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Forced circumcision is the circumcision of men and boys against their will. In a biblical context, the term is used especially in relation to Paul the Apostle and his polemics against the circumcision controversy in early Christianity. Forced circumcisions have occurred in a wide range of situations, most notably in the compulsory conversion of non-Muslims to Islam and the forced circumcision of Teso, Turkana and Luo men in Kenya, as well as the abduction of South African teenage boys to so-called circumcision schools ("bush schools"). In South Africa, custom allows uncircumcised Xhosa-speaking men past the age of circumcision (i.e., 25 years or older) to be overpowered by other men and forcibly circumcised. Routine infant circumcision, as performed in many highly developed nations such as the United States and South Korea, may also be classified as forced circumcision, even if performed in a clinical setting. Any circumcision performed on an infant could be considered forced circumcision due to the inability of the infant to give consent.

History and contemporary forced circumcision

Hasmonean Kingdom (140 BCE–37 BCE)

R1 Maccabees relates the story of how Mattathias (ca. 166 BC) forcibly circumcised the sons of Jewish parents who had abandoned the rite. Forced circumcision of Gentiles by Jews is attested from the second century BC onwards. In 125 BC John Hyrcanus conquered Edom, which the Romans called Idumea; and the Idumeans were forcibly converted to Judaism, by threat of exile or death, depending on the source. As reported by Josephus, circumcision was required of the Idumeans:

Scholars disagree on the interpretation of the sources. For example, Steven Weitzman believes the Idumeans were forcibly circumcised for political, not religious, reasons. According to Shaye J. D. Cohen, "Ptolemy's claim, that the Idumaeans were compelled to be circumcised and to adopt Jewish ways, is a simplified account of what these urban Idumaeans experienced."
During the short reign of Hyrcanus' eldest son, Aristobulus I (104–103 BC), the Hasmoneans gained control of Galilee. In this case, too, sources indicate that the residents were subjected to forced circumcision. Archaeological evidence suggests that, during this period, Gentiles fled from Galilee to avoid being forcibly circumcised. Recently, Isaac Soon has argued that 1 Macc 2:46 does not refer to circumcision "by force" but that Mattathias circumcised "in strength". He argues that Mattathias did not forcibly circumcise, but instead re-established circumcision among Jewish inhabitants of Judea "in strength".

Roman Empire

Greeks and Romans regarded circumcision as a mutilation of the male genitalia, but the practice is little discussed in Roman literary sources until the second century of the Christian era. There was a circumcision controversy in Early Christianity but this was resolved at the Council of Jerusalem c.50 which made it clear that circumcision of gentile converts to Christianity was not required. Josephus (who changed his allegiance from the Jews to the Roman Flavians) reports that two Roman officers who had taken refuge with Galileans during the war with Rome (early 67 AD) were put under pressure to convert to Judaism. Josephus, declaring that "every one should worship God in accordance with the dictates of his own conscience," claims to have saved the two Gentiles from forced circumcision. After the First Roman-Jewish War, a head tax, the Fiscus Judaicus, was levied against all Jews. According to Suetonius, Domitian (c.90) also applied this tax to those who were circumcised, even if they claimed they were not Jews. Titus Flavius Clemens was put to death in 95 for adopting Jewish customs. In 96 Nerva relaxed the Jewish tax as applying only to those who professed to be Jews. Sometime between 128 and 132 AD, the emperor Hadrian seems to have temporarily banned circumcision, on pain of death. Antoninus Pius exempted Jews from the ban, as well as Egyptian priests, and Origen (d. ca. 253) says that in his time only Jews were permitted to practice circumcision. Legislation under Constantine, the first Christian emperor, freed any slave who was subjected to circumcision; in the year 339, circumcising a slave became punishable by death.

Although Greco-Roman writers view circumcision as an identifying characteristic of Jews, they believed the practice to have originated in Egypt, and recorded it among peoples they identified as Arab, Syrian, Phoenician, Colchian, and Ethiopian; circumcision was a marker of "the Other". Diaspora Jews might circumcise their male slaves as well as adult male converts and Jewish male infants. According to Catherine Hezser, it is an open question whether Jews of late antiquity refrained from forcibly circumcising their Gentile slaves and whether Romans avoided selling their slaves to Jews in reaction to the prohibition. The Mishnah (compiled about 200 AD) is silent on this point, whereas the Mekhilta de-Rabbi Ishmael (written at the end of the fourth century or later) suggests that Jews might indeed possess uncircumcised slaves.

Asia and North Africa
Forced conversions, involving forced circumcision, are echoed in a vast body of scholarly literature spanning the entire history of Islam. Scholars conclude that, during the Islamic conquest of the Middle East and North Africa, forced conversion to Islam through violence or threat of violence did not play a key role. However, taxes and regulations requiring the holders of prestigious positions to become Muslims have been regarded as a form of forced conversion.

South Asia
In the aftermath of the 1780 Battle of Pollilur, 7,000 British soldiers were held imprisoned by Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan in the fortress of Seringapatnam. Of these, more than 300 were forcibly circumcised. Cromwell Massey, who kept a secret diary during his captivity, wrote: "I lost with the foreskin of my yard all those benefits of a Christian and Englishman which were and ever shall be my greatest glory." Adolescent captives were, in addition to being circumcised, made to wear female clothes. James Bristow, a teenage artilleryman, revenged himself by circumcising dogs, believing that this would harm the religious feelings of the Muslim warders. The prospect of punishment did not deter him, because "compelling us to undergo an abhorred operation [was] so base and barbarous an act of aggression, that it was impossible to reflect on it with temper." James Scurry, also a prisoner of war, confirms in his book, The Captivity, Sufferings, and Escape of James Scurry (1824), that English soldiers, Mangalorean Catholics, and other prisoners were forcibly circumcised.
In 1784, when Tipu returned from Mangalore, he brought back tens of thousands of Mangalorean Catholics from Kanara and subjected them to forced circumcision.

According to Kativa Daiya, during the 1947 partition of India "[f]orced circumcision, shaving facial and head hair (for Sikh men), and shaving off the Hindu Brahmin's traditional, short, plaited hair (on an otherwise bald head) were routine Muslim conversion tactics for men and boys." Asia News reported in 2004 that the Justice and Peace Commission of Lahor spoke out against young non-Muslim men in Pakistan being converted and circumcised against their will. In 2005, the Gulf Times discussed a case of forced circumcision of Nepalese boys in Mumbai in the context of sex trade in large Indian cities.

Iraq
Iraqi Mandaeans, residing almost exclusively in Baghdad and Basra, do not circumcise. However, their religious sensitivity on this issue has not prevented hostile rulers from subjecting Mandaean men and boys to forced circumcision. Mandaean communities, especially after the invasion of Iraq, have been subject to "murder, kidnapping, rape, forced conversion, forced circumcision and destruction of religious property."

In Iraq in 2003, shortly after the fall of the Saddam regime, the 35 families who made up the Mandean community in Falluja were ordered at gunpoint to adopt Islam; the men were forcibly circumcised.

In 2007, the US Committee on International Religious Freedom heard testimony reporting: "Forced conversion is happening in an alarming degree. Boys are being kidnapped, forcibly circumcised—a major sin in the Mandaean religion—and forcibly converted to Islam."

In 2014, after the exodus of the Christians from Mosul and the Yazidis from Mount Sinjar, it was reported that forced circumcisions were taking place conducted by the Islamic State.

Anatolia

The Ottoman Empire
There are even accounts of Christian boys being abducted and forcibly circumcised in the nineteenth century. In 1829, nine-year-old Greek boy Alexandros Kitos and other young boys were kidnapped by Ottoman soldiers and sold into slavery in Egypt; all of them were circumcised against their will.

It is well established that, both before and during the Armenian genocide, forced conversions (involving forced circumcisions) of Armenian boys and men were frequent. "In many cases, young Armenian children were spared from deportation by local Turks who took them from their families. The children were coerced into denouncing Christianity and becoming Muslims, and were then given new Turkish names. For Armenian boys, the forced conversion meant they each had to endure painful circumcision as required by Islamic custom."

Turkey
During the Istanbul Pogrom in September 1955, "many Greek men, including at least one priest, were subjected to forced circumcision." As a result of the pogrom, the Greek minority eventually emigrated from Turkey. In 2002, there was a report that non-Muslim army recruits in Turkey had been threatened with forced circumcision. Cases are documented where Syro-Orthodox men serving in the Turkish military forces have been threatened with forced circumcision. In 1991, a young Christian Turk, fleeing from forced circumcision in the Turkish military forces, was granted asylum in Germany.

The Yazidi (not all of whom are circumcised) in Turkey have for years been subjected to direct state persecution, including compulsory religious instruction at school, forced conversion, forced circumcision, and mistreatment during military service. In 1999, there was a report of the forced circumcision of Yedizi men in Turkish Kurdistan.

The Arab world
John Rawlins had sailed for 23 years without incident when, in 1621, he and his crew were kidnapped by pirates from the Barbary Coast of North Africa. Rawlins later reported that, after being taken to Algiers, two younger men were "by force and torment ... compelled ... to turn Turks," which means that they were forcibly circumcised. By organizing a successful mutiny, he was able to return home in 1622.
The Portuguese Friar Jaono dos Sanctos claimed that, annually in Algiers in the 1620s, more than nine hundred Christian slaves were converted to Islam, "besides about fifty boys yearly circumcised against their wills."

Indonesia

Maluku Islands
Thousands of Christians were forcibly circumcised in the Moluccas to convert them forcibly to Islam from December 1999 to January 2001. The Sydney Morning Herald reported in detail on this, stating that "almost all" of 3,928 villagers forced to convert to Islam were circumcised.  Razors and knives were reused, causing infections. One of those circumcised, Kostantinus Idi, reported: "I could not escape ... One of them held up my foreskin between pieces of wood while another cut me with a razor ... the third man held my head back, ready to pour water down my throat if I screamed. But I couldn't help but scream and he poured the water. I kept screaming aloud and vomited. I couldn't stand the pain." He further reported that one of the clerics urinated on his wound, saying it would stop infection. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the forced conversions and forced circumcisions had been condemned by moderate Muslim leaders who said they were contrary to Islamic teachings. The local governor had also investigated the incidents.

Africa south of the Sahara

Ethiopia
Marco Polo, in his Travels, relates how a Christian king of Ethiopia took revenge on the Sultan of Aden, who had forcibly circumcised a bishop.

Kenya
In Kenya, most tribes circumcise. Luo men from Western Kenya are a significant exception, for which reason they have regularly been subjected to forced circumcision. In August 2002, following a violent incident in Butere/Mumias District, a district commissioner instructed the police to "crack down on traditional surgeons involved in forcible circumcision."

In November 2005, the Kenyan Human Rights Commission announced that it would seek prosecutions against politicians for inciting such violence. In one instance, a cabinet minister had said, "Those who are not circumcised should be taken for a circumcision ceremony." The Commission said this amounted to an incitement to violence.

In late January 2008, a disputed election in which circumcision became an issue between President Mwai Kibaki, a Kikuyu and opposition candidate Raila Odinga, a Luo, "the fact that Odinga was uncircumcised became an issue: He was seen by some Kikuyus as a 'child' unfit to rule because he had not passed through circumcision and initiation." Post-election violence reportedly "focused on tribal animosities", and included several cases of forced circumcision. AFP reported one Kenyan man's experience: "A group of eight men with pangas (machetes) entered. They asked for my ID [to determine what tribe he belonged to] They slashed me and they circumcised me by force. I screamed a lot and cried for help..." He complained that police left him in a pool of blood, taking weapons left behind by the Kikuyu gang.

In September 2010, at Malaba, West Kenya, a 21-year-old Teso man was lured to a hotel, drugged, smeared with fermented millet flour and was being led away by several Bukusu to be circumcised when the police intervened. The Teso man, who agreed to a medical circumcision, condemned the Bukusu youths for trying to impose their culture on the Teso. Three weeks previously, village neighbours in Aedomoru sub location in Teso north armed themselves with clubs and prevented a 35-year-old man from being forcibly circumcised.

South Africa
In 1999, a woman who was feared throughout the Vaal Triangle district of South Africa, controlled a gang of kidnappers that abducted young people, forcibly circumcising the boys and extorting ransoms from their parents for their release. A local police officer said as many as 10 teenagers had been snatched every day.

In 2004, a 22-year-old Rastafari convert was seized by relatives and forcibly circumcised by group of Xhosa tribal elders and relatives.

In December 2004, 45-year-old Nceba Cekiso was caught and circumcised against his will. The report in the Cape Argus noted, Xhosa culture allows people to forcibly circumcise boys deemed to be past the age of initiation... Forcing people do undergo the ancient ritual ... has, in recent times, caused concern among human rights organisations... (In) one instance two Rastafarians objected to the procedure on religious grounds. The incident has sparked a debate on whether or not traditionalists should still be allowed to force people against their will into the bush to undergo initiation.

Despite being medically circumcised, a Christian Xhosa was forcibly recircumcised by his father and community leaders in 2007. He laid a charge of unfair discrimination on the grounds of his religious beliefs, seeking an apology from his father and the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa. In the settlement that was reached, and which was made an order of the Equality Court, the Congress of Traditional Leaders accepted the right of adult males to choose whether to attend traditional circumcision schools according to their religious beliefs. It apologised for the comments made by its former chairman encouraging the ostracism of teenagers who refused to undergo traditional circumcision. The judge declared, "What is important in terms of the Constitution and law is that no one can be forced to submit to circumcision without his consent."

According to South African newspapers, the subsequent trial became "a landmark case around forced circumcision". In October 2009, the Bhisho Equality Court (High Court) ruled that, in South Africa, circumcision is unlawful unless done with the full consent of the initiate. According to Thembela Kepe, traditional leaders allege that the ban on forced circumcision is "a violation of cultural rights enshrined in the Constitution."

Sudan
There is ample evidence that, for years, Christians of Khartoum and elsewhere in Sudan have been forcefully converted to Islam, and that Christian men and boys have been forcibly circumcised. Examples of Dinka boys having been forcibly circumcised in the 1990s and 2000s are known from the context of traditional slavery, still endemic in Sudan.

Uganda
In 1885, Kabaka Mwanga ordered the murders of Bishop James Hannington and many local Christians. During the following period, Islamization led to several Christians being forcibly circumcised.

As discussed by anthropologist Suzette Heald and other scholars, the Gisu (alternatively, Bagishu) of Uganda "take pride in not tolerating uncircumcised men." For this reason, in Gisu society, any boy or man who has been able to escape ritual circumcision (called "imbalu") faces the prospect of being forcibly circumcised. Voice of America, referring to the same practice, reports: "Among the Bagishu, uncircumcised men are treated with contempt; they are not allowed in society and in most cases they are seen as failing to get local women for marriage. This is supported by all the Bagishu including women who often report uncircumcised men to tribal elders. It's considered traditional that no male is to escape the ritual regardless of where he lives, what he does or what kind of security he has."

In 2004, a father of seven was seized and forcibly circumcised after his wife told Bagishu tribal circumcisers that he was uncircumcised. A local official said the authorities could not intervene in a cultural ritual.   Other forced circumcisions occurred in September 2006 and June 2008.  In all these cases, family members of the victims approved of the forced circumcision. Other tribal groups in Uganda and the Ugandan Foundation for Human Rights Initiative regard forced circumcision as a human rights abuse. The Ugandan Government and the President of the Ugandan Law Society condemned the incident, but the victim refused to press charges.

Australia
Traditional circumcision is still practised in some tribal areas of Australia. Linguist and anthropologist Peter Sutton, commenting on forced circumcision and the absence of law enforcement in remote settlements, claims that Australian law has been applied in a patchy way: "Involuntary circumcision has long been widely accepted as being de facto outside the scope of Australian law." Late in 1996, 34-year-old Irwin Brookdale was drinking with a group of Australian Aborigines on the banks of a river in far north Queensland. After he passed out, a woman in the group felt down his pants, found that he was not circumcised and called on her companions to "make a man out of him". They attempted to circumcise him with a broken beer bottle. Brookdale ended up in hospital, one of his assailants was convicted of unlawful wounding and Brookdale was awarded A$10,000 compensation for nervous shock.

United States
Routine Infant Circumcision is commonly performed in the United States as well as Canada. An estimated 58.3% of male newborns and 80.5% of males aged 14–59 years in the United States are circumcised. An anti-circumcision movement known as intactivism has been ongoing due to the human rights abuse of circumcising healthy boys for disputable health benefits.

Other geographical areas

Breakup of Yugoslavia
According to Milica Z. Bookman, the breakup of Yugoslavia "was extremely violent, producing some two million refugees, over 100,000 killed, and evidence of gang rape, impaling, dismemberment and forced circumcision."

The US Department of State reported that irregular Muslim and Mujahedin troops "had routinely performed crude, disfiguring, nonmedical circumcisions on Bosnian Serb soldiers." One 18-year-old Bosnian Serb soldier "was so brutally circumcised that eventually the entire organ required amputation."

See also
 Children's rights
 Ethics of circumcision
 Female genital mutilation
 Forced conversion
 Gendercide
 Religious intolerance
 Religious violence
 Violence against men

References

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Abuse
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In this episode, Paige sits with Jacki Pick to discuss her journey in the Oil and Gas Industry from the beginning of her career as an Attorney to her current role as Host of the The Jacki Daily Show.
Reach out to Jacki and learn more about The Jacki Daily Show on TheBlaze Network.
Tell everyone about what you think in iTunes and it will be read in upcoming episode!
Gabe P., you're this week's winner! Congratulations and enjoy!


Gold Medal winner of the 2015 Chopin Competition, Seong-Jin Cho immediately became a classical rock star in his native South Korea. His rapid ascent was aided by a high-powered Deutsche Grammophon contract and a swelling of national pride in his being the first Korean winner of the venerable Chopin Competition. Clearly, the slender 24-year-old pianist's youthful good looks don't hurt either.
One got a strong sense of Cho's remarkable popularity with Friday's turnout in Hyde Park, as the usually low-key University of Chicago Presents venue took on the trappings of a Hollywood red carpet. The regular UC audience was swelled by Cho fans-predominantly Asian, young and female-who were buzzing excitedly in the lobby before the concert. Afterwards, Cho graciously stayed for over an hour to take photos with his admirers and sign CDs of his recordings. The queueing multitude stretched the length of the long lobby, from Mandel Hall out the doors to 57th street.
So, what about the playing?
Cho clearly possesses a world-class technique, polished to a high sheen. His arsenal is complete and unassailable, the pianist vaulting through some of the most technically demanding repertoire with guns blazing and nary a slip. Friday's concert offered about as thrilling a display of sheer powerhouse keyboard bravura as one is ever likely to encounter.


text:
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Press Releases 25 Feb 2017 Read More
The addition of eight different languages to the platform makes Livecoin a truly global altcoin exchange. Livecoin, the fourth largest altcoin exchange on the internet has announced a range of new feature additions and platform improvements. These new changes provide unprecedented ease of access to the global cryptocurrency community. The platform has extended support to 8 different languages including English, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Italian, French and Indonesian (Bahasa). It allows a significant number of international traders to use Livecoin in their own native language.....
As DNotes celebrates its 3rd Birthday, Co-Founder Alan Yong offered his thoughts on DNotes' long term vision to gain mass acceptance of digital currency and the blockchain technology that makes it possible. In his most recent remarks, Yong described this as a generational opportunity with world-changing implications. When DNotes was launched on February 18, 2014, it became one of hundreds of other cryptocurrency alternatives to industry leader Bitcoin. Alan Yong and his team has spent months researching the market, after initially identifying several serious challenges that the industry....
On March 9, 2017, Tallinn will host the conference dedicated to the blockchain application in business and management – Blockchain & Bitcoin Conference Tallinn. IBM and Bitcoin Foundation managers as well as e-Residency and e-Auction projects representatives have already confirmed their participation. This was reported by event organizers that held a lot of similar conferences in Russia, Ukraine and the Czech Republic. Participants include Kaspar Korjus, Managing Director of the world's first international identification platform, whose name is on the first place in Forbes fintech rating.....
Digital Sports Tech, a B2B provider of next generation sports betting solutions, has struck a deal with Sportsbet.io to provide the innovative Bitcoin sportsbook operator with its unique player proposition betting product. Sportsbet.io will shortly be launching Digital Sport Tech's Player Props product which allows customers to create and customise their own bets on player performance across a range of statistics and sports, all in real time. The deal will see Player Props being offered in new markets all over the world, including a number of key Asian jurisdictions, where Bitcoin is fast....
The Dash cryptocurrency derivative, SibCoin's masternode network volume continues to outgrow that of its parent coin. In January 2017, SibCoin's masternode network volume exceeded that of its parent coin (Dash), and the gap continues to widen. Did this roaring Russian bear fly right under your radar? Emerging out of Russia's heartland, SibCoin has garnered tremendous support in the national crypto-community. It has become the coin of choice for thousands of seasoned numismatists and crypto-neophytes alike. Siberia is Russia's legendary treasure trove, yet denizens of this rugged land, just....
Press Releases 09 Jan 2017 Read More
Congratulations on the Consummation of Explanation Session of Guiyang Block Chain Strategy and Global Release Conference on Standard Digital Currency
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New Website Bitmotorsports.com Sells Used Motorcycles at a Discounted Rate for Bitcoin
Bit Motorsports is offering free shipping on all orders until Feb. 20, 2017 using the coupon code "Free Shipping." Bitmotorsports.com offers discounted rates on used motorcycles in exchange for bitcoin, a form of digital currency, created and held electronically. In celebration of their new launch, Bit Motorsports is offering free shipping on all orders until Feb. 20, 2017 using the coupon code "Free Shipping." Currently on the website, Bit Motorsports is selling a 2015 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special FLHXS for $14,145.00, a savings of more than $5,000, and a 2016 Harley-Davidson....
Waves Blockchain Platform Introduces New Framework for Community-Based Ratings Organizations
Waves Platform has announced the launch of a new token for community-based KYC/screening of new assets. The Waves platform has announced the upcoming launch of a new token as a part of its recently introduced Custom Application Token (CAT) facility on the mainnet. The new token distribution will enable Waves to foster community engagement in the next nine months. The new token, aptly called the Waves Community Token (WCT) will be distributed after January 15, 2017. Initially, 20 percent of the WCTs will be distributed across all existing Waves wallet addresses based on their average WAVES....
Status.im, an Ethereum Mobile Client Launches in Alpha, Aimed at Early Adopters and Developers
Status, an Ethereum light client targeting Android & iOS unveiled its feature light alpha today. The alpha release aims to provide developers with a glimpse at how interacting with decentralized applications (DApps) will look through its open source interface. As a base offering, Status is both a messenger, and a DApp browser — enabling users to access decentralized applications, along with sending encrypted messages, smart contracts, and digital currency to one another using Ethereum's decentralized protocols. Status utilizes messaging as a platform, upon which Ethereum DApp developers....
Introducing World's First Bitcoin Marketplace for Digital Goods
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UNICEF, UK Home Office and BTCC to speak at London Blockchain Week 2017
Third major blockchain conference takes place from 20th to 26th January 2017 and will focus on the variety of applications across sectors. Opening with a hackathon on 20th January, London Blockchain Week 2017 will play host to an eclectic mix of speakers from the blockchain community, including Bobby Lee, CEO and co-founder of China's first bitcoin exchange BTC China (BTCC) and Tom Wilkinson, Senior Data Scientist for the UK Government Home Office; cementing London's place as a leader in fintech innovation. The main conference begins on 23rd January at the Grange Hotel, Tower Bridge, and....
The Seam to form Cotton Blockchain Consortium with IBM on Hyperledger Fabric
The Seam, a commodities trading and agribusiness software provider, today announced that it is forming a blockchain consortium for the global cotton industry. Working with IBM (NYSE:IBM), the company intends to lead an industry-wide collaboration initiative to create a supply chain and trading ecosystem built on IBM blockchain technology, specifically using the Hyperledger Fabric. A blockchain is a secure, distributed and immutable digital ledger enabling companies to work together on a foundation of trust, increased speed and reduced interference. Combined with "smart contracts," the....
15 BTC in January Tournaments at mBit Casino!
After running a December Slots Tournament that was wildly successful, mBit Casino; a leading online Bitcoin Casino, has decided to run two more tournaments this month. Throughout January, you can play either slots or table games at mBit Casino and you'll be entered into one of these tournaments for free! The contest is already underway (starting on January 1st), and it will run through the entire month. To participate, simply play any of their slots to earn points towards the 10 BTC Slots Tournament, or play table games to earn points towards the 5 BTC Table Games Tournament! Whoever has....
Start your local bitcoin exchange platform in 45 days
Now it is easy to start your local liquidity ready bitcoin exchange in your currency, in your language, under your brand. BTCTrader has launched white label bitcoin exchange platform since 2013. Fully branded, customized & managed white label bitcoin exchange platform unites different markets on one screen. CFO of BTCTrader Alphan Göğüş says "Our platform allows our partners to start a Bitcoin exchange without having to invest in software development and without the need to funnel liquidity into the exchange. BTCTrader's mission is to bring localized, high-quality, secure, compliant and....
Diginomics Announces Rootstock Programming Course
Diginomics has announced the release of the Rootstock Programming Course for digital money professionals and smart contract developers. The Rootstock Programming Course is designed to allow students to gain a deep understanding of the Rootstock network and how to program smart contracts in the shortest amount of time possible. No prior programming knowledge is required. Programming tutorials cover the Solidity language which is loosely based on JavaScript. Course lessons follow a progression from absolute beginner to more advanced implementations of smart contracts built directly on the....
WINGS surpasses $1.7 Million for Next-Gen Blockchain Crowdfunding ahead of Campaign's Final Days
WINGS Foundation is raising Funds for a Next-generation Decentralized Crowdfunding and Organization Management Platform on Ethereum and Bitcoin blockchains. WINGS (wings.ai), a decentralized platform to create, crowdfund, join, and manage projects using blockchain and smart contracts, today announced having reached just over $1.7 Million in donations (1700+ BTC). WINGS combines decentralized decision-making with forecast markets for valuing projects, for filtering out low-quality projects, and for project milestone risk assessment, while making all of this easily accessible to anyone with....
Press Releases 30 Dec 2016 Read More
Remitano P2P Bitcoin Exchange is Completely Independent from Traditional Banking Partners
Bitcoin P2P exchange, Remitano eliminates dependency on the mainstream banking sector to offer uninterrupted service. Remitano Bitcoin P2P exchange, with its service in multiple countries operates without the need of a banking partner, completely shielding the service from their whims and fancies. Remitano is different from other centralized exchange platforms currently in the market, which are heavily dependent on the banks to receive deposits and facilitate withdrawals for customers. Banks have a history of harassing centralized exchange platforms. The recent example of accounts....
Bitcoin Exchange Platform Unichange Releases Its Annual Report for 2016
With 2016 coming to an end, Unichange updates its users about the platform's performance during the year. December 30, 2016, Romania, Bucharest – On the eve of 2017, Unichange.me thanks its customers for the support and feedback they extended during the year. The platform shares its achievements with the cryptocurrency community by releasing its Annual Report for the year 2016. Compared to 2015, Unichange reports an overall growth, with increased number of active users (5 times), completed orders (4 fold), paid partner bonuses (5 times) and social media audience (3 times). During 2016, the....
FxDailyReport.com Release List of Forex Brokers That Offers Bitcoin Trading
The hottest news now centers on the latest release of the top best Forex Bitcoin Trading Brokers by FxDailyReport.com, which is regarded as the world's most trusted site providing all the accurate data and reviews of all the lowest spread forex brokers a well as informative articles about the current trends now in the trading industry. Since there are a lots of forex brokers offering various online platforms in the market, FxDailyReport.com had decided to help all of the visitors of their site to be well informed in the latest happenings in the currency market. The main reason behind the....
Changelly and WINGS Foundation Partner to Provide Seamless Multi-Currency Support for Blockchain Crowdfunding
Projects using WINGS, a next-generation crowdfunding platform, can take advantage of Changelly's service to accept all currencies for their crowdfunding. WINGS (wings.ai), a next generation decentralized crowdfunding platform built to create, evaluate, fund and manage projects using blockchain and smart contracts, today announced a technology partnership with Changelly (changelly.com), the fast-growing cryptocurrency instant exchange service. Changelly and WINGS will coordinate to ensure that projects crowdfunding with WINGS can allow supporters to easily fund using any crypto-currencies....
Waves Platform and Higher School of Economics Partner for Pro FinTech Startup Program
Business Incubator of Higher School of Economics in Moscow has announced the second year of fintech startup program HSE{Pro}Fintech. Official partners of the fintech section are Waves, the decentralized platform for crowdfunding and community management and National Settlement Depository. FinTech applications. The Incubator recently launched the second round of its {pro} fintech programme. The program aims to develop projects in the field of financial and blockchain technologies, in particular services for banks and their customers, personal finance management systems, peer-to-peer....
P2P Exchange Just Got Better with new player Remitano
With the banks keep harassing centralized exchange, P2P Exchange is getting more attention as it nullifies the ability of the banks to shut down the exchange. Taken Malaysia for example, in the last month, the banks decided to shut down bank accounts of many famous centralized exchanges in effect cause great trouble when customers trying to cash out or deposit. During that time, trading had been in effect shifted to P2P Exchanges, like Remitano. Unlike a centralized exchange, Remitano P2P Exchange only deal with Bitcoin and left the user to deal with the bank, so its operation can't be....
"Banking on Bitcoin" Film to Hit Theatres on January 6, 2017 Accompanied by VOD Release
"Banking on Bitcoin" movie on the popular cryptocurrency's evolution is scheduled for release in select theaters and VOD on January 6, 2017. "Banking on Bitcoin" a feature film on Bitcoin, its history and future is set to be released on January 6, 2017. Produced by Gravitas Ventures, the film will be launched at select theaters and will also be made available on VOD. The "Banking on Bitcoin" film covers the most disruptive digital invention since the Internet. It follows the ideological battle underway between fringe utopists and mainstream capitalism. An in-depth coverage of key players....
Code Valley's Emergent Computing Brings in a New Era of Software Development
Code Valley, the Australian decentralized software development platform has announced the launch of its new pilot to make the lives of developers a lot easier. The bitcoin-fueled global compiler network called Emergent Coding will allow a network of cooperating software agents to provide software compilation service. These cooperating software agents form the pieces of a widely distributed compiler by acting as nodes. Each such agent is created by an independent or a group of expert developers specializing in such systems. In the Emergent Coding ecosystem, each agent is similar to a plugin....
iEx.ec Blockchain Cloud Computing Platform Releases Its Whitepaper
iEx.ec is inventing the internet of the future by developing its first Blockchain-based, fully distributed cloud computing platform. iEx.ec has released the very first version of its whitepaper showcasing the future of Internet. The document offers a detailed description of iEx.ec's vision, the market, development roadmap and the upcoming crowd sale of its tokens scheduled for January 17, 2017. iEx.ec which stands for "I Execute" is a French/Chinese company headquartered in Lyon, France with an office provided by Tsinghua University X-elerator. The platform was first introduced at the....
BitConnect Coin's Wallet Launch is Here for 2017 and Beyond
After months of intense testing and technological development, the official BitConnect coin wallet is ready, just in time for the 2017 New Year. This also means that from now on BitConnect's Industry-exclusive bitcoin lending platform will accept BitConnect coin as the exclusive mode of digital payments. Let's go over the new features that work within the BitConnect platform. Within the BitConnect platform, you can send BitConnect coin (BCC) from send form on the dashboard, no longer having to send actual Bitcoins. We have converted all members funds in BitConnect wallet from a Bitcoin....
MinexSystems Completes ICO Ahead of Schedule, Partners with Major Bank
The cryptocurrency community is increasingly leaning towards ICOs as a mode of raising investments. The crowdfunding method is much better than conventional angel and VC investments as it will allow the platforms to get community buy-ins much before the official launch. MinexSystems is one such blockchain platform that completed its first stage of ICO ahead of schedule by forging a very important partnership. According to the Ukrainian blockchain platform, MinexSystems has partnered with an undisclosed European banking institution to support its Minex Bank. MinexSystems has not divulged....
Bitcoin IRA With Over $2M Worth Accounts Offers Better Returns Than Bitcoin ETFs
Bitcoin has been named the top performing currency of 2016. The rapid expansion of Bitcoin community over the past couple of years has led to an increased demand for the digital currency, which is being reflected in its price. The appreciation of Bitcoin's value this year alone has made it one of the most favorable financial assets for investment purposes. Bitcoin IRA, the only "real" bitcoin retirement fund has opened up new avenues for those planning to secure their future. Following its launch five months ago, Bitcoin IRA has received a great response which has attracted over $2 million....
Blockchain-Backed Platform Offers OTC Securities on the Cloud
Equibit's system will allow for peer-to-peer trading platform that is faster, more secure, and provides transparent market activity. Toronto-based Equibit Development Corporation (EDC) is looking to change the way over-the-counter (OTC) markets operate, and decentralized technology has a key role to play. The company has developed a blockchain-based platform capable of providing a peer-to-peer, holistic OTC platform that can be designed to encompass and streamline the entire investor-issuer relationship from start to finish; something that has potential to revolutionize the existing OTC....
The founder of Bitcoin Foundation and Forbes columnist will visit Blockchain Conference in Tallinn
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I/O Coin's Latest DIONS Blockchain Upgrade Offers a Range of Tools for Businesses & Developers Alike
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Bitcoin Investments Get Better With Bitsea
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CLOAKCOIN Makes a Comeback with Advanced Technology, Multi-Platform Wallets, and a Great Team
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ALFAcoins Cryptocurrency Payments Company Launches an Updated User-Friendly Website
ALFAcoins has announced the launch of a new website to match its updated cryptocurrency service offering. A trusted provider of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency payment services, ALFAcoins has upgraded its website to offer a better, user-friendly experience to its customers. The website overhaul, involving new design and improved on-site navigation coincides with the addition of new cryptocurrencies, BitSend, CoinSplit and personal account management features. ALFAcoins allows any legal internet business to accept three different cryptocurrencies viz., Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. The....
Decentralized Marketplace OpenBazaar Integrates ShapeShift, Allowing Payment with Any Digital Asset
Customers now able to purchase from OpenBazaar shops using Ethereum, Zcash, and cryptocurrencies. Today ShapeShift.io, a blockchain asset exchange platform, has partnered with online bitcoin-enabled marketplace OpenBazaar via their integration of the ShapeShift Shifty Button. This integration allows OpenBazaar shoppers to purchase items from the decentralized, peer-to-peer site with Ethereum, Zcash, Ripple and dozens of other leading digital currencies beyond Bitcoin. OpenBazaar, which launched in April 2016, is an open source project with the goal to create a decentralized network for....
EasyBit expands Global Bitcoin ATM Network Footprint to Vietnam
EasyBit, a world-leader in Bitcoin ATM (BTM) operations, today announced a partnership with Bitcoin Viet Nam, Vietnam's leading Bitcoin broker exchange service, to operate EasyBit's BitAccess machines in Vietnam. The first BTM is already operation in Ho Chi Minh City, and three additional BTMs are en route to Vietnam. "We are very excited to partner with Bitcoin Viet Nam to bring two-way Bitcoin ATMs to Vietnam," said Michael Dupree, Jr. , CEO of EasyBit. "We provide a safe, easy to use, quick, and compliant way to buy and sell bitcoin- giving a low-cost alternative to sending and....
Spectrecoin deliver cryptocurrency anonymity that surpasses Zcash, DASH and Monero.
Spectre will deliver the most up to date privacy centric cryptocurrency that surpasses the anonymity features of Zcash, DASH and Monero. Spectre was launched on 20/11/2016 and is a new concept for total security and anonymity on the blockchain. Spectrecoin was conceived of as the settlement currency for a controversial Android app that will deliver the ability to conduct global anonymous cash transfers. This can happen on a purely P2P basis and no server and no central database or register is needed. We have a custom designed 'zero-knowledge proof protocol' that allows an instance of the....
Everex Launches Chainy On the Ethereum Blockchain
Chainy is an independent Ethereum based smart contract, and its data exists for as long as the blockchain lives. Would you like to engrave something on the Ethereum blockchain for eternity? Information critical to your business, perhaps, or something deeply personal? You can do it right now, with the release of Chainy. Chainy is an independent Ethereum based smart contract, and its data exists for as long as the blockchain lives. It will always be possible to view the data, on this and any future explorer that can access the Ethereum API. All stored proofs and data will be available....
Minecoin Completes First Stage of ICO Ahead of Schedule
MinexSystems, creator of Minecoin cryptocurrency has announced the completion of ICO's first stage much before the scheduled date. MinexSystems has successfully completed the first stage of its ICO, thanks to a commercial bank that acquired rest of the minecoin cryptocurrency. The bank's participation has allowed MinexSystems to complete the ICO ahead of schedule. During the talks between MinexSystems and commercial banks' representatives, which were conducted within the last 2 months (according to the terms of the agreement, MS can not disclose the bank's name before the transaction....

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Ava DuVernay just summed up the big problem with Netflix and the Oscars
Hannah-Rose Yee
Some people are questioning whether the streaming platform should be allowed to compete at the Academy Awards. But this completely misses the point.
Netflix had a great night at the 2019 Oscars.
Roma, the streaming platform's splashy entrant at this year's Academy Awards, picked up three major awards (Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Foreign Language Movie). Filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón's black and white ode to his childhood in Mexico City and how he fell in love with cinema, was probably the runner-up for Best Picture, the biggest prize of the night. Netflix also won an Oscar for Period: End of Sentence, the uplifting short documentary about period poverty in India. Elsewhere, Roma picked up BAFTAs, Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards galore.
Everyone at Netflix was happy with those results, as they should be. The streaming platform has faced an uphill battle over the past few years to get its movies even considered for awards, so to pick up four in a single year is a huge achievement.
A moment from the movie Roma
But not everyone is happy with Netflix. Next month, Oscar-winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg will make a direct appeal to the Academy Awards asking them to rescind Netflix's invitation to compete. According to a spokesperson for Spielberg's production company Amblin Entertainment, which produced the Best Picture winner Green Book, "Steven feels strongly about the difference between the streaming and theatrical situation." In short, Spielberg wants Netflix films in competition at the Emmys and the Emmys alone.
It's all a bit inside baseball, we know. Why should you care whether or not a Netflix movie, or, for that matter, an Amazon or Hulu film, can win an Oscar?
Because the debate around allowing streaming platforms to compete is also a debate around who gets to make cinema and who gets to watch it. And that is something that really matters, especially to women.
Bradley Cooper with Steven Spielberg
Ava DuVernay summed it up best in her Twitter response to the news that Spielberg was going to petition the Academy to stop Netflix from competing for Oscars. The director, who has worked both inside and out of the traditional studio system, has now found a comfortable home at Netflix, who financed her Oscar-nominated documentary 13th and is behind her new four-part miniseries When They See Us based on the Central Park Five rape case.
For DuVernay, Netflix is the platform that prioritises the voices of marginalised filmmakers. It's here that stories for people of colour are told for global audiences and, crucially, made by women, by people of colour, and by voices traditionally excluded from the film industry.
"One of the things I value about Netflix is that it distributes black work far and wide," DuVernay explained. "190 countries will get When They See Us. Here's a promo for South Africa. I've had just one film distributed wide internationally. Not Selma. Not A Wrinkle in Time. It was 13th. By Netflix. That matters."
It does matter. It matters enormously that Netflix sends its original projects to every single account holder in every corner of the globe. It matters enormously that the streaming platform's movies and television shows, many of them featuring diverse casts and crews, are being shown to all and sundry.
It matters that a movie like Roma, told through the eyes of an indigenous Mexican woman entirely in her language, is sent to everyone with a Netflix account to enjoy. It matters that movies and television shows from filmmakers ranging from Cuarón and DuVernay to Shonda Rhimes and the Obamas are coming soon to Netflix.
Netflix themselves have waded into the debate, backing up DuVernay's comments. "We love cinema," they said on Twitter. "Here are some things we also love. Access for people who can't always afford, or live in towns without, theatres. Letting everyone, everywhere enjoy releases at the same time. Giving filmmakers more ways to share art."
There's no way around it: this debate about letting Netflix win Oscars is elitist. It suggests that the only way that 'true' cinema should be experienced is in a theatre, disregarding how expensive going to the movies is. For many people, this just isn't an option.
Ava DuVernay wants Netflix to be eligible to win Oscars
Netflix is trying to dismantle some of the more persistent prejudices in the film industry, both by handing over the production reigns to new voices and by ensuring that their product is given to everyone, at the same time, regardless of their location. That is a very powerful thing.
Netflix released Roma in cinemas and on their streaming platform late last year to near-universal critical acclaim. In this instance, the proof is in the pudding. Whether you saw it in a multiplex surrounded by cinephiles slurping Diet Coke or curled up on your sofa on a Thursday night, the result was the same. You felt the same emotion and awe at the story, you were as moved by it regardless of the location in which you saw it.
That's why it won all those awards, yes, but it's also why it deserves them. Anyone who watched Roma knows that, regardless of whether they saw it in a cinema or at home.
Images: Getty, Netflix
Hannah-Rose Yee is a writer based in London. You can find her on the internet talking about movies, television and Chris Pine.
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Located in Little Tokyo of Los Angeles, the Hello Kitty Convention started off with so much excitement and joy. The evidence was seen on the first day of the four day event.
I had arrived at six in the morning, but did not start lining up until seven. I did not know if people would be lining up hours early, but I wasn't going to take a chance and had planned my day accordingly. It was a good decision made on my part because the line had started to grow long by 8:30 in the morning.
Immediately, you could see a lot of people had come dressed up in kittified or cosplay outfits. It was the fun part of attending a convention. Even if someone didn't dress up and wanted to make the day more special, then they could just buy a Hello Kitty Con shirt. Going to conventions like these are all about creating fond memories to last a lifetime.
They made us wait a little longer before letting us enter the convention. A lot of people made a mad dash into the building. While I was passing by a security guy dressed in a black suit-- standing in the middle of crowds of fans trying to make their way into the convention-- I thought about how he must be feeling at the moment.
What was he thinking when he saw tons of Hello Kitty lovers coming at a "very very fast-paced" (we were forbidden to run) speed towards him. We must look like crazy hyper zombies coming at him full speed on the hunt for Hello Kitty. Not the kitty itself, but all the special exclusive items that was promised and enticed for the last few months.
For the last month, Sanrio teased their fans with so much oomph that it was amazing that we didn't trample the Staff Convention people who got in our way. I am not kidding. I am very serious.
For those who are not fans of Hello Kitty, beware of us on that day. We may look cute, but we can be scary at what we want. The good thing is that Sanrio didn't bring out Hello Kitty, the mascot, to stand in front of the entrance or else, the Convention security team would have had to fight off fans from freaking out over Hello Kitty.
Hey, ya never know... yes, there is a human inside the mascot costume, but on that special day-- all bets are off. Obsession takes over.
On that first day, I went straight for the Vintage Shoppe. I was torn between the retail store and Vintage Shoppe, but I knew vintage was more important to me. From what I read about the Vintage Shoppe, I was expecting retro replicas of the vintage items sold in the 70's and 80's. I did not know that they were actually selling the real vintage stuff like really old school 1976 plushes and stationery. I was impressed and my greedy eyes couldn't stop from staring at all the good stuff. I have never seen so many vintage items all in one place and in person.
It was amazing. Truly amazing! As a vintage collector, you live for this chance to see it live when you've only seen pictures of what vintage pieces look like. Reality hits you that you could be part of that amazing Sanrio history by owning one of these vintage items.
As for myself, I wished that I could buy one of their medium sized Hello Kitty plush in the yellow overall jumpsuit, but I was on a budget. I wasn't able to save enough to buy everything that I wanted. I blame Sanrio Japan for that one. Seriously, too much temptation because I had to buy the newer stuff that is released every Tuesday PST time.
Even though, I did cut back on spending for this convention-- I did buy this gorgeous coin bank below.
My brother kept telling me that everything in the Vintage Shoppe was overpriced, but he and many million others won't EVER understand what vintage means to us, collectors. I could have chosen a plush doll that would have totaled over $100 USD, but this particular coin bank was more important for me to get my grubby hands on.
Once it was paid and in my hands, I felt like I was walking in clouds. Fluffy white clouds swirling around me and disappearing off to the distance as I exited the shop. I was in heaven. I was beyond thrilled with my purchase for the day. I felt like I scored a major wanted item off my wishlist.
Logan just rolled his eyes at me because I couldn't stop smiling.
The rest of my first day went by quickly with a stop by the food courtyard and one of the first panels: "Inspired by Her- Artists and Hello Kitty." The panel discussion spotlighted three talented artists: Paul Frank, Aiko, and Jordan Nickel aka POSE. If anyone is interested, I have a 15 minute footage of that discussion that will later be posted on Youtube sometime this week.
I had missed out on the Guys collector panel at 3pm and wished there was a way to see a clip of it. Another panel that I got to see was on a Friday-- the Super Fans Unite. The panel discussion took place with 4 all-female collectors: Maria Fleischman, Salumeh Eslamieh, Ariel Elizabeth, and Tera Patrick.
Since there was a cameraman in the room with us, I didn't think to record the panel discussion. I regretted it because the very nice cameraman told me that they were recording for a long documentary project that has been going on for four years now. Then, he proceeded to let me know who I can ask about if a video will be posted online for the other unseen panels.
From the few people that I spoke with, I came away disappointed with what I learned. These interesting panels might never see the light of day. I regretted not attending all the panels. I had left early on Thursday afternoon because Logan wanted to leave. We couldn't buy anything more until that Friday.
Friday came smiling down upon us. Logan went off to buy what he wanted to get and I went straight for the retail store upstairs.
Compared to the lucky ones coming out of the Convention with 3 to 5 shopping bags, I was still happy with the items that I have chosen to purchase. I wanted to buy more stuff, but I held myself back and didn't do too much damage to my wallet.
Sigh. My wallet is safe, y'all.
There is one small ittty-bitty thing that I have to mention: the 2014 exclusive Convention Bobblehead. When I first saw it in person, I had to really think hard and long whether I should buy it or not. I wanted to leave the Convention with a good 2014 Souvenir to represent this awesome event for years to come. I chose this Bobblehead over the HK FigurIne holding a red bow in front of her face.
What made me had second thoughts about purchasing this Bobblehead was the fact that it looked too "plasticky" and cheap for the expensive price of $32. Compared to the Three Apples 2009 Bobblehead, this looked cheaply made. Unfortunately, I bought this with sentimental value instead of really loving it. It sure won't be my favorite HK Con Bobblehead for future other Convention bobbleheads to add to my collection.
Out of all the event, the most highlighted part was the Hello Kitty Art exhibit at the Japanese American National Museum (JANM). Without this amazing and talented show of Art exhibit, the Convention wouldn't have been as great as it is this year. It's a must-see creative art exhibit that is well put together.
After my two fun-filled days at Hello Kitty Con, I knew that I want to attend another Hello Kitty Convention again. Even with the long lines, it'll be worth it.
This time, I plan to attend all four days because two days seem to be not enough time to do what I wanted to do with the long lines taking most of my time. Sanrio, haven't you heard of VIP lines with no waiting? Please please have that for your next planned Convention and sign me up for all the VIP lines. I may have tremendous amount of patience, but my feet are still bruised and hurting from all that standing.
Despite all that, I'm ready for the next HK Con. Are you?


In the article titled "Mastering MACRA: How to thrive under new payment models," Internal Medicine News reporter Alicia Gallegos interviewed health care attorney Bo Bobbitt, who is witnessing firsthand the tools leading to success in the new value-based health care payment landscape. The article discusses the key payment provisions for well-performing and poorly performing physicians under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA).
Bo added that joining an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) sooner, rather than later, makes sense on many levels.


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Marketing Week Live 2017 guests achieve artistic Guinness World Records title
By Juliet Dawson
Published 09 March 2017
Hundreds of marketers have left their mark at the Marketing Week Live 2017 event in record-breaking style by setting a new Guinness World Records title for the Most contributions to a colour by numbers.
A grand total of 437 contributions were made to the canvas over the two day event.
The picture, entitled the Garden of Creativity was designed by The Marketoonist Tom Fishburne, a regular contributor to Marketing Week magazine.
But the record setting didn't stop there. Visitors were given an additional opportunity to break a record at the Guinness World Records exhibition stand where they could attempt the record for the Most corporate logos identified in 30 seconds.
A new global best was achieved by delegate Gavin Hudson, pictured above, of start-up company Glint, who correctly identified 42 logos in the specified timeframe.
Hannah Redfern, Event Manager of Marketing Week Live at Centaur Media said: "At our events we like to feel that visitors have not only been inspired and educated, but that they've had fun too. Staging a Guinness World Records title attempt at Marketing Week Live has been great fun and we'd like to thank everybody who contributed to our new status as a Guinness World Records title holder!"
Hosting a Guinness World Records entertainment event could be the perfect publicity stunt or production for your audience or visitors. Read more about our dynamic entertainment programmes on our Business Solutions pages or get in touch today.


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They say you should cut down the number of things you own to 51, to be happy (there are websites on how to reach that number).
What you must do is you must acquire a great number of things, thousands upon thousands, and you need to arrange them all on shelves and set up proper lighting to see them and show them to others. And you should wait for 51 people to tell you: 'Ah, your collection is wonderful. I wish I had one just like it!', and then you should give all your stuff away, divide it equally between the 51 individuals (there are apps that'll help), and when you're down to zero, ask each of the 51 to give you back an object of their choosing, and then drop me a line to let me know if it worked, the happiness thing.


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(-) John Frayn Turner (1)
(-) Roger W Jordan (1)
Fight for the Air
Allied Air Battles in World War II
By John Frayn Turner
This epic air story of World War II is a powerful, poignant cross-section of the global air conflict from the perspective of British and American pilots. The author artfully weaves the historical backdrop with the pilots' accounts of one-on-one dogfights, dangerous bombing missions, and narrow escapes. Whether recounting the dark days of the Battle of Britain or the far-flung operations ...
World's Merchant Fleets, 1939
The Particulars and Wartime Fates of 6,000 Ships
By Roger W. Jordan
At the outbreak of war in 1939 the 6,000-plus merchant ships spread across the world's oceans became pawns in the global conflict that permeated the operations of every shipping line on every continent. This heavily illustrated book presents the details of those ships and describes the fate of those lost between 1939 and 1945.
Divided first by country and then ...


Ben Boyd's Wanderer, painted by Oswald Brierly. From Wanderer Replica Project website.
Today the story of a bunch of people with history and salt water in their veins, people making progress on ambitious plans to build a replica of an 1830's luxury sailing ship.
Scottish-born entrepreneur, Ben Boyd sailed the 25 metre Wanderer into Sydney in July 1842, he soon set sail for Twofold Bay at Eden on the NSW Far South Coast following four steamers crammed with supplies down the coast.
Seeking his fortune, Boyd quickly established a network of pastoral properties spanning a landscape that took in the sea and the snow.
He also took charge of coastal steamship operations linking the region with Sydney, Melbourne, and Tasmania, and was a player in Eden's whaling industry.
Part of his enterprise remains – the impressive Seahorse Inn. Construction started in 1843 using sandstone imported from Sydney and oak fixtures from England.
Boyd's Tower on the southern shores of Twofold Bay is his other legacy. Constructed in 1847 the 23-metre-high lighthouse was intended to guide his fleet of ships home.
A number of challenges, not at least his overly ambitious plans and the financial depression of the time, combined to undo Boyd and he was declared bankrupt in 1848.
He left Eden on the Wanderer to restore his fortunes in the Californian Goldfields, but his treasure chest was never the same.
He was last seen in the Solomon Islands hunting for duck. Creditors came looking, but his body has never been found.
The Wanderer Replica Project was launched in 2014 by a group of locals with a love of Boyd's story and skills in shipbuilding.
Fundraising moves ahead, and so too does the ship building.
I caught up with one of the committee members selling raffle tickets. Jon Gaul says apart from the historical and tourist interest the completed Wanderer will also offer youth training and development programs.
My partners in this program can also help you explore much of this history, Light to Light Camps explore the coastline between Boyd's Tower and Greencape Lighthouse in style – it's kinda like Attenborough meets Kardashian.
Check in with Jenny, Arthur and Jake at Light to Light Camps.
Thanks for tuning in – your feedback and stories ideas are always welcome, flick me an email to [email protected] or we can connect via the About Regional Facebook page.
Carrie Underwood is my favourite country singer. She is young, beautiful and charming female in her 30s. Her strong voice takes me away from all issues of this planet and I can enjoy my life and listen songs created by her mind. Now the singer is on a Cry Pretty 360 Tour started in May of 2019. The concerts scheduled for this year, up to the last day of October. Tickets are available for all men and women with different income. If you are a country music lover as me, then you must visit at least one Carrie's concert. All tour dates are available at the [url=https://carrieunderwoodtour.com]Carrie Underwood tour Salt Lake City[/url]. Open the website and make yourself familiar with all powerful Carrie Underwood concerts in 2019!


I very quickly realized that his problem is not time management, his problem is being busy doing everything else BUT the thing that's most important for a startup company: SALES!!
Recently I talking with an entrepreneur and he was sharing with me a challenge he has with his start-up company.
This guy is in the promotional items business, specializing in a specific niche in the industry (which I love). He is still in the startup phases, so he is obviously doing all the work himself.
Being a one man band, he is facing a challenge that most of us faced or are still facing today: time management.
I asked him to give me a rundown of a typical word day (which starts at 10:30, mistake #1!), he tells me that he is basically busy the whole day streamlining and systemizing the way he would send out quotes and proposals to potential clients.
, he doesn't. He is afraid to go out and do sales, because once he actually gets a sale he might not be able to implement and deliver, and therefore not close all sales.
While I agree that he might lose 10-15% of potential clients because his business is not YET streamlined 100%, but by not doing sales with the excuse that his business is not systemized, he will lose the other 85-90% potential customers that he can close each and every day.
When we started our own business, my partner and I were the whole day on the road knocking on the doors of real estate and management companies, and at night we were busy doing all the paperwork. At that time, it took us to do the paperwork 100 times longer than it takes today. Creating a simple proposal took us more than an hour, today it's done with a press of a button.
Was it easy? Defiantly not, but would we not have done that, we would never had a chance to be in business. As I always say: "You can't lose business if you're not in business".
Another important thing to remember, if you spend a lot of time and money now systemizing your business, you might be setting up the wrong systems. Without having real life experience, it is impossible to know exactly what type of challenges might arise or which challenges you might have down the road that could be solved with a the right system.
Go get your feet wet, and the only thing you should be focusing on is sales, sales and sales!!
Lose 10% but win the other 90%.
Systemize your business based on experience and real facts, rather than hopes, ideas and imagination.


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JK Rowling on Twitter: why the Harry Potter author has been accused of transphobia on social media platforms
Best films on Netflix 2021: 10 highest ranked movies on Netflix, as per Rotten Tomatoes
Arts and CultureBooks
Books to look forward to in 2022 - Stuart Kelly
Venturing deep into the publishers' catalogues for the next 12 months, our intrepid critic Stuart Kelly endeavours to make sense of all the adjectives
By Stuart Kelly
Tuesday, 21st December 2021, 10:27 am
Jenni Fagan PIC: Mihaela Bodlovic
If I am being totally honest, I always have misgivings about writing the "What To Look Out For" column at the end of the year. Reading those in other publications, and having either catalogues or proof copies to hand, I can spot an adjective which has been taken wholesale from the publicity. It seems bad faith, as a reviewer, to be talking about books I haven't actually read. Indeed, I have in the past thought that something looks interesting, only for the book itself to be mince. So I suppose this is really just what caught my eye, what piqued my interest, what seemed unexpected or worthy of a longer look. Think of it as like being in a bookshop: you will see a book, look at the inside cover, flick a few pages, see who is puffing it, and sometimes you will stumble across a gem you had no idea existed. Of course, one can go on past form – but that is no guarantee. So, caveat emptor.
It is possible to discern trends. Publishers are scampering to get on-trend titles, whether that is #MeToo, #BlackLivesMatter, #ExtinctionRebellion or analyses of the impact of Covid, Trump and so on. There are certainly plenty to choose from. One title that snagged me straight away was "On Consolation: Finding Solace In Dark Times" by Michael Ignatieff, the former Canadian politician, Booker shortlisted novelist and, fun fact, author of a play about David Hume and James Boswell. It certainly has a zeitgeisty feel.
Polygon started a new historical fiction series last year with Denise Mina's Rizzio, and it expands next year with two authors who always interest me: Jenni Fagan has Hex, and Alan Warner Nothing Left To Fear From Hell. These are smart commissions – the authors have form, and if the going is good they deserve to romp home. In terms of other "big names", we have Booker winner Douglas Stuart with Young Mungo. I was tepid about Shuggie Bain, though many people I admire raved about it. I would say that the blurb about it giving "full voice to people rarely acknowledged in literary fiction" (it's a gay love story between a Protestant and a Catholic in Glasgow) made me wince somewhat. The publicist maybe has overlooked James Kelman, Luke Sutherland, Agnes Owen, Toni Davidson, Janice Galloway and so on.
Alan Warner PIC: Jayne Wright
In terms of those with good track records I will certainly read the new Emily St John Mandel, Sea Of Tranquility; I am delighted that Steve Toltz, one of the funniest writers I have read, is back with Here Goes Nothing and am looking forward to Jan Carson's The Rapture. Likewise, A Time Outside This Time by Amitava Kumar looks intriguing, and I say that as someone who usually takes a swerve away from books about fictional writers, as does the poet Honorée Fanonne Jeffers' The Love Songs of WE Du Bois and Eloghosa Osunde's VAGABONDS! If I get a cold, it is reassuring to know that Sophie Hannah, one of the best crime writers currently working and the sacristan to the Agatha Christie franchise has a new psychological thriller, The Couple At The Table. Sally Hinchliffe's Hare House, a piece of rural gothic, also looks worth taking a punt on.
As for non-fiction, it's rather more difficult. If you are interested in Vikings there will no doubt be a book about Vikings; if you want books on yogic parenting, then you can probably take your pick. Since I, obviously, like books then I will probably seek out Silvia Ferrara's The Greatest Invention on writing, Graham Caveney's On Agoraphobia (on books as the best way to not go out) and definitely Geoffrey Roberts' Stalin's Library. By a coincidence there is another book, Playing With Fire by Elizabeth Wilson on Stalin's favourite pianist. My former colleague, Chitra Ramaswamy, has a new work, Homelands: The History Of A Friendship about her relationship with a refugee from Nazi Germany. I will read it not just from loyalty but because she is a damn good writer. Likewise, Amy Liptrot has another meditative book on nature, dislocation and memory with The Instant.
If there is one book which I would deem essential reading, it is probably Chinny Ukata and Astrid Madimba's It's A Continent, with essays on the specific nature of every country in Africa. The minute I saw the synopsis I realised, with more than a little shame, that I knew very little about Chad or Burkina Faso or Guinea-Bissau. This shall be rectified. I am also very curious indeed about a new Penguin Classics title, Tété-Michel Kpomassie's 1977 Michel The Giant: An African In Greenland, about travelling from Togo to the far north.
One very advance heads-up: Ali Millar has a personal book, The Last Days about growing up as a Jehovah's Witness in the Scottish Borders. I think it might be, pun intended, revelatory.
Douglas Stuart PIC: Martyn Pickersgill
Reading the hype is tiring. Logically speaking, when you're read a dozen claims to this being "the best debut of 2022", all I can say is 11 of you might be wrong. Who will win the Booker? Dunno. What will be the "word of mouth phenomenon"? No idea. How many good books will disappear like snaw aff a dyke? Indubitably about 80 per cent. But reading is your own adventure. My best wishes for your reading in the coming year. We may be doing a lot of it.
If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription at https://www.scotsman.com/subscriptions
Emily St John Mandel PIC: Sarah Shatz


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Inventing the Future of Retailing
by Stacey Soble | April 24, 2019 | Bookmark +
The beauty industry is facing the complete reinvention of retail, a phenomenon driven as much by changing habits as by technology. But not all salons have grasped the enormity of the challenges they face. According to one retail trends expert flying in for the International SalonSpa Business Network (ISBN) conference in May, the only winners of the transformation will be those who actively turn the disruptions to their benefit.
"We are looking at a reinvention of the future of retail," says Cate Trotter, head of trends at Insider Trends, a London-based retail futures agency with a global reach, who will be addressing the ISBN conference, being held this year in Florida, on May 6. "Salons must take a multi-faceted approach to retailing to reach customers across multiple channels, and to keep the messaging going between salon visits."
Trotter will bring to the ISBN conference more than a decade of experience watching trends and advising business leaders, including the CEO of Unilever, the general manager of L'Oréal France, Mega Image's CEO and the board of Hugo Boss.
"Owners and executives must be alert to the opportunities and must watch innovations in other industries that could provide similar successes in beauty," adds Trotter, who has been ranked by retail management software specialist Vend as the world's 26th most influential professional in retail. "One of the greatest frustrations for owners and managers is the inability of their service providers to be consistent with their retail efforts, so owners need to find ways to sell direct, such as in-salon messaging and use of the various media channels such as Instagram and You Tube."
She will be sharing best-in-class innovations from a range of international companies from within and without beauty, to inspire ISBN members to embrace a vertically integrated approach to retail and communication. One such example is Dr Martens Shoes, which has employed a low-tech approach in its stores with postcards dotted around explaining the products and the company's heritage.
"Done in a fun and interesting way, they provide information to the customer without ever forcing customers to interact with the sales assistants," says Trotter. "This sort of approach could reduce a salon's reliance on the service provider to be the main driver of retail."
Another example is the cool London label MatchesFashion, which has smaller 'uniquely curated fashion destinations' featuring an 'edit' of its 400 designers. Instead of taking on a huge, expensive venue, the brand has smaller units that specialize in personalized shopping. These spaces feature heavily in Match's multi-channel program as the backdrop to its films and pictures.
"It puts the retail space at the heart of its branding, creating warm, fuzzy environments that customers know and love without ever going there," says Trotter. "And when they do, they feel at home."
Cate is speaking at 2:30pm on Monday, May 6th and she will be livestreamed as well as broadcast live on the ISBN Facebook page. https://salonspanetwork.org/isbn-live-2019/
ISBN's 2019 conference will take place at the gorgeous Hyatt Regency Coconut Point, Bonita Springs, FL, on May 5-7 and is open to senior leaders of multi-location businesses. The hotel is famed as a retreat where guests can watch dolphins at the beach on a private island, play golf on its stunning green or connect with colleagues in contemporary meeting spaces. The conference opens up with its traditional golf tournament or the option to take a Catamaran Cruise along Naples to meet fellow delegates at the conference.
CLICK HERE to learn more and to register for or sponsor the conference.
Cate Trotter
industry disruptions
International SalonSpa Business Network
marketing/promotions