussi bien les apports de l'Art nouveau ou, plus tard, de l'Art déco, que des références aux formes enracinées dans l'histoire du pays, par exemple dans l'habitat populaire et les églises rurales, en mêlant l'emploi de matériaux traditionnels (brique, granite, bois) à des idées inspirées du mouvement Arts and Crafts britannique. Cette recherche donna lieu à l'apparition du style national-romantique, qui domina la scène jusque dans les premières années de la décennie 1920. Son apogée s'illustrera à travers l'Hôtel de ville de Stockholm de Ragnar Östberg, édifié entre 1903 et 1923.

Modernisme

L'architecture moderne en Suède fut initiée par un groupe d'architectes qui reprit un vocabulaire néo-classique épuré et rigoureux. Gunnar Asplund et Ivar Tengbom furent deux des personnalités les plus représentatives des années 1920, contribuant au style qui fut connu par la suite dans les pays anglophones sous le nom de Swedish Grace, la grâce suédoise. Son succès a même éclipsé l'Art déco, remarquablement peu présent en Suède. Parmi les œuvres les plus importantes d'Asplund, on peut voir le palais de justice du quartier de Listers à Sölvesborg, la bibliothèque municipale de Stockholm et, en collaboration avec Sigurd Lewerentz, à la fois l'exposition (temporaire) de Stockholm de 1930 et le cimetière de Skogskyrkogården (aujourd'hui inscrit à l'inventaire du patrimoine mondial de l'UNESCO).

L'exposition industrielle et artisanale de Stockholm en 1930 aida le fonctionnalisme à faire son entrée en Suède. Dans les années qui suivirent — et particulièrement en ce qui concerne la construction individuelle — il devint l'idéologie dominante. Un exemple typique de ce lien étroit entre le Fonctionnalisme et la politique de gauche est le quartier de Kvarnholmen à Nacka, dessiné dans les années 1930 par la section architecturale de la Coopérative de consommateurs qui avait été fondée en 1924 comme première application de l'architecture organisée collectivement.

Malgré ces initiatives, la mauvaise qualité des habitations en Suède ne s'améliora pas. Après la Seconde Guerre mondiale un projet colossal d'habitation fut entrepris pour endiguer la pénurie et augmenter la qualité de l'habitat. En 1965 les autorités ont lancé le programme million  — la construction d'un million de nouveaux logements en dix ans (pour une population totale de 7,8 millions d'habitants). Des banlieues-dortoirs entières sortirent de terre en un temps record. Dans beaucoup de zone de centre ville, des terrains furent acquis et reprogrammés dans une optique moderne et fonctionnaliste pour faire des espaces de bureaux. Les immenses projets de bâtiment furent planifiés et menés par des bureaux d'architecture. Souvent la qualité et la conception des bâtiments restèrent secondaire face à la nécessité de livrer un si grand nombre de projets.

La crise pétrolière de 1973 mit fin au programme Million. Mais même avant cela le programme avait été l'objet de violentes critiques, notamment envers l'architecture de catalogue et les conséquences sociales délétères qu'il produit.

Postmodernisme
De ces critiques, le concept postmoderne émergea en Suède, englobant une variété de tendances diverses. Une utilisation abondante de formes se développa, ce qui n'était pas arrivé depuis l'époque du style national romantique. L'une des plus importantes tête de ligne du postmodernisme en Suède fut le britannique de naissance Ralph Erskine.De nos jours l'architecture suédoise est portée par des architectes comme Gert Wingårdh qui a commencé en tant que postmoderne mais qui a su contribuer au renouvellement de la scène architecturale contemporaine par l'innovation (son œuvre montre ainsi une influence venant de l'architecture écologique aussi bien que du minimalisme, du high-tech, de l'expressionnisme ou du néo-fonctionnalisme).

Notes et références

Voir aussi

Articles connexes
 Liste des bâtiments historiques en Suède
 Architecture au Danemark
 Architecture en Norvège
 Architecture en Finlande

Architecture en Suède


text:
Femen Report Leader Detained At Russian Airport
By RFE/RL
Femen organizer Anna Hutsol (right) with fellow activists in Kyiv in August
Ukrainian activist group Femen reports that one of its leaders, Anna Hutsol, has been detained at a Russian airport.
The group said on its Facebook page on November 16 that Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) was responsible for the detention.
A subsequent report by "Ukrayinska Pravda" said FSB agents and border guards took Hutsol's documents at St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport and took her away for questioning.
Femen promotes women's rights through high-profile stunts that are frequently carried out topless, attracting wide international attention.
The group has also displeased officials at home in Ukraine, in neighboring Belarus, and in other countries where they have staged protests, often considered by some to be disrespectful and in some cases, illegal.
Their targets are frequently perceived abusers of women's rights, but the group, which has grown exponentially in recent years with branches in a number of countries, also takes on other issues.
Established in 2008, Femen has recently sought to disrupt events at the London Olympics and the Euro 2012 soccer tournament in Poland.
One member fled Ukraine after causing a scandal by cutting down an Orthodox cross in a park.
RFE/RL journalists report the news in 26 languages in 22 countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established. We provide what many people cannot get locally: uncensored news, responsible discussion, and open debate.
LIKE FOLLOW Subscribe via RSS
Will Femen Face A Pussy Riot-Style Crackdown?
Femen Group Sets Up Camp In Paris
Femen Activists Cut Down Cross In Kyiv
The Euro 2012 Soccer Championship In Numbers


At about 1404 on 14 May 2014, the fourth wagon from the end of train 3WB3 derailed whilst exiting the Nambucca Heads crossing loop. The train travelled a further 1,397 m before the derailed wagon tipped on its side causing the train to separate and subsequently stop.
The ATSB found that the rod-in-coil load had likely shifted, mostly to the left in the direction of travel. The effect of a load shift to the left would have been to transfer vertical forces from the wagon's right side-bearer to the left side-bearer, causing the right-hand wheels to unload.
At the point of derailment, the track geometry was transitioning out of a left-hand curve which had a relatively high superelevation with respect to the actual speed of train 3WB3 (about 21 km/h). The relatively high superelevation and subsequent twist as the superelevation ramped down through the transition, likely resulted in additional transfer of vertical force from the wagon's right side-bearer to the left side-bearer, resulting in a further unloading of the right-hand wheels.
The combination of superelevation, twist and (more importantly) uneven lateral loading, combined to unload the right-hand wheels which, when steering through a left-hand curve, resulted in flange climb and derailment of wagon RCOF20375S.
Following the occurrence, Pacific National Assets and Infrastructure Services engaged a consultant to conduct an audit of procedures and operational processes relating to the development and implementation of the Freight Loading Manual (FLM). The audit was scoped specifically to include a gap analysis in relation to current steel loading processes.
In addition, PN have advised that they will be arranging an external engineering group to undertake a twist test and/or computer simulation modelling of an RCOF wagon to record its wheel loading performance characteristics during scenarios based on operational data. It is expected that the outcomes of this work will be used to further refine the FLM and associated procedures and loading practices.
The ability for a load to shift during transit is an undesirable condition that can affect the dynamic behaviour of the rail vehicle. All rail freight operators should consider the safety implications of shifting/moving loads and should ensure that all loads are restrained and/or enclosed in such a way that prevents movement in any direction relative to the wagon.
At about 1355 on 14 May 2014, freight train 3WB3 entered the Nambucca Heads crossing loop. The route was set for a through movement via the loop because of trackside work being performed adjacent to the main line.
At about 1404, the trailing wheel set of the leading bogie on wagon RCOF20375S derailed to the right-hand-side in the direction of travel. The train was travelling at a speed of 21 km/h through a left hand curve. The derailed wagon was located fourth from last in the 44 wagon consist.
The train continued to travel with the derailed wagon for 1,397 m, passing over two bridges and reached a speed of 44 km/h before wagon RCOF20375S tipped on its side (Figure 1). The train then parted between the fourth and fifth last wagons. As the wagons parted, the train brake pipe separated, allowing air to vent to atmosphere and the train brakes to apply, bringing the train to a stop in about 320 m.
The train crew notified the network controller and arrangements were made to begin investigative and restoration work. The main line was subsequently reopened at 1816 on 16 May. The Nambucca Heads crossing loop line remained closed until further repairs could be conducted.
The 24 hour clock is used in this report. Local time was Australian Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Nambucca Heads is located on the Main North Coast rail corridor between Sydney and Brisbane, about 565 track kilometres from Sydney Central Station. Nambucca Heads is a crossing location with a 1,951 m crossing loop.
The track at the location of the derailment was standard gauge, 53 kg/m rail mounted with resilient fastenings on timber sleepers spaced at about 667 mm centres.
The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) manages the railway corridor where the derailment occurred. Authorised movement of rail traffic is controlled from the ARTC's Network Control Centre located at Broadmeadow, New South Wales.
Approaching from the southern end, the track through the derailment site consisted of a series of reverse curves between 480 m and 360 m radii on reasonably level track. While the posted maximum track speed was 75 km/h, most rail traffic traversing the loop would travel at considerably lower speed due to 25 km/h speed restrictions over the turnouts.
Train 3WB3 was a steel products freight service operated by Pacific National between Whyalla and Brisbane via Melbourne, Wollongong, and Morandoo (Newcastle). At the time of the derailment, the train consisted of two locomotives (NR94 leading and AN9 trailing) hauling 44 freight wagons. It was 817 m in length and had a trailing mass of 3,363 t.
Two qualified drivers operated the train. Both had been assessed as fit for duty in accordance with the requirements of the National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers.
Analysis of locomotive data logger indicated that there were no anomalies in the train speed, train handling or operational performance leading up to the derailment.
RCOF wagons are 15.1 m long and approved to carry up to 80 gross tonnes at speeds up to 80 km/h (depending on track speed limits). On the day of the derailment, wagon RCOF20375S (the wagon which derailed) was carrying 40 coils of steel rod, each weighing 1.5 t on average. The coils were arranged two-wide by two-high, in each of the wagon's 10 bays (Figure 2). The coils were contained within the wagon, but they were not otherwise restrained. Wagon RCOF20375S was one of six wagons added to the train at Morandoo for travel to Brisbane.
On-site inspection and preliminary examination of the derailed wagons found no indication of any serious anomalies in rolling stock condition. However, evidence of load shifting was observed in wagons not affected by the derailment, but carrying the same rod-in-coil product.
A number of wagons were quarantined, including RCOF20375S. The bogies of wagon RCOF20375S were transferred to Newcastle where they were examined in more detail by Pacific National.
1.Wheelsets on wagon RCOF20375S were inspected and measurements recorded. All wheelsets were in good condition and wheels were within Pacific National requirements. There was nothing evident from inspection of the wheelsets that could have contributed to the wagon derailing.
2.Wagon RCOF20375S bogie and wagon condition was inspected, with no obvious wear or pre incident damage observed that could have contributed to the derailment.
3.A bolster drop test was conducted and the bogies of wagon RCOF20375S. The test confirmed that the overall friction damping was satisfactory.
Based on the available evidence, it was concluded that the mechanical condition of wagon RCOF20375S did not contribute to the derailment.
The Pacific National freight loading manual (FLM) is a document that provides information to employees and third parties on loading requirements for goods transported on Pacific National trains, to ensure the safe carriage of freight. The manual includes guidance on factors that may affect the stability of the wagon, such as composition, mass and distribution of the load, and the method of securing the load.
Section 01-10_07 documents the general requirements for mass and distribution of load. The FLM requires the load to be evenly distributed and the centre of gravity (including the weight of the bogies) shall not exceed 2,130 mm. Calculations indicate that a wagon fully loaded with road-in-coil product would likely result in a centre of gravity at or near the limit documented in the FLM.
Where possible, the top and bottom layer MUST cover the full width of the wagon's frame to ensure the load cannot collapse.
The bottom two bundles must be placed so that all gaps are consistent.
The top two bundles are to be placed against the side walls of the cage.
If the bottom bundles are too wide to allow all three gaps, place bundles against side walls of frames/stanchions.
Coil bundles placed on the on bottom tier MUST be of sufficient strength to ensure coil collapse will not occur in transit.
Figure 3 illustrates the requirements specified above and has been reproduced from Pacific National's freight loading manual.
Source: Pacific National freight loading manual (Section 5-13_07, dated 3 July 2013).
On site observations indicated that rod-in-coil product on both RCOF and RQRY wagons exhibited inconsistent gaps on the lower level, with the upper level having collapsed towards the centre of the wagon (Figure 4).
An onsite inspection was conducted on 15 May 2014 by the ATSB investigation team, ARTC, and an officer from the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR).
Evidence of flange climb was found on the high rail in a curve exit (Figure 5) at the 565.577 km point. The flange mark ran across the rail head and dropped off the field side of the high rail about 7 m further along the track. The rail did not show any signs of unusual wear.
The site was surveyed to record the track geometry on the approach and departure to the point of derailment. The measurements were recorded at 2 m intervals from 40 m on approach and 14 m on departure. The measurements were compared against the design parameters documented in the ARTC Engineering (Track & Civil) Code of Practice, Section 5, Track Geometry (CoP).
It was evident from the measured track geometry that the derailment had occurred in the curve transition where the curve superelevation runs-out to zero for the section of track leading to the turnout.
Track geometry parameters for curve design are largely dependent on train speed. In this case, the posted track speed was 75 km/h, though trains would rarely exceed 25 km/h due to the turnout (located about 200 m from the point of derailment). Analysis of the track measurements found that, at the point of derailment, a number of design parameters were approaching their recommended limits, especially at track speeds lower than 75 km/h. Despite this, there was no evidence of irregular track wear that can occur where trains regularly traverse track at speeds significantly lower than design.
At the time of derailment, the ARTC mandated that scheduled inspections for this section of track be performed by track patrols (at intervals not exceeding 7 days, or 28 days on crossing loops), 'front-of-train inspections' (at intervals not exceeding 6 months), and the track geometry car (at intervals not exceeding 4 months, or 24 months on crossing loops). Defects identified during inspections were to be recorded, assessed, and actioned in accordance with criteria documented in the CoP.
Previous track inspections did not record any defects in the vicinity of the derailment point. The previous track geometry car inspection, conducted on 14 January 2014, had not recorded any defects that required immediate rectification.
Examination of the survey data showed some variation in superelevation, track gauge and lateral alignment. While the variations in track geometry indicated a possibility of track movement in this area, when assessed against the CoP the magnitude of the measured geometry variations had not reached levels that would have required maintenance intervention.
The ARTC performed rectification work on the track. The work involved the replacement of sleepers beyond the point of derailment, including part of the curve on the loop line. As part of the rectification work, the track was realigned and tamped which resulted in a reduction of superelevation and removal of the minor alignment variations through the curve near the point of derailment.
A flange climb derailment (as was evident in this case) occurs when a wheel has climbed up and over the top of the railhead. Flange climb is likely to occur in situations where the wheel experiences high lateral forces combined with a reduction in vertical force. The ratio of lateral to vertical force is often referred to as the L/V ratio. As this ratio increases, the likelihood of flange climb (derailment) also increases.
Flange climb derailments often occur on curves or track exhibiting alignment irregularities. A moving mass will try to continue moving in a straight line unless an external force is applied. On curved track, the external force occurs at the wheel flange/rail interface, in order to steer the wheel (and bogie) through the curve. The magnitude of lateral force is influenced by factors such as curve radius, vehicle speed, wheel/rail profiles and suspension characteristics.
As a vehicle traverses a curve, the vehicle is also subjected to overturning forces acting towards the outside of the curve. To limit the overturning forces on a vehicle, superelevation is applied whereby the outer rail is raised to a higher level than the inner rail. The magnitude of the overturning force is dependent on the radius of the curve, the amount of superelevation, and the speed of the vehicle.
In this case, train 3WB3 was negotiating a relatively tight curve at a relatively low speed. The superelevation of the left-hand curve at Nambucca Heads was high with respect to the actual speed of train 3WB3 of about 21 km/h. This would likely result in overturning forces acting towards the inside of the curve. That is, a transfer of vertical force from the wagon's right side-bearer to the left side-bearer, resulting in a corresponding unloading of the right-hand wheels. For wagons exhibiting a high centre of gravity, such as RCOF class wagons loaded with rod-in-coil product, the wheel unloading effect would be further enhanced.
At the point of derailment, wagon RCOF20375S was negotiating a curve transition. Transitions apply a twist to the track as the superelevation is ramped in or out at the entry and exit of the curve. Any variation in track superelevation under the bogies of a wagon is another factor that can contribute to wheel unloading.
It was also evident that the rod-in-coil product loaded on train 3WB3 (and most likely on wagon RCOF20375S) had collapsed (in most cases) to the left in the direction of travel. It could not be ascertained whether the load in wagon RCOF20375S had shifted prior to arriving at Nambucca Heads, or if it had dynamically shifted when passing through the curve. Regardless of when the load moved however, the effect of a load shift to the left would also transfer vertical forces from the wagon's right side-bearer to the left side-bearer, compounding the unloading of the right-hand wheels. A dynamic shift would also result in a lateral shock load, which could have added undesirable wagon dynamics and additional wheel unloading effects.
Following the derailment at Nambucca Heads, PN engaged consultants to undertake dynamic modelling of a RCOF wagon loaded with rod-in-coil product. However, the consultant noted that due to the limited data provided, a number of assumptions were required for both the vehicle and track models.
The analysis results over the measured track geometry showed that L/V ratios for the lead axles in each bogie were tending towards the criterion limit considered acceptable for stable vehicle behaviour. As expected, the L/V ratios were higher for laterally unbalanced loads than for balanced loads. The modelling also indicated that cyclic track irregularities exhibited wavelengths similar to the roll resonance of the vehicle when travelling at a speed of 23 km/h. However, the modelling did not specifically predict values high enough to suggest derailment.
The consultant suggested a need for further refinement to the model to better understand the propensity for derailment under various loading conditions.
While the dynamic modelling predicted an increase in unstable vehicle behaviour for wagon RCOF20375S when traversing the track geometry measured at Nambucca Heads, it did not specifically predict derailment. Of note however, was the analyst's statement that with further refinement of the model, the propensity for derailment under unbalanced load conditions is likely to increase.
As discussed previously, while the assessment of track geometry against the CoP found the variations were not of a magnitude that would have required maintenance intervention, it was evident from the modelling that variations in track geometry had probably influenced the behaviour of wagon RCOF20375S.
The ATSB concluded that a combination of superelevation, twist and (more importantly) uneven lateral loading had combined to unload the right-hand wheels of wagon RCOF20375S, which, when steering through a left-hand curve, resulted in flange climb and derailment. Regardless of whether the rod-in-coil load shifted before or during the train's passage through Nambucca Heads, its ability to shift in relation to the wagon was an undesirable condition that likely adversely affected the wagon's dynamic behaviour.
Track of variable radius, usually applied between tangent track and curved track or track comprising curves of different radii.
The height difference, at a common location, between the running surfaces of two rails.
Evidence indicated an issue with rod-in-coil load shifting while the train was en route. Closed circuit television camera (CCTV) footage from Telarah, Maitland, Wallarobba, and Dungog stations was analysed. The footage, through Maitland particularly, shows evidence of load-shift on the wagon RCOF20375S. It was also evident that this was not an isolated instance, as video evidence of other trains travelling to Brisbane showed similar movement and collapsing of rod-in-coil product into the central void (in most cases to the left in the direction of travel). Given the tendency of rod-in-coil product to move (and possibly bounce), it is very likely that the load within wagon RCOF20375S had shifted during the journey from Morandoo, or possibly as train 2WB3 travelled through Nambucca Heads.
An introduction to Pacific National's freight loading manual stated 'it is essential that the load is restrained to prevent any movement in any direction relative to the wagon'. While the manual also provided specific instructions on the positioning of rod-in-coil product when loaded on RCOF and RQRY wagons, there were no particular instructions or requirements to otherwise restrain the load and prevent it from shifting.
Following the incident, Pacific National reviewed the manual and published an update (FLM 05-13_08) dated 15 August 2014. The update added some detail as to how rod-in-coil must be loaded, but the requirements largely remained the same as the superseded version.
On 13-14 January 2015 an Office of National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) audit noted that rod-in-coil product had been shifting en route – in a manner very similar to that shown in Figure 6. Accordingly, while it is almost certain that trains had been arriving in Brisbane with shifted rod-in-coil loads, there was no indication that the condition of arriving loads had been regularly reported back to Pacific National for consideration and corrective action.
During a subsequent inspection, the ONRSR observed that the wagons were loaded predominately from the left side with a fork lift. The loading did not generally conform to the freight loading manual, which required equal lateral spacing of coils on the bottom layer. This was most likely due to the loading method and lack of specific awareness of Pacific National requirements. Post-loading inspections did not detect the loading irregularity and were mainly focussing on out-of-gauge (uncontained) product or rolling stock running gear defects.
Uneven distribution of load on rail wagons can result in undesirable dynamic behaviour when traversing normal (within tolerance) track geometry. Consequently, it is essential that freight is restrained from shifting, to ensure that the load is not redistributed during its journey. In this case, it is likely that the shifted load significantly affected the lateral load distribution within the wagon, with this being enough to critically affect the vehicle handling dynamics around the curve where the derailment subsequently occurred.
From the evidence available, the following findings are made with respect to the derailment of train 3WB3 at Nambucca Heads, New South Wales, on 14 May 2014. These findings should not be read as apportioning blame or liability to any particular organisation or individual.
The derailment of wagon RCOF20375S likely occurred due to imbalance effects stemming from uncontrolled shifting of the rod-in-coil load.
The relatively high track superelevation and twist at the point of derailment, in conjunction with some minor variations in track geometry leading up to the point of derailment, exacerbated the uneven loading and the dynamic behaviour of wagon RCOF20375S.
Where relevant, safety issues and actions will be updated on the ATSB website as information comes to hand. The initial public version of these safety issues and actions are in PDF on the ATSB website.
The Pacific National freight loading manual, and application of it, was ineffective at preventing load shift with rod-in-coil product.
A draft of this report was provided to Pacific National, the Office of National Rail Safety Regulation, and the Australian Rail Track Corporation.
Submissions were received from Pacific National, the Office of National Rail Safety Regulation, and the Australian Rail Track Corporation. The submissions were reviewed and where considered appropriate, the text of the report was amended accordingly.
At 1355 on 14 May 2014, freight train 3WB3 entered the Nambucca Heads crossing loop. The route was set for a through movement via the loop because of trackside work being performed adjacent to the main line.
At 1404:20, the trailing wheel set of the leading bogie on wagon RCOF20375S derailed to the right-hand-side in the direction of travel while the train was travelling through the crossing loop at a speed of 21 km/h. The derailed wagon was located fourth from last in the 44 wagon consist.
The train continued to travel with a derailed wagon for about 1,397 m. It passed over two bridges and reached a speed of 44 km/h before wagon RCOF20375S tipped on its side (Figure 1). The train then parted between the fourth and fifth last wagons. As the wagons parted, the train brake pipe separated, allowing air to vent to atmosphere and the train brakes to apply, bringing the train to a stop in about 320 m.
The train crew notified the network controller and arrangements were made to begin investigative and restoration work. The main line was subsequently reopened at 1816 on 16 May. The crossing loop line remained closed until further repairs could be conducted.
Nambucca Heads is located on the main north rail corridor between Sydney and Brisbane, about 565 track kilometres from Sydney Central Station. Nambucca Heads is a crossing location with a 1,615 m crossing loop.
The ARTC manages the railway corridor where the derailment occurred. Authorised movement of rail traffic is controlled from the ARTC's Network Control Centre located at Broadmeadow, New South Wales.
The standard gauge track at the derailment location consisted of 53 kg/m rail fastened by resilient clips to timber sleepers, spaced at about 667 mm centres. The sleepers were supported on a bed of ballast to a nominal design depth of 250 mm.
Approaching from the southern end, the track through the derailment site consisted of a series of curves between 480 m and 360 m radii on reasonably level track. The posted maximum track speed was 75 km/h although this speed would rarely be reached, due to the restriction of speed through the points.
On-site examination and preliminary analysis of track condition found no indication of any serious anomalies in the track geometry leading up to the point of derailment in the crossing loop.
Train 3WB3 was a steel products freight service operated by Pacific National between Wollongong and Brisbane. At the time of the derailment, the train consisted of two locomotives (NR94 leading and AN9 trailing) hauling 44 freight wagons. It was 817 m in length and had a trailing mass of 3,363 t.
The train was operated by two qualified drivers. They had both been assessed as fit for duty in accordance with the requirements of the National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers.
RCOF wagons are 15.1 m long and capable of carrying up to 80 gross tonnes at speeds of up to 80 km/h (depending on track speed limits). On the day of the derailment, wagon RCOF20375S (the wagon which derailed) was carrying 40 coils of rod, each weighing on average 1.5 t. The coils were arranged, two wide by two high, in each of the 10 bays (Figure 2). The coils were contained within the wagon, but they were not individually restrained.
On-site inspection and preliminary examination of the derailed wagons found no indication of any serious anomalies in rolling stock condition. Similarly, preliminary analysis of train data indicated that there were no anomalies in the train speed, train handling or operational performance leading up to the derailment.
However, evidence of load shifting had been observed in wagons not affected by the derailment, but carrying the same rod-in-coil product.


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The Latest: Japan's emperor proclaims ascension to throne
Japan's Emperor Naruhito depart for the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019. Emperor Naruhito will declare Tuesday he had ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne at the palace. (Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's Empress Masako leaves after praying at "Kashikodokoro", one of three shrines at the Imperial Palace, in Tokyo, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako visited three Shinto shrines at the Imperial Palace before Naruhito proclaims himself Japan's 126th emperor in an enthronement ceremony. (Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's Emperor Naruhito smiles as he heads to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019. Emperor Naruhito will declare Tuesday he had ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne at the palace. (Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's Emperor Naruhito, in a white robe, leaves after praying at "Kashikodokoro", one of three shrines at the Imperial Palace, in Tokyo, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019. Emperor Naruhito visited three Shinto shrines at the Imperial Palace before proclaiming himself Japan's 126th emperor in an enthronement ceremony. (Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's Emperor Naruhito, in a white robe, visits "Kashikodokoro", a shrine at the Imperial Palace, in Tokyo, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019. Emperor Naruhito visited three Shinto shrines at the palace before proclaiming himself Japan's 126th emperor in an enthronement ceremony. (Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's Emperor Naruhito speaks as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows during a ceremony to proclaim his enthronement to the world, called Sokuirei-Seiden-no-gi, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019. (Issei Kato/Pool Photo via AP)
Japan's Emperor Naruhito speaks as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is seen during a ceremony to proclaim his enthronement to the world, called Sokuirei-Seiden-no-gi, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019. (Issei Kato/Pool Photo via AP)
TOKYO — The Latest on Japanese Emperor Naruhito's enthronement ceremony (all times local):
Japan's Emperor Naruhito has proclaimed his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne at a palace ceremony.
Tuesday's enthronement ceremony is the high point of succession rituals and confirms his succession in May after his father Akihito abdicated. Naruhito is the 126th emperor in the world's oldest hereditary monarchy that historians say dates back 1,500 years.
The ceremony serves to showcase the monarchy to win public support and to preserve Japan's cultural heritage.
It's also an occasion for diplomacy. Some 2,000 guests, including foreign dignitaries, were invited from in and outside the country.
Naruhito and his wife Masako, a Harvard-educated former diplomat, visited three sacred shrines at the palace to report to the Shinto gods earlier Tuesday ahead of the key ceremony.
Japan's government has pardoned about 550,000 people convicted of petty crimes to mark Emperor Naruhito's enthronement ceremony.
The measure, approved by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet last week, was published Tuesday in the special edition of the daily official gazette.
Emperor Naruhito is to proclaim his May 1 succession to the Chrysanthemum Throne in a palace ceremony later Tuesday.
The pardons cover those who committed petty crimes such as traffic violations and election fraud.
The pre-war custom of clemency by the emperor has triggered criticism as being undemocratic and politically motivated. At the time of former emperor Akihito's enthronement, 2.5 million people were given amnesty.
Japan's Emperor Naruhito is visiting three Shinto shrines at the Imperial Palace before proclaiming himself Japan's emperor in an enthronement ceremony.
The 59-year-old emperor put on a white robe and prayed at "Kashikodokoro" and two other shrines. The visits Tuesday morning are to report to gods ahead of the ceremony, to be attended by 2,000 guests from in and outside Japan.
The enthronement ceremony the high point of succession rituals that began in May when Naruhito succeeded the Chrysanthemum Throne as Japan's 126th emperor after the abdication of his father, Akihito.
The proclamation event is largely meant to allow the government to showcase the monarchy to win public support and to preserve Japan's cultural heritage.
Naruhito and his wife Masako, a Harvard-educated former diplomat, will host a banquet later Tuesday.
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Participants February 28, 2018
Social Security Sophistication Can Boost Employees' Retirement Outlook
A lack of sophisticated advice and support solutions for optimizing Social Security claiming decisions is holding employees back from achieving greater retirement security, warns Bill Meyer of Social Security Solutions, in Leawood, Kansas.
John Manganaro
Results of a recent Social Security Administration (SSA) audit by the Inspector General, published on February 14, 2018, show that the federal retirement benefit program is underpaying widows—and other groups of beneficiaries.
This is "a huge U.S. retirement security issue," warns William Meyer, founder and managing principal of Social Security Solutions in Leawood, Kansas, and one which he in fact discussed in front of the U.S. Senate about a year ago. Since then no action has been taken on the subject by Congress or the Trump administration, he notes.
"To put the problem simply, the SSA does not have the necessary tools and analysis to notify widows of when they could switch from survivor benefits back to their retirement benefit to secure more money," Meyer warns. "There is a flaw in the system such that the Social Security agents don't have the ability to recommend the strategy in question, in part because they don't have the training needed to recognize this situation and also in part because they are not even really allowed to give 'advice' or 'recommendations' in the first place. They just give 'information,' and so this potential strategy is not being taken advantage of by this quite vulnerable population. It's a real shame."
Meyer is following the issue closely because his firm is in the process of rolling out what he hopes will be a groundbreaking Social Security claiming optimization software product that comports directly with defined contribution (DC) retirement plans. More on this is available on the firm's website.
"We are coming to market now with a new software product that coordinates the claiming of Social Security with portfolio drawdown decisions in the defined contribution plan arena, so it is a great time for us to get acquainted with your readership," Meyer says. "This is a topic that I have seen a tremendous amount of interest in from all the stakeholders—advisers and consultants, plan sponsors and participants. Our big pilot clients so far include Vanguard and Northern Trust, and other firms as well, including Financial Engines."
Meyer suggests that, to date, a lot of the "big successful DC plan recordkeepers" are not really including sophisticated Social Security or tax considerations in their planning capabilities.
"This is a problem because we can show that, by optimizing Social Security decisions and better tying these to the DC plan drawdown and rollover decisions, a given plan participant can make their money last between two and 10 years longer," Meyer says. "It can be that dramatic. Unless you're in the top 1% of income earners, when and how you claim Social Security is, in a very real sense, the largest single financial decision of your lifetime. So it should be no surprise, given how little advice is available out there are on this topic in particular, that people are not making optimal decisions. It is vastly complicated."
Meyer recalls that, earlier in his career as he first started researching how his firm could build some software methodologies to help manage Social Security planning, it immediately became clear that the choices around Social Security would be much more complicated than anything faced on the accumulation side.
"There are something like 3,000 rules and 20,000 pages of explanatory material that set out all the different claiming strategies and possibilities for drawing Social Security," he says. "It is an area where software and artificial intelligence can really shine. One other thing I want to say: There are a lot of free Social Security tools out there right now that are just not sophisticated at all. They might consider a small number of inputs and then pick from perhaps three or four possible strategies. The type of tool we are bringing to market considers and compares thousands of possibilities for each individual. This is not a part of the planning process where we can cut a corner—the details matter so much to the quality of the advice on the Social Security question."
According to Meyer, what has also proved to be interesting as the firm has looked to the 401(k) space is that there is some discomfort among plan sponsors and advisers with the fact that the way participants will claim Social Security can be "lumpy," making point-in-time education or advice a tricky proposition.
"By that I mean that there are oftentimes situations where, whether you decide to file earlier or later, this will directly impact the way you start tapping down other savings down the line, both the tax-deferred money in the 401(k) and any other after-tax sources," Meyer says. "And then your marriage or life situation can change. If you're married or divorced, you can often get survivor or spousal benefits before you actually start to draw your full benefit, which can kick in as late as age 70. So what we tell plan advisers, sponsors and participants is that, the way people decide to draw Social Security will have a direct impact on delineating the way they draw all their other assets. It's going to impact your risk tolerance in investments, what type of return you're expecting to see, etc."
Meyer says there is actually evidence that people are getting "not great advice" on this subject.
"The conventional wisdom on how someone should draw down their various assets to maximize retirement income—used by all the big recordkeepers, by the way—is that you should take all your taxed money first until it's gone, and only then do you take all your tax-deferred money until it's gone. Finally you take the tax-exempt dollars," Meyer observes. "That rule of thumb is pervasive, but we can now show, using our software, how this is actually typically the opposite approach of what would maximize lifetime wealth for a given individual."
Why is this? According to Meyer, when one retires, on average he will drop into a lower tax bracket, because he is moving out of his prime earning years and instead starting to live off savings. Then the logic goes as follows: "As you hit the age where you start drawing full Social Security at 70, that's right about the time when required minimum distributions [RMDs] kick in. When that happens, we often see people's income jump up pretty significantly, and as a result their Social Security benefits that they waited to claim will be taxed at potentially up to 85%, because this rate is based on withdrawals from the IRA or 401(k). So, the point is that by winnowing down the 401(k) or IRA first, while you are waiting to file Social Security, this reduces the lifetime impact of RMDs and reduces the taxes, potentially quite significantly, on the income from Social Security."
It's a complicated matter to discuss in the abstract, Meyer concludes, "but the example at the very least shows how you claim Social Security and how you coordinate this with all the other decisions about drawing income from the 401(k) or IRA has a dramatic impact on the final outcome of the life-long savings effort."
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« Transamerica Requires TPAs for Small Plans, Reflecting Competitive Landscape


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Master Charger – Eroding Empires
Well, basically…
https://youtu.be/2_CEV6FQVAI
Endured by Angie"mmm" K…
When you say "This album is growing on me", that's not necessarily a good sign… is it? Yes, this is how I got to like a fair number of my favourite bands, but there is also a special category of music "growing" on you: the one not really your cup of tea, that you have no real chance of getting into. The more you listen to it though, the higher the chance you might accept it after all. Which doesn't mean you could ever become a fan or buy their future releases. But you'd nod your head and say "Yeah, it's OK". Full stop. I'd say Master Charger's album Eroding Empires falls under the latter category. Which doesn't mean it won't be someone else's cup of tea. Those of you who are fans of Black Sabbath and Motorhead may well find that Master Charger ticks their boxes.
Good news: their music is energetic and not at all badly performed. They do know how to shred, and instrumentally Eroding Empires seems like a rather decent effort. I am not too keen on all their shredding, though some of it sounds a tad out of tune, but that might be just me, being a die-hard fan of classic rock and prog metal where melody has a distinctive role (think Deep Purple, Megadeth, Whitesnake, Symphony X and the likes). I do struggle with bands such as Sabbath and Motorhead. I do like their music, but it's the vocals that kill it for me. Which is where I am opening a can of worms, I guess. As much as I like Lemmy and Ozzy as musicians, this type of vocals doesn't do it for me. I am more of a Dio/Joe Lynn Turner/David Coverdale girl. Cheesy, I know. Which is why Motorhead fans shouldn't really trust this review perhaps…
With all the good intentions to write an objective and unbiased review, I must admit that the album struggled to keep my interest. The opening track 'Damn Me Forever' did make me hopeful with a clear reference to Motley Crue's 'Kick Start My Heart' which proved to be a false one. Master Charger have nothing to do with that type of metal or, sadly to say, class. Once you've heard a couple of songs, that's pretty much it. The rest are more or less repetition of the same stuff, not much there to pique your interest, apart from 'In Hells Grip', a track I did find interesting. Not because it has a lyrical section, but it does show some imagination, ability to make a song unpredictable and, basically, good. With varied melody and pace, it proves that the band have potential. If Master Charger read this, I'd say: "Well done guys, think 'Hells Grip' when you start working on any new material."
Damn Me Forever
Dwell In The Doom
Turn The Tides
Blessed Be…
In Hell's Grip
Death Trails (To The Black Divine)
Break Of Dawn
Where I Belong…
Emperor Big Bollocks 17 April, 2016 at 6:31 pm
Lame review.
May as well just say, "it's not you, it's me"
Angie K 17 April, 2016 at 9:02 pm
Or could have said: "It sucks"… but didn't. I thought it was better to give readers/listeners the benefit of a doubt rather than simply condemning the album. It's only fair, don't you think? I gave my opinion, but left room for others to do the same.
But thanks for the honest comment, anyway.


Even if your company has a committee in place to gather and organize the necessary information you will need to stay informed about what the committee has found.
There are several ways to do this, and each method will depend on several factors including your personality, schedule, and the needs of your company.
Hold special meetings where people give presentations on the information they gathered.
Have people write reports and deliver them to you on a constant basis.
Instruct people to email you with relevant information directly.
Have the committee members post all the information on a website.
The goal of competitive information is to gather enough information to help you understand the market and any relevant changes. You need to be presented with the data on a constant basis in order to benefit from it.


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Q: Camel - How to use an object that is inside the object sent on body to do splitting Maybe this is a very dumb question but It will help to clarify my understanding of camel. I have a seda queue where I insert objects of type FromData. FromData has a method
public GenericFile<File> getFirstFile () {
    return files.values().iterator().next();
}

Now in my route I want read from the queue and split the contents of the file.
I came up with this solution. Are there a better way to refer to body.firstFile, other ways of doing .split(simple("${body.firstFile}"))
public void configure() {
    from("seda:processReceiver")
    .split(simple("${body.firstFile}"))
    .split(body().tokenize(",")).streaming()
    .process(new Processor() {
         public void process(Exchange msg) {
             System.out.println(msg.getIn().getBody());
         }
    });
}

A: This would suit:
.setBody(simple("${body.firstFile}"))


Immerse yourself in the timeless culture of the Old Order Amish as we journey down "roads less traveled" back to a simpler time, based on close-knit families, strong faith, and hard work. This enriching, scenic tour affords the opportunity to observe and learn first-hand about the Amish way of life; view one-room country schoolhouses; observe horse and buggy travel; attend an Amish produce auction; visit Amish craft shops and bakeries; browse handcrafted furniture, quilts, baskets, and foodstuffs; chat with Amish farmers, craftsmen, and families in their workshops; and even tour an Amish home! Your tour can include an unforgettable authentic Amish luncheon on an Amish farm! We'll conclude our tour with an optional stop in the heart of scenic bluff country, in Lanesboro, MN, well-known for its unique shops, restaurants, art galleries, and main street architecture.


Last week Guster released to YouTube this video which is the 6th track from their upcoming album Easy Wonderful (To be released October 5, 2010). Today, the band also released the single and the 2nd track of the album 'Do You Love Me' on iTunes. Both are fun songs…especially because of Guster's upbeat and playful harmonies.