text:
A Leader in Wearable Tracking Devices Looks to the Future
After Providing PPE During the Pandemic, GTX Corp is Getting Back to Business in a Strong Financial Position
GTX Corp (OTC: GTXO) has been a leading innovator in wearable GPS and asset tracking for over 15 years. Through recent advances in technology, patents and proprietary technology, GTXO is positioned to be a leader in several segments (elderly care, dementia, Autism, shipping, asset management, etc.) of the sizable and quickly growing Wearable and Track & Trace markets. In 2020, the company was able to expand its customer base by over 1,500 customers by becoming a "go to" partner for these customers for essential Personal Protective Equipment ("PPE") products and rapid antibody/antigen test kits. Many of these customers represent key segments of the wearables market that is GTXO's core business. In addition to direct sales, GTX Corp owns and licenses a portfolio of patents (which have generated over $1 million in revenue to date) in the GPS and wearable technology space and are a GSA-approved military and government supplier.
2020 Highlight – When the going gets tough …
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Revenue increase by over 20% (excluding one-time gain of $650,000 in 2019)
Market cap increased by over 140%
Stock price appreciated over 50%*
Debt reduced by 35%
Increased Customer base by over 1,500
Granted 4th patent for Wearable Technology
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Q1 2021 – Just getting started.
First Quarter Revenue increased by over 138% compared to Q1 2020
Market cap in Q1 increased by over 300% (12/31/20-3/31/21)
Stock price appreciated over 150%* (12/31/20-3/31/21)
Debt reduced by 18% in Q1 2021
Expanded Health and Safety Wearable Technology product line to include direct to consumer hearing products.
Reasons to Watch GTX Corp in 2021
Good Financial Position – GTX was able to reduce the debt on their balance sheet by 35% in 2020. In 2020 they were able to increase product revenue by 109%, ecommerce sales by 875%, and increase B2B and government customers by 46%. Despite a challenging year, they were also able to decrease expenses and operational loss by 22% and 435%, respectively. Q1 2021 saw a 445% increase in product revenue, and a total revenue increase of 138%. GTX Corp continued its debt reduction by eliminating another $165,000 in debt, which at the end of the quarter left approximately $1,800 in variable priced convertible debt.
Good Shareholder Position – GTX was able to increase their shareholder base by over 60% in Q1 2021. Shareholder equity was also increased by over 15% and the stock gained over 150%3 in the quarter.
Patented Technologies – In the Q3 of 2020, GTX was granted their fourth patent in the wearable technology space. As the global wearable medical device market is expected to reach $9.4 billion by 2022, GTX Corp is well positioned both in direct to consumer and licensing to capitalize on opportunities with their current IP in this market. The company also began testing and the certification process for its CAT M1 LTE SmartSoles in North America, Europe, and Australia with their cellular partners Verizon, Orange, and Telefonica.
Future Opportunities – GTX recently announced new partnership's with TulsaLabs and InnerScope that expands their opportunities in Track & Trace for freight and shipping as well as Health and Safety Wearable Technology respectively. They are also ramping up sales (over 200 pre-orders) for their 4G SmartSole devices. Finally, selling PPE continues to be a profitable business that is expanding their customer base.
Experienced Leadership – The GTX management team has proven successful in all their respective areas, and we are doubly impressed with how they handled the pandemic. It takes a stalwart hand to guide a company through the process of building out an entirely new business venture, and the fact that they were able to navigate 2020 while reducing debt is something to take note of.
Making Lemonade Out of Pandemic Lemons
GTX Corp is a pioneer in wearable GPS tracking devices, and we will get to that. But first we have to address how GTX handled the pandemic, because frankly, few other companies were able to roll with the punches and come out on top the way they did.
During the shelter in place orders, many businesses had to shutter or otherwise hunker down and wait for things to get back to normal(ish). GTX took a different path. Before even realizing there was going to be a significant need for face masks and other PPE, GTX decided to pivot. In no time at all, during full lockdown, they established supply, sales, and distribution for PPE and other personal medical necessities. As the pandemic stretched on, the need for rapid antibody/antigen testing became evident, so GTX began providing those as well.
From a GTX press regarding their achievement during these uncertain times;
…(we were able) to build out our PPE business, sold and donated hundreds of thousands of PPE items to a wide range of entities such as essential businesses, assisted living facilities, pharmacies, Fortune 1,000 companies, hospitals, police departments, nonprofits, and local, state, and federal government agencies, and consumers in every State across the U.S. We launched a dedicated website – www.gtxmask.com, which within weeks, saw over a 500% increase in website traffic, and 300% increase in consumer orders, with 40% repeat orders. As a result, GTX is now well positioned as a trusted health & safety supplier for providing a wide variety of high-quality products and reliable customer service, which is contributing to an increase in our brand awareness and product demand.
That old saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." is an oft repeated phrase when things are not going your way. Rarely though, do we get to see someone embody it quite the way GTX has been able to, and we're definitely on board with a company that makes this much lemonade.
GTX Corp's Bread and Butter
GTX is, at its core, a wearable technology company. Their flagship product, the GPS SmartSole®, is a revolutionary tracking and monitoring device embedded in the sole of a shoe. This device is used to keep tabs on individuals with Alzheimer's, Autism, brain injuries, and really anyone who's whereabouts needs to be monitored. GTX utilizes the latest in miniaturized, low power consumption GPS, Cellular, RF, NFC and BLE technology to ensure real-time location monitoring, and they are constantly innovating.
On the horizon is the launch of their updated, 4G SmartSoles. Preorder numbers indicate that, although they still are not quite back to pre-pandemic sales, the new devices will ramp up subscription revenues significantly.
GTX Founder and CEO Patrick Bertagna is hopeful, "As we look over the horizon into 2021, we are cautiously optimistic, seeing encouraging signs, hearing from many customers that they are almost fully operational, but the situation remains fluid. One thing is for certain, there is a big desire for innovation and new solutions in the wearable technology healthcare industry post pandemic era."
GTX Corp to Collaborate with TulsaLabs to Develop Blockchain Authentication and Security for its NFC Supply Chain Tracking Solutions
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GTX Corp (OTC: GTXO) ("GTX" or the "Company"), a pioneer in the field of wearable GPS human and asset tracking systems and a supplier of Health and Safety medical supplies and devices, announces collaboration with TulsaLabs, a division of AppSwarm, Corp. (OTC: SWRM), to develop blockchain solutions around GTX Corp's Near Field Communication (NFC) technology and GPS human and asset tracking platform.
GTX Corp previously utilized a third-party blockchain provider, which unfortunately is no longer in business, so will now begin working with TulsaLabs to develop and vertically integrate blockchain technology into its track and trace solutions which will become more robust while increasing transparency, security, compliance, provenance, and automated administrative operations using smart contracts.
Where supply chain management has become hyper important in our post pandemic recovery, making sure perishable foods, beverages and pharmaceuticals such as vaccines which require, authentication, chain of custody, temperature control and transparent visibility throughout the supply chain will be managed seamlessly and securely by combining NFC and blockchain technology," stated Patrick Bertagna GTX Corp CEO.
GTX Corp's NFC Veritap solution provides real-time temperature sensing and data logging across the supply chain necessary with transportation of perishables; food, drinks, pharmaceuticals, and other temperature sensitive products that can be negatively affected by conditions in transit. These built-in security measures can prevent the distribution of contaminated supplies in the marketplace and unauthorized modification of data logs.
By accessing data from an API off current blockchain protocols, or private Hyperledger networks, GTX will be able to provide a secure and safe contactless connection of data about product origin, authentication, and certifications, throughout the entire transportation process. Thus, empowering brands, retailers, distributors, and freight forwarders to verify shipment quality and authentication.
GTX also distributes an extensive line of wearable technology and Personal Protective Equipment, owns and licenses a portfolio of patents in the GPS and wearable technology space, and is a GSA-approved military and government supplier. The Company's products are available at its online store, Amazon, and global distribution partners.
Serving Individuals, Communities, and the World
A For Profit For Purpose Company
GTX's motto is "With You". Fitting for a wearable GPS company that has products for everyone from Dementia patients to pets. They are, literally, with their customers and have proven through the pandemic that they will continue to be with us no matter how dramatically the world changes. In 2020 they were right there with us, providing much-needed masks and tests to keep us safe. Although no one can predict the future, you can be sure that GTX Corp will be "With You" developing and sourcing products to help us all prosper.
Patrick Bertagna
Founder, CEO and Chairman
Patrick Bertagna is a serial entrepreneur, inventor and thought leader in the wearable technology and IoMT industry with 35+ years in creating, building, and selling technology and consumer product companies. Since 2002, Mr. Bertagna has been the founder, Chairman and CEO of GTX Corp, a pioneer in the wearable technology and IoMT industry, and the inventor of over a dozen and co-inventor of over 2 dozen GPS, footwear technology and communication protocol patents currently held in the GTX IP portfolio. Mr. Bertagna has been responsible for overseeing all aspects of GTX Corp from its startup vision to product commercialization, funding to go to market strategies, distribution, M&A, military contract negotiations, IP licensing and taking the Company public in 2008 adding corporate governance of a public entity to his responsibilities.
Louis Rosenbaum
Director, Vice President, Operations & Finance
Louis Rosenbaum is currently the Chief Operating Officer of GTX Corp. Mr. Rosenbaum started full time with GTX Corp six years ago as the Vice President of Operations & Finance. Mr. Rosenbaum was promoted to COO in October 2019. His current responsibilities include overseeing the financial aspects of the company including accounting, bookkeeping, all digital financial transactions, and working with the CFO. In addition, Mr. Rosenbaum manages Human Resources, Supply Chain Management, and Corporate Governance along with interfacing with all government contracts, registration and billing with the Navy, U.S. Senate, Army, U.S.D.A., Veterans Administration, U.S. Air Force along with other government agencies GTX supports. Mr. Rosenbaum also serves on the Audit Committee and is a Director on the Board. Mr. Rosenbaum works in tandem with the CEO, and consults on daily operations and all phases of planning for the future. Mr. Rosenbaum is a co-founder of Global Trek Xploration and was an initial investor in the company in 2002. Prior to joining GTX, Mr. Rosenbaum successfully started companies in multiple industries (Wearing Apparel, Environmental Services, music industry) achieving annual revenues in the multi million dollars. Mr. Rosenbaum was President of Elements, a women's wearing apparel company that was showcased in Macy's, Nordstrom's, and Neiman Marcus. As President of Advanced Environmental Services, Mr. Rosenbaum managed projects that included waste disposal of hazardous & nonhazardous soils for The Gap Headquarters, the San Francisco land tower of the Bay Bridge, the renovation of the San Francisco International Terminal, Bechtel San Francisco Headquarters and Moscone III Convention Center. Mr. Rosenbaum is a true community leader and has served in multiple civic capacities. Mr. Rosenbaum was the treasure of the Stinson Beach Pre-School (1982-1985) was the co-coordinator for the Stinson BeachVillage Association (1985-1990) an elected member of the Stinson Beach Water District (1990-1994), sat on the Presidio Restoration Board (1997-2000), was a block captain for the Mill Valley Neighborhood Response Team (2004 – 2014), is currently a block captain for the Valley Emergency Response Group (2020 -present) and is the treasurer of the San Geronimo Valley Affordable Housing Association (2020-present) Mr. Rosenbaum raised six children and has four grandchildren.
Andrew Duncan
Director, Secretary, President of Business Development
Andrew Duncan has been working in the consumer electronics, mobile, media content streaming and technology licensing business for over 25 years; living and working in various countries in Europe as well as the U.S. where he currently resides. He has gained extensive experience in all aspects of business development, marketing, IP licensing and digital content distribution. In 2000 he founded Global TechLink, a technology consultancy company, specializing in licensing, business development and management on a local and global basis, including OTT, Digital Streaming and Content, Mobile, LBS and Consumer Electronics. Mr. Duncan currently runs Global TechLink as well as MAGLA Entertainment, a successful Content Distribution company established in 2016 to deliver Movies and TV content to the major Chinese Media companies like China Mobile and Shanghai Media Group. He also serves on the board of GTX Corp, a public company and leader in wearable technology, where he also heads up business development and I.P. management worldwide.
From 2007 to 2010 he was the founder and CEO of ClearPlay International, based in London and Paris where he raised $4 Million and signed worldwide contracts with companies like LG and Samsung for consumer electronics products and other VOD deals for the Middle East market. From 1994 to 2001, Mr. Duncan worked as Vice President Consumer Electronics for Gemstar TV Guide International (now called Rovi). His responsibilities included product development, business management, licensing and marketing a portfolio of multimedia licensed features including the highly successful VCRPlus+ and Electronic Program Guide – TVGuidePlus+. Both technologies are highly successful standards within the home Entertainment industry that still bring in many hundreds of millions of dollars in annual licensing revenue. He worked directly for Mr. Henry Yuen (President and CEO of Gemstar) having been invited by him to join the company from Thomson Multimedia (now Technicolor). Mr. Duncan lived and worked for TMM from1987 to1994 in Germany, France and his native U.K. in various Pan –European marketing and global product development roles. He has a deep experience of business relations and markets in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Mr. Duncan earned his honors degree in Chemistry from Nottingham University and postgraduate qualifications in Marketing and Direct Marketing from London University (Kings College) and UCLA Anderson School of Business in Los Angeles. He has been awarded a number of patents; recently two in the area of wearable GPS and BLE based tracking devices embedded in footwear.
Alex G. McKean
Alex McKean was appointed as our Chief Financial Officer in 2015, previously he was our Interim Chief Financial Officer since October 2011. He is also the Chief Financial Officer of Encore Brands, Inc., a position he has held since October 2009. Previous to that, he acted as an independent management consultant under his own firm, SGT Enterprises, Inc., as well as an independent contractor with various firms. Before establishing his own firm, during 2004-2007, Mr. McKean was with Parson Consulting working in strategy, financial modeling, SEC filings, process management, and Sarbanes Oxley, for companies such as: Citibank, Arvin Meritor, Ecolab, Key Energy and Allied Building Products, to name a few. Mr. McKean has held positions as a Controller and VP of Finance at 24:7 Film from 2002-2004, VP of Finance at InternetStudios.com from 2000-2002, Director of FP&A/SVP at Franchise Mortgage Acceptance Company from 1998-2000, as Corporate Accounting Manager/Treasurer of Polygram Filmed Entertainment from 1996-1998 and Assistant Treasurer/Controller for State Street Bank from 1989-1996. Mr. McKean holds an International MBA from Thunderbird's School of Global Management and undergraduate degrees in Business and Political Science and minors in International Affairs and Asian History from Trinity University.
GTX Signs Distribution Agreement for New Pathogen Control Technology
GTX Corp Reports First Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Corporate Summary Update
New GPS SmartSole Begins Testing and Certification Across Europe and North America
InnerScope Hearing Technologies (OTC: INND) Signs Joint Collaboration & Reseller Agreement with GTX Corp (OTC: GTXO)
GTX Corp in Partnership with KGH Receives Multiple Government Agency Orders for PPE
*GTXO 0.0299 -0.0013 -4.20% : GTX Corp – Yahoo Finance
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Name of Issuer & Ticker Symbol - GTX (GTXO)
Amount & Form of Compensation - $70,000 in Common Stock
Who Paid for the Campaign & Position with Company if any - GTX (GTXO)
Period of Campaign - 4/1/2021 - 12/31/2021
What securities of the Profiled Issuers do we hold? The positions we hold of the Profiled Issuer are set forth below. We plan to sell these securities during the Campaign.
Number of Shares We or our Affiliates Hold - 3,500,000
Price We Paid Per Share - $0
Date Issued - 4/12/2021
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A follow-up to my last post. I mentioned the situation of my son's flag football team to a friend who's a journalist. He offered to get in touch with a friend of his at DNAinfo.com, a site that specializes in local news. A couple of days later, a DNAinfo reporter phoned us, did a phone interview, and then, a couple of days after that, came to take a photo of my son and me. Here's the article that resulted from that.
The next evening, we got a call from a reporter at the New York Daily News, who had read the DNAinfo article. He spoke to me, my partner, and our son. The next day, this article came out. A couple of days after that, a friend emailed me telling me that Keith Olbermann had mentioned the issue on his program on ESPN (here it is).
The upshot of all this was that the league changed the team name to the Bears (ironically, just that past week, Mike Ditka had come out defending Dan Snyder and the use of the team's name). Not only were we thrilled that we wouldn't have to cringe while cheering on our son, we were also delighted that we could use this as an example of protest actually having material effects.
Then this morning, this arrived.
It's hard to overstate how moved I was by this. The letter was eloquent and beautifully written, acknowledging the importance of political protest even on the small scale of youth flag football. In many political movements, it's difficult to see any immediate result. I was involved in the movement against apartheid in South Africa in the mid-1980s, but to be honest, I couldn't imagine the end of white supremacy, the release of Nelson Mandela from prison, and his election as President shortly thereafter. Similarly, it took years of activism to change the cultural violence of AIDSphobia, not to mention the development of meaningful treatment. The recent dust-up over Steven Salaita's de-hiring at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has spurred a cascade of petitions, letters whose signatories have vowed not to engage with UIUC in any way. But we're more than three weeks into this situation and all the UIUC administration has done is reaffirm and rationalize the original decision.
Activism requires a fractious and fragile balance between hope and resignation, imagination and pragmatism. We must believe that, in the words of the organizers of the World Social Forum, "another world is possible." But that world seems so far away, so difficult to attain, that we also have to face facts, recognize that the people who are most benefiting from our work more often than not are opposed to our tactics, that direct action does not usually immediately result in social change.
So, this letter from indigenous people welcoming my son into the community I've long been a part of, a community organized around the struggle for justice for all, feels momentous to me. It reinforces my instinct that more than coalitions (a buzzword of the late 1980s and early 1990s), we need alliances, collaborations, interactions. And that ultimately the arc of history can bend — slowly, slowly — towards justice.


text:
Now Trump Is Feuding With Chief Justice Roberts
Cody Fenwick
Reprinted with permission from AlterNet.
President Donald Trump lashed out at the chief justice of the United States Wednesday in a move unprecedented in modern times after John Robert publicly criticized the president's notion that judges are inherently partisan.
"Sorry Chief Justice John Roberts, but you do indeed have 'Obama judges,' and they have a much different point of view than the people who are charged with the safety of our country," Trump wrote in a tweet.
He continued: "It would be great if the 9th Circuit was indeed an 'independent judiciary,' but if it is why…… ….are so many opposing view (on Border and Safety) cases filed there, and why are a vast number of those cases overturned. Please study the numbers, they are shocking. We need protection and security – these rulings are making our country unsafe! Very dangerous and unwise!"
There is, of course, absolutely no reason to think the 9th Circuit is making the country less safe, whereas Trump's own policies have cruelly traumatized thousands of children.
His outburst came in response to Roberts' defense of the independent judiciary to the Associated Press.
It was absurd on its face for Trump to suggest he is more informed about the federal judiciary than the chief justice. And as many pointed out, there's little surprise that Trump's orders — which so often clearly violate establish law — are overturned in court.
"It could be that there are so many 'border' cases filed in the 9th Circuit because the 9th Circuit contains California and Arizona — two of the four states in the country that share a "border" with Mexico," observed former Obama White House lawyer Daniel Jacobson.
Former Deputy Secretary of Labor Chris Lu pointed out: "As Trump assails 'Obama judges,' he doesn't seem to realize that he lost three times last week in cases decided by 'Trump judges.' Even his own handpicked conservative judges think his positions are unsupported."
Cody Fenwick is a reporter and editor. Follow him on Twitter @codytfenwick.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Anyone storing raw LiDAR data in SDE?
Pretty sure that most wouldn't store massive LiDAR data into SDE, especially, in production.
In fact, managing LiDAR is very much similar to any raster imagery and terrain data (DEM), which are usually managed in FGDB via Mosaic Dataset model, even though you can still use enterprise GDB.
LiDAR data is a pointcloud, from which you can derive raster data. LiDAR data is normally provided as LAS files. You do not want to store the point clouds in your SDE database. In ArcGIS you work with LAS data using LAS datasets.
In some cases, users may still want to store LAS datasets in SDE, even though this approach is not common, especially, in research projects.
For example, after importing from LAS files, the low-level security of LAS datasets can still be managed via SDE, just like Mosaic Datasets, even though not common.
On LAS datasets imported from LAS files, there are some disadvantages. For example, ArcGIS couldn't do any helps diectly for LAS data files. In other word, the high quality of LAS data files are required, before loading into LAS datasets.


text:
Florida virtual fiasco
Charlotte Mansur|October 2, 2019
photo by Amy Hinnant
Freshman Lola Navarro works on her online Spanish course. Recent changes in the FLVS virtual system have caused uncertainty for the long-term future of the program.
Virtual school is every student's dream. No homework, work at your own pace and you can do it all in your pajamas. What more could an overwhelmed high school student ask for? However, love is not enough to keep the Florida Virtual School running smoothly.
This past spring, the people who run FLVS, or the independent board, were all fired or demoted due to allegations of mismanagement of funds and contracts. One scenario including the former general counsel Frank Kruppenbacher giving funds to his son in law. Gov. Ron Desantis called for an audit of the entire corporation. The whole thing is shady, but that is not even the worst part. The board was replaced with four politicians, none of whom have any experience in the education system.
You can not manage something if you do not know what it is. It is like if someone gave you a bunch of sentences in French, Hungarian and Italian and told you to sort them by language. If you do not speak any of those languages you are just moving things around blindly with no idea of what you are doing. Sam Verghese, the new chief operations officer, for example, was previously the Secretary of Elder Affairs for the state. So obviously, the next step would be to go into education. That is completely jumping from one demographic to another.
The Florida Virtual classes have a few inconsistencies as well. There are multiple loopholes in the system that make it easy for students to cheat on their classes. As nice as it is to have a flexible class schedule, it makes it easy for people to ignore their classes until the last minute. This is very different from Seminole Virtual that requires a call at the end of every module, or lesson, to insure you are understanding the material. SCVS has the advantage of being run locally, so they are able to manage their resources in a more effective way. They send out SCVS employees to each virtual lab to make sure every student enrolled in their program is staying on pace. FLVS does not have the resources or staff to do so.
Education is political enough as it is. A student's schooling should not be swayed by policies or vote counts. People think that because they attended school they know enough to lead them, and that is just not true. There should be at least someone on that board that understands curriculum or even kids in general. The board now reports directly to the state education commissioner, Richard Corcoran, who has expressed in an interview with the Orlando Sentinel that they hired candidates who could bring management and strong ethical leadership.
Strong ethical leadership may be a bit of a stretch. Especially since the new chief administrative officer Erik Braun was recently reprimanded at his previous job in the Department of Children and Families for failing to report his DUI to his supervisors, which was required of his position. It makes you question his reliability as a leader. Do we really want a man who lies about his criminal record to manage a school that receives $180 million dollars a year? This man is no more qualified than the "criminals" he replaced.
If you want an easy A, Florida Virtual is the way to go, but if you value your education, consider taking a different route.
Charlotte Mansur, Online Editor
Charlotte Mansur is a senior at Hagerty High school and this is her third year on staff. She enjoys entertaining people through her writing and dishing the tea. She hopes for a successful year in newspaper, and for the staff to earn a SNO distinguished site badge.
High schooler meets world
A wonderful failure
A degree of evil
A Soulful Experience
Charcasm: Facebook
The fashion monopoly: the hardest game to beat


Domestic Violence (DV) is a crime problem for law enforcement that involves a high volume of calls, repeated calls to the same location, consumes large amounts of time and often results in injuries or death. In High Point, DV disturbance calls are consistently the number one call for service averaging more than 5,000 a year. The most tragic result of DV is of course homicide. Since 2004 there have been 16 domestic related homicides in High Point, including 3 cases of murder / suicide where the suspect killed his partner and then turned the gun on himself. Traditional efforts to control the most violent offenders and reduce the harms to victims have not been effective. Despite the department's pro-arrest policy, aggressive prosecution, and the existence of domestic 50B protection orders the situation persists year after year. It is time for an innovative approach to the problem of controlling the domestic violence offender.
When members of the High Point Police Department's executive staff met with Professor David M. Kennedy he posed the question, "Are these domestic violence offenders resisting our best efforts?" The overwhelming answer was no. So what would our bests efforts look like? Kennedy, the Director of the Center for Crime Prevention and Control at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, believes the focused deterrence approach proven effective at controlling gang, gun and drug related violence in High Point could be the answer. Kennedy suggests that not enough attention has been paid to controlling the offender. Traditional approaches have been victim-focused with heavy emphasis on helping the victim avoid patterns of abuse, disengage from abusers and physically removing themselves from abusive settings. What if in addition to providing services for the victim we used very focused formal and informal sanctions against the offender? Can the domestic violence offender be held accountable with real predictable consequences? These are the questions the partnership in High Point has set out to answer.
The executive staff of the High Point Police Department has formed a partnership with researchers, practitioners, prosecutors and community; to develop, implement and evaluate a focused deterrence initiative targeted at the chronic domestic violence offender. Despite the widespread belief that DV is different from other types of violence and is evenly spread across society, research shows it is not. Our analysis of 10 years of arrest data tells us the repeat DV offender in High Point has a lengthy criminal history beyond domestic assaults. In fact, their criminal histories were similar to the gang and drug offenders notified by the Violent Crime Task Force. The DV offenders studied averaged 10 arrests, assaults were the predominant charge but all included assaults other than for DV and 93% were unemployed. Since these offenders have rich criminal histories and are known to the criminal justice system they can be identified based on past behavior. Once selected an "A" list (the most violent) can be targeted for prosecution and used as examples to the "B" list (those targeted for intervention). During a face-to-face intervention / notification, police, prosecutors and community can lay out the levers that will be pulled for future acts of DV. Intense tracking and follow through with the victims and the offenders will be necessary to measure impact.
This will be the first time any city attempts to apply Professor Kennedy's deterrence strategies to the problem of domestic violence. It is our hope that High Point can once again be a national model for law enforcement and communities in the way DV is reduced.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The magazine is now recalling 125,000 copies of the wrong issue and rushing to print and publish its Donald Trump commemorative edition.
Newsweek magazine had egg on its face on Wednesday after some 125,000 copies of its latest issue – headlined "Madame President" – were distributed to retailers.
Newsweek followed good journalistic practice in preparing two post-election issues – each proclaiming the election of a different president. Where it went wrong was in printing the Hillary Clinton version and allowing it to be widley distributed.
The magazines, which carried the cover line "Hillary Clinton's historic journey to the White House," have new been recalled, according to the New York Post.
At the same time, the publisher is rushing to produce the Trump commemorative edition, which is unlikely to be available before next week.
"Like everybody else, we got it wrong," said Tony Romando, CEO of Topix Media, the Newsweek partner which produces special issues of the magazine.
Believing that Clinton was going to win the election, Topix shipped only the Clinton issue to stores. Retailers were told not to put the magazine on sale prior to the election, but a handful did.
For those with long memories, the Newsweek farce was reminiscent of the Chicago Daily Tribune's famous headline "Dewey Defeats Truman" after the 1948 U.S. presidential election.
As it turned out, Harry Truman beat his Republican challenger, Thomas Dewey. A smiling Truman was photographed with a copy of the newspaper that had once referred to him as a "nincompoop."


text:
Mitra papalis, common name the Papal/Pontifical Mitre, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Mitridae, the miters.

Distribution
This marine species is present in India and in the western Indo-Pacific (China, Xisha Islands, Taiwan, Philippines, New Guinea, Fiji, New Caledonia and Guam).

Habitat
These sea snails live on coral reefs and under rocks, from the intertidal zone to a depth of about 30 m.
Rarely, specimens are known from tangle nets at around 600 ft. depth.

Description
Shells of Mitra papalis can reach a length of about . The form of these large shells is similar to a Papal mitre (hence the common name). They are elongate to ovate, fusiform and smooth but without axial streaks on the surface. Sutural coronations are present. The aperture is moderately wide, smooth within. The shell surface is white, with small white nodules under sutures and with several rows of irregular bright red-orange or purplish blotches.

This species is quite similar to Mitra stictica, but its body form is longer, with more adpressed sutures and wider nodules.

References

Bibliography
 Alan G. Hinton - Guide to Shells of Papua New Guinea
 Alan G. Hinton - Shells of New Guinea & Central Pacific
 Arianna Fulvo and Roberto Nistri (2005). 350 coquillages du monde entier. Delachaux et Niestlé (Paris) : 256 p. ()
 Cernohorsky W.O. (1976). The Mitridae of the World. Part I. The subfamily Mitrinae. Indo-Pacific Mollusca. 3(17): 273-528
 F. Springsteen and F. M. Leobrera - Shells of the Philippines

Mitridae
Gastropods described in 1758
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Dr. Kumar Ganapathy graduated with a B.Tech. degree in Electrical Engineering from IIT Madras in 1987, receiving the Siemens Gold Medal. He went on to complete an M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1989, then a Ph.D. in the area of computing architectures for Digital Signal Processing from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1994. By 2013, he had co-founded two successful start-ups (VxTel and Virident), which were both acquired for a combined net worth of over $1.2 billion. Dr. Ganapathy has over fifty patents along with twelve research articles. He is a recipient of IITM's Distinguished Alumnus Award for the year 2016.
What made you choose Electrical Engineering as your major at IITM?
Electrical Engineering department is one of the prestigious departments at IITM where my uncle was a professor. I wanted to remain at Chennai, so given my All India Rank of 575 in IITJEE 1983, choosing IITM Electrical Engineering was a clear choice for me.
Any memories of IITM you would like to share?
The best memories at IITM are with friends. I had a lot of deep relationships built during my time here.
In our first year, the courses offered by the physics department were quite tough. All incoming students are usually very good and come from the top of their high school class, so physics courses made us struggle bringing our egos to the ground level teaching us to fight and be resilient. That was a great memory.
The electrical department had a number of amazing professors and lots of good memories there. We used to mess up our experiments for B.Tech projects (semiconductor area) which upset the graduate students. They were working on their PhD thesis very hard and seriously, but the undergraduates took it casually and had fun. Some of professors were famous for their difficult exams – again they test not just our electrical engineering skills but also our ability to cope with pressure.
I represented IITM in gymnastics in the inter IIT. Gymnastics was one of the easier ways to get into inter IIT team. We also played hostel football regularly which created many lasting bonds with hostel and wing mates.
Friendships are the best memories, I would say.
Was it an obvious choice for you to pursue research in Electrical Engineering after your graduation?
Yes, it was. But I switched my field later. I worked on Electronics in my later part of my graduation. During my PhD in University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, my work was inclined more towards Computer Science and Engineering. I worked on array processing, DSP algorithms and architecture. After my Ph.D, I worked in Rockwell semiconductors for 5 years designing DSP chip sets in cell phones, ADSL modem where I became a Technology Fellow. After that I have been a technology entrepreneur for the past 18 years. I have been working on start-ups for a very long time.
Can you tell us more about your famous start-up, Virident?
Virident was the most recent start-up I worked on. It took 7 years from start to finish.
We mainly focused on storage for enterprises. In 2006, when iPhones first arrived, we used the same memory as the iPhones and built fast storage for new web properties such as Facebook, Linkedin, eBay as well traditional enterprises. In 2009, when there a stock market meltdown due to real estate crisis in the United States our company Virident almost died. But, we managed to get through the tough periods, and successfully pivoted and rebuilt Virident products. Virident was acquired by Western Digital for $685M in 2013.
What motivated you in becoming an entrepreneur?
I am an accidental entrepreneur. When I was a fellow of Rockwell semi-conductors, I pitched my idea to the vice-president of the company. However, in a big company it's hard to get your voice heard, and my idea was not pursued considering the risks involved. I decided to take a chance as I had a deep understanding of the DSP technologies that were critical for VOIP market, and knew a few venture capital investors who had worked with me.
What does it take to start a start-up?
To build a start-up, you need good ideas, a strong and trusted team, and take the plunge to work hard. Things go wrong all the time – success depends on grit, resilience and problem solving capability at many levels – people, product engineering, market, customers.
In Silicon Valley, entrepreneurship is a way of life. In the Bay area, you can recruit people who understand every aspect of the ecosystem. They understand how to work in a start-up, how to build a complex product, how to market and sell products as a start-up against large incumbents. This magic combination of venture capital, expert talent and risk-taking is what makes the Bay area unique and has helped me in my entrepreneurial journey.
Any ideas for students who are interested in starting a company?
The first thing needed to succeed in a start-up is the integrity and trust of the team. Especially coming from IIT background where everyone is intelligent, but you need to build a world class team to succeed in new emerging market opportunities. To work cohesively in such a smart team, the trust of all the team members is essential. Also, you should pick an idea and space, where you have unique skills or knowledge, which is changing rapidly with inflection points that enable small startups to succeed quickly.


text:
News & Nation
Sanskriti Raksha
History and Sociology
Pranab Mukherjee and the Indian National Congress: The Fight of a Rebel Democrat
|In In Focus, News & Nation
|By Mayanka
Former President of India, Mr Pranab Mukherjee with Mr Mohan Bhagwat, Sarsanghchalak (Chief) of RSS, at the graduation ceremony of RSS recruits at the
RSS Headquarters in Nagpur
The recent controversy over the former President of India Pranab Mukherjee's historic address to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's volunteers in Nagpur, on June 8, 2018, brought to the fore an old wrangling within the Congress party, that between the loyalists of the Gandhi Family and other senior leaders. Many loyalists of the Gandhis launched into diatribes against Mr Pranab Mukherjee for his decision to attend the RSS event and address the Sangh volunteers.
As per reports, former Congress President Sonia Gand hi "ordered Tweet against Pranab Mukherjee for RSS Visit". On a cue many congress leaders, including his own daughter and president of Delhi Mahila Congress, Ms Sharmistha Mukherjee, tweeted against this move of Mr Pranab Mukherjee. Congress MP and the most trusted aide of Sonia Gandhi, Mr. Ahmed Patel also tweeted expressing his disapproval.
As expected, this move ruffled feathers in the left-leaning, Naxal supporting and rabidly anti-Hindu political camp as well, and the usual sus pects, like the malefic leftist activist, Kavita Krishnan, got another chance to spew venom against RSS. All these reactions prove two things: 1) Terms like 'freedom of speech', 'exchange of ideas' and 'democracy' have no value among the Congress and the Left establishment beyond what serves to advance narratives suited to their political advantage. 2) Anyone who tries to bridge the gap between two different thought processes will be attacked viciously, even if the person has served the party for over five decades and is the former President of India.
File photo of former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, President Pranab Mukherjee and Buta Singh (Source: HT)
This is not the first time that Pranab Mukherjee found himself in a direct confrontation with the leadership of Sonia Gandhi. He had bravely "rebelled" and gone against his own party on several previous occasions. In 1986, former Prime Minister of India, Mr Rajiv Gandhi, had expelled Pranab Mukherjee from Congress(I) for a provocative interview to 'The Illustrated Weekly of India', in which he termed Rajiv Gandhi's Government as 'weak and blundering'. Mukherjee had also expressed his dissent on the then Muslim women's bill tabled by the Rajiv Gandhi government, saying he was 'shocked at the undemocratic actions of the Congress leadership.'
Portrait of Savarkar in the Central Hall of Parliament (Source: OutlookIndia.com)
One other occasion where the Congress under Sonia Gandhi humiliated Pranab Mukherjee was on the issue of unveiling of the portrait of freedom fighter and Hindutva ideologue, V D Savarkar, in the Central Hall of the Parliament.
The chief whip of Rajya Sabha, Pranab Mukherjee was that time a member of the committee on installation of portraits/statues of national leaders and parliamentarians in the Parliament House Complex. He did not oppose the idea of installation of a portrait of Savarkar when it was put forward in front of the committee. For this, a peeved Sonia humiliated Patil and Mukherjee at a meeting of the Political Affairs Committee of the Congress in Parliament. Pranab Mukherjee principally stood for respect of national heroes in spite of divergent ideologies, whereas Sonia Gandhi wished an absolutist blackout by obliterating of an acknowledged national hero, going to the extent of insulting a senior party leader for holding differing views on this.
Pranab Mukherjee with Bal Thakrey (Source: The Hindu)
There was another occasion when Pranab Mukherjee faced the wrath of party president Sonia Gandhi and Ahmed Patel, when he decided to meet Shiv Sena pramukh (supremo) Bal Keshav Thackrey at his residence at Matoshree, as a courtesy call for Shiv Sena's support to his presidential candidature. Pranab Mukherjee in his book, The Coalition Years, wrote: "I took a decision to meet Thackeray despite Sonia Gandhi's disapproval because I felt that the man who had broken away from his traditional coalition partner to support my candidature, should not feel humiliated."
These are only few of the instances where Pranab Mukherjee was at odds with the Congress leadership for standing up to the Gandhis' despotism. The treatment of stalwart dalit leader and former Congress President Sitaram Kesari by the Congress leadership is only too well known and for all the wrong reasons.
The left-liberal lobby with their barely disguised rancour for anything Hindu never fail to term RSS and its associated bodies and their thought process as 'fascists' and 'undemocratic'. But the recent gesture of RSS inviting Pranab Mukherjee for addressing its volunteers at its headquarters in Nagpur proved that they are farthest from this description and represent the free Hindutva ecosystem which is forever open to dialogue with people of dissimilar ideologies, and goes out of the way to inculcate positive aspects from all. The same holds for the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and its internal workings show that it is the only national party which stands for true internal democracy and freedom of speech. There is room for dissent and party decisions are not determined by whims of dominant power-bearing personalities and also the complete absence of dynastic leadership. One example of this is that "rebel" party members like BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha who regularly slams his own party and the Government on various issues are never penalised for their views. The BJP's dealing with its 'frenemy' and NDA constituent Shiv Sena on its frequent stance against Government policies also reflects its outlook towards its coalition partners, unlike the Congress which never shows any real respect for its coalition partners and has often let them down in the past for not doing their bidding.
Pranab Mukherjee speech at the RSS event shows that he stands for true democracy in India. It also establishes that he is a proud Hindu and stands for Hindu values. It is perhaps this unfearful attitude of speaking his mind and a genuinely liberal and accommodating spirit towards viewpoints at variance with his party's stated line that cost him the Prime Minister's post, in spite of being the most senior leader in the Party. His third political memoir cites numerous incidents illustrative of the UPA chairperson's reluctance in approvng his name for the country's top constitutional post.
The present stage that the Congress finds itself in, with a propped dynast at its head who fails to inspire confidence and is the butt of ridicule for his patent lack of talent, it would be beneficial for the Congress if people like Pranab Mukherjee take the leadership into their own hands. That would go a long way in restoration of true democracy in the 'grand old party' and that would in turn strengthen Indian democracy, however a highly unlikely prospect considering its current crop of cultivated sycophants and sheer lack of gumption in the better minds amongst them. Until such an eventuality actually takes place, leaders like Pranab Mukherjee remain the 'right men in the wrong party'
Cover Picture: (Source: Business Standard)
Author: Swapnil Hasabnis
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. Jagrit Bharat is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information in this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Jagrit Bharat and Jagrit Bharat does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
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Courtney represents and counsels clients in a wide array of environmental and real estate matters. Her environmental projects have included enforcement and remediation actions under CERCLA and MTCA, natural resource damages claims, and business and real estate transactions involving environmental constraints. In addition, Courtney has assisted clients on matters involving the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. Courtney's practice also focuses on real estate issues, including eminent domain actions, title disputes, and boundary, easement, access, adverse possession and prescriptive easement claims.


Paul Michienzie for the plaintiff.
Alhert H. Russell, Jr., for the defendant.
SINGH, J. Plaintiff Malden Redevelopment Authority ("MRA") brought this action for breach of contract after defendant Carine Cetoute ("Cetoute") defaulted on payments under a promissory note. As Cetoute failed to answer the complaint, a default judgment was entered. Cetoute has appealed the trial court's denial of her motion to vacate that judgment. Because we find no abuse of discretion, we affirm. In January, 2009, Cetoute obtained a loan in the amount of $23,650.00 from the MRA to make improvements to her two-famiIy house. In connection with the loan, Cetoute signed a promissory note, agreeing to repay the loan with interest by paying monthly installments beginning March, 2009. The MRA received payments from Cetoute from March, 2009 through April, 2010. According to Cetoute, she stopped making payments on the note because her roof was leaking, an issue she attributed to the MRA, which had selected the contractor who did the roofing work. Although the MRA sent another contractor to repair the roof, Cetoute maintained that the roof continued to leak. She did not resume payments on the promissory note.
By letter of November 15, 2010, the MRA notified Cetoute that she was seven months in arrears on her payments and requested that she bring her account current within ten days or risk further action. By letter of November 29, 2010, the MRA, through counsel, demanded that Cetoute pay the past due amount within ten days or risk legal action. By letter of January 19, 2011, the MRA made formal demand of the entire unpaid balance on the promissory note, pursuant to the terms of the note.
On May 16, 2011, the MRA filed this suit, seeking the unpaid balance on the promissory note. Cetoute was served with a verified complaint on May 23, 2011; however, she failed to file a responsive pleading within twenty days as required by Mass. R. Civ. P., Rule 12 (a) (1). Instead, she contacted the MRA and set up a meeting. According to Cetoute, she attended a meeting with two representatives of the MRA, including its legal counsel, and the parties agreed that the MRA would (1) look further into the roof leaking issue, and (2) accept reduced monthly payments on the promissory note. Cetoute provided a check for the reduced amount and a voided check to set up automatic payments thereafter. She considered the matter settled.
On June 29, 2011, the MRA requested entry of default, with notice to Cetoute, pursuant to Mass. R. Civ. P., Rule 55(a). A default was entered the following day. According to Cetoute, she did not realize until several months later that the MRA had failed to take the monthly payments on the note out of her account, as she had authorized it to do, and was later informed that the MRA did not set up such automatic payments.
On November 1, 2011, the MRA requested entry of a default judgment, with notice to Cetoute, pursuant to Mass. R. Civ. P., Rule 55(b) (1). A default judgment was entered on November 9, 2011. Execution was issued on November 22, 2011. The MRA began supplementary process proceedings in March, 2012.
On April 25, 2012, Cetoute, through counsel, moved for relief from judgment pursuant to Mass. R. Civ. P., Rule 60 (b) (1), and supported the motion by her own affidavit. Cetoute argued that her neglect to answer the complaint should be excused because she was acting pro se and, as someone who had never before been named as a defendant in a civil suit, was not aware of her obligation to file a written answer. Additionally, she argued that she reasonably believed that the lawsuit had been resolved due to the meeting she had with the MRA. Although Cetoute admitted to defaulting on the promissory note, she argued that the judgment should be vacated so that she could assert a counterclaim against the MRA for its role in selecting the contractor who failed properly to do the roofing work on her property.
The MRA opposed the motion and offered the affidavit of the individual who oversaw the repair work to Cetoute's roof. Essentially, the affidavit stated that Cetoute complained about the roof leak in March, 2010 and that, after the 2010 repairs were done, Cetoute made no further complaints about the roof to the MRA The MRA offered no affidavit concerning the meeting with Cetoute. [Note 2] On September 11, 2012, after review of the parties' written submissions, the trial court denied Cetonte's motion to vacate the default judgment, finding that "there exists no excusable neglect on the part of Defendant, and further that there exists no meritorious defenses" (emphasis in original). Cetoute argues that the judge abused her discretion, misconstrued Cetoute's argument, and applied the wrong legal standard.
82 Mass. App. Ct. 705 , 708 (2012); Floyd v. Owens, 2011 Mass. App. Div. 219 , 221. The defendant "bears the considerable burden of showing that the mistake was indeed excusable, and not due simply to [her] own carelessness." Gath v. M/A-COM, Inc., 440 Mass. 482 , 497 (2003). See Shaev v. Alvord, 66 Mass. App. Ct. 910 , 911 (2006); Tortorelli v. O'Callaghan, 2012 Mass. App. Div. 194 , 196. Additionally, the defendant must show that she has a meritorious claim or defense, so that vacating the judgment would serve some useful purpose and would not simply be a futile gesture. See Mass Integrated Sys., Inc. v. CI Lumen Indus., LLC, 2010 Mass. App. Div. 244 , 246 n.2, citing Clamp-All Corp. v. Foresta, 53 Mass. App. Ct. 795 , 806 (2002). The motion must be brought within a reasonable time, but in no event beyond one year from entry of judgment. Mass. R. Civ. P., Rule 60(b). Denial of a motion for relief from judgment is committed to the sound discretion of the trial judge, and it consequently will not be disturbed absent abuse of that discretion. See Hermanson, supra at 47-48; Johnny's Oil Co., supra at 709; Floyd, supra at 221.
Cetoute argues that the trial judge abused her discretion in finding no excusable neglect and no meritorious defenses. As to excusable neglect, Cetoute contends that her failure to answer the complaint should have been excused where she was acting pro se and reasonably believed the matter to have been settled after the meeting with the MRA. It is well established, however, that pro se litigants are held to the same standard as other litigants. Rasheed v. Commonwealth, 440 Mass. 1027 , 1028 (2003); George v. Town o/South Hadley, No. 06-P-595 (Mass. App. Ct. March 7, 2007) (unpublished Rule 1:28 decision); Yetman v. Cavanagh, 2007 Mass. App. Div. 162 , 162 n.1. Additionally, Cetoute was served with a summons that directed her to file and serve an answer within twenty days or risk default judgment. Although she claimed that she believed the matter to have been resolved at the meeting, she did not explain her inaction for six months after she learned that a default judgment had nevertheless been entered. On these facts, the trial judge was well within her discretion in finding no excusable neglect. [Note 3] See Kiley v. Glynn, 2004 Mass. App. Div. 183 , 184-185 (where pro se defendant failed to answer and then neglected to move for relief from default judgment until seven months later, court upheld finding of no excusable neglect and held that rules bind pro se litigants as they bind other litigants).
As to meritorious defenses, Cetoute acknowledges that she had no defense to the MRA's breach of contract claim, hut argues instead that she had a meritorious counterclaim against the MRA with respect to the allegedly negligent roofing work on her property. To the extent that her counterclaim had any merit, it was permissive and not compulsory. See Keystone Freight Corp. v. Bartlett Consol., Inc., 77 Mass. App. Ct. 304 , 309-310 (2010). As the counterclaim could have been raised in an independent action, there was no need to vacate the existing judgment in order to have the merits of the counterclaim heard. See id.
The trial judge's findings of no excusable neglect and no meritorious defense were amply supported by the record. As such, we can discern no abuse of discretion.
The denial of the defendanfs motion for relief from judgment is affirmed.
[Note 1] Also known as Carine Vendrys Cetoute.
of attorney on pleading constitutes certification that attorney has read pleading and that, to best of the attorney's knowledge and belief, there is good ground to support it; violation of the rule subjects the attorney to disciplinary proceedings).
[Note 3] Cetoute also argues that all of the factors cited in Berube v. McKesson Wine & Spirits Co., 7 Mass. App. Ct. 426 , 430-431 (1979), for determining when relief should be granted for excusable neglect favor her position. However, there is no "right" to Rule 60(b) relief even if all Berube factors have been satisfied. See Nieves, supra at 294.


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All seminars will take place in Innovation Hall Room 207. Room changes (if any), will be noted in the weekly seminar announcement.
Abstracts (if made available by the speaker) can be viewed by clicking on the topic title of each seminar.


JESSYE NORMAN is "one of those once-in-a-generation singers who is not simply following in the footsteps of others, but is staking out her own niche in the history of singing." This rich history continues to be made as she brings her sumptuous sound, her joy of singing and spontaneous passion to recital performances, operatic portrayals and appearances with symphony orchestras and chamber music collaborators to audiences around the world. The sheer size, power, and luster of her voice share equal acclaim with that of her thoughtful music-making, innovative programming of the classics, and fervent advocacy of contemporary music. Miss Norman's innovative collaborations with artists on the cutting-edge in their fields, as Robert Wilson, Andre Heller, Bill T. Jones and Steve McQueen serve to add new dimensions and exciting new challenges to her work. Her recent performances of a staged version of Schubert's WINTERREISE by Robert Wilson and the unique double-bill of ERWARTUNG of Schoenberg and LA VOIX HUMAINE of Poulenc staged by André Heller, allow Miss Norman to continue the singular expansion and deepening of her artistic vision.
The integrity and depth of Jessye Norman's performances are often characterized as in a NEW YORK TIMES article, which stated,: "This is an amazing voice, a catalogue of all that is virtuous in singing." "The immensity of her voice struck like a thunderbolt…It was like an eruption of primal power." THE JERUSALEM POST.
In September of 2003, the Jessye Norman School of the Arts in her hometown of Augusta, Georgia opened its doors to talented middle school students for studies in music performance, drama, dance and art. The students attend this after-school program tuition-free. A fellowship and master class series in her name established recently at the University of Michigan School of Music further attest to Miss Norman's encouragement and support of emerging talent.
Miss Norman is the recipient of many awards and honors. In December of 1997, she was invested with the United States highest award in the performing arts, the Kennedy Center Honor, making history as the youngest recipient in the Honors' twenty-year existence. Her many other prestigious distinctions include honorary doctorates at some thirty colleges, universities and conservatories around the world. In 1984 the French government bestowed upon Miss Norman the title Commandeur de L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and the National Museum of Natural History in Paris named an orchid for her. In October 1989 she was awarded the Legion d'Honneur by French President Mitterand, and in June 1990 she was named Honorary Ambassador to the United Nations by U.N. Secretary Xavier Perez de Cuellar. Miss Norman was awarded the Radcliff Medal in June of 1997. In the autumn of 2000, Miss Norman was honored with the Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Medal in recognition of her humanitarian and civic contributions. In Augusta, Georgia, her hometown, the Amphitheatre and Plaza overlooking the tranquil Savannah River have been named for her. Miss Norman's distinguished catalogue of recordings has won numerous awards, including France's Grand Prix National du Disque for albums of lieder by Wagner, Schumann, Mahler and Schubert; London's prestigious Gramophone Award for her outstanding interpretation of Strauss' "Four Last Songs"; Amsterdam's Edison Prize; and recording honors in Belgium, Spain and Germany. In the United States, her Grammy Award winning recordings include "Songs of Maurice Ravel," and Wagner's Lohengrin and Die Walküre. Bluebeard's Castle with Pierre Boulez and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra received the Grammy Award for best opera in February 1999. She was the winner of an "Ace" Award from the National Academy of Cable Programming for "Jessye Norman at Notre Dame", as seen on the Arts and Entertainment Television Network in the United States. In January of 2000, Jessye Norman released her first jazz CD to wide acclaim…I Was Born In Love With You, music of Michel Legrand, with Mr. Legrand at the piano, bassist Ron Carter and percussionist Grady Tate. In addition to her busy performance schedule, Miss Norman serves on the Boards of Directors for The New York Public Library, the New York Botanical Garden, Citymeals-on-Wheels in New York City, The Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Howard University. Miss Norman is a member of the board as well as National spokesperson for the Lupus Foundation, and national spokesperson for The Partnership for the Homeless. And in her hometown of Augusta, Georgia, she serves on the Board of Trustees of Paine College and The Augusta Opera Association. A relentless Girl Scout cookie seller, she is a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts of America. In 2004, Miss Norman was presented in performance in Thailand, Spain, France, Austria, and in Japan, where she appeared in a reprise of her unique opera double-bill of Schoenberg's Erwatung and Poulenc's La Voix Humaine. In the U.S., Miss Norman's performances included Washington, Cleveland, and New York. In November of 2004, the documentary of Miss Norman's life and work to date, was completed. This film, directed by Andre Heller, with Othmar Schmiderer as director of photography and produced by DOR-FILM of Vienna, chronicles the music, the social and political issues, the inspiration and dreams that combine to make this singer unique in her profession. In 2005, Miss Norman performed in recital in the United States, including performances at Royce Hall at University of California in Los Angeles and the Concert Hall of Tampa, Florida. In Europe, her performances included an orchestral concert of the music of Purcell, Saint-Saens and Bizet at the Schleswig Holstein Festival of northern Germany. She also gave a jazz concert at this festival of the music of Bernstein, Gershwin and Ellington. These concerts were followed by a series of Master Classes at the Music Academy of Villecroze in the South of France with six outstanding young sopranos. Miss Norman also performed with the Prague Chamber Orchestra for a gala event in Europe's largest castle, the Castle of Prague, in the Czech Republic. Miss Norman's 2006 spring recital tour of Europe, included performances in: Vienna, Berlin, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Munich, Frankfurt, Lucerne and Budapest. In Germany, Miss Norman was also a guest on the widely-viewed television variety show, WETTEN DASS. Her performances at The Theatre du Chatelet in Paris in June consisted of Bartok's BLUEBEARD'S CASTLE under the direction of Pierre Boulez, with the Orchestre de Paris as well as "Les Nuits d'ete of Berlioz and Purcell's DIDO and AENEAS on the same evenings, conducted by Marc Minkowski with the Orchestre de Louvre. In the summer of 2006, Miss Norman collaborated in a program of the music of Duke Ellington at the Vail, Colorado International Dance Festival with the Trey McIntyre Dance Company: THE DIVA, THE DUKE and the DANCE. with Miss Norman bringing her special interpretations of the great songs of Duke Ellington with choreography by Trey McIntyre. Further performances of the music of Duke Ellington in the summer took place at the Menuhin Festival in Gstaad and the Peralada Festival in Spain, with programs entitled, THE DIVA and THE DUKE. In May 2006, Miss Norman was awarded the Edison Prize in Amsterdam for her outstanding contribution to recorded classical music, which includes some seventy-five CD's of her eclectic repertoire. In the autumn, Miss Norman's tour in Asia included her first performances in Mainland China, where she presented orchestral concerts in Shanghai and Beijing. In Beijing Miss Norman was honored by being made an honorary professor of The Central Music Conservatory of Beijing. In February of 2006, Jessye Norman became only the fourth opera/classical music singer in the forty-eight year history of the GRAMMY AWARDS Celebration, to be presented THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for Classical Music. Creating her own place in this legendary list of awardees, Miss Norman joins the illustrious company of Enrico Caruso, Marian Anderson and Leontyne Price. In 2007, Miss Norman will be heard in performance in France, Spain, Germany and the United States, in her wide-ranging repertoire including a recital entitled, LES VOIX FRANCAISES, a recital program in French, her homage to the great tradition of music of France and her own very special place in the hearts of music enthusiasts in this country that she has referred to often as her second country.


This role will play a fundamental part in the growth strategy of the business, with an extensive project pipeline in place across Europe, this is a truly exciting opportunity.
You'll have a university degree in information technology, mathematics, physics or engineering.
If this sounds interesting to you? Apply now!


1. The need to improve our personal relationship with God: to be going to Him with all our needs, frustrations, hurts, joys - everything - and finding satisfaction in Him. To glorify Him and enjoy Him forever.
2. Our marriages are to reflect the relationship of Christ and His Church. Such a high standard requires us continually to work in every area of our marriages, for something will always require a bit of attention.
3. We need to be consistent in the way we discipline our children.
Being on top, or at least making progress in each of these areas, will help prevent burnout. It may sound contradictory, that to prevent yourself from stressing out too much you need to take on other projects you're not currently working on, but it's true! Being fully occupied with minor things, even though they are good things, is a huge source of stress when it causes us to neglect the really major things.
This brings us to the fourth area that we as parents need to be concentrating on - our own development. Over the years Craig and I have recognised the truth indicated in Deuteronomy 6:1-6: that Home Education is all about us parents first, then our children. If we are going to be giving out day by day, we need to be taking in day by day, or the well is going to run dry.
This self-development is best done through our own reading. So often we hear parents saying, "Oh, I don't have time for personal reading." We must make that time...it is, after all, that "time for yourself" everyone seems to advise us to take. And that time for reading must be taken away from something else.
The writers in Classical Education - The Home School say, "And we state emphatically, again, that the reading of the teacher is more important than the reading of the student. If the teacher reads as he should, the reading of the student will naturally fall into place."
These writers also say, "...as diligent parents, we are confronted with two areas which stand out with respect to the necessity of hard work. The first is the necessity of reading, and reading some more. A person can successfully sell someone else on a vacuum cleaner without reading, but he cannot sell someone else on books without reading. Education is the process of selling someone on books. Parents who will not read simply cannot be equipped to supply a classical and Christian education for their children.
After I left school, I hardly read a book at all. When I was around The Navigators in the '70s, I was challenged to read a book a month. I found it a struggle, perhaps because I was committed to reading the Bible through once a year during this time. Once we got married, I was busy with babies, and reading the Bible in a year seemed to be all I could manage. In the mid-'90s I became interested in Classical Education and began to read a bit more. After reading the book Classical Education - The Home School, I was challenged to read a whole bunch more. This reading gave me the confidence to Home Educate our children. Teaching The Trivium is a must for a Christian home educators reading list.
I don't think I will ever reach the reading habit of Summit Minitries' Dr David Noebel: one book a day. But I am in the middle of about 12 or 13 books that I am reading to myself, plus three books that I am reading to the boys and one to Charmagne. Craig and I are still reading a book together. Craig has always been a reader. Now with both of us reading, there is plenty of material for discussion. Not only that, our children are also avid readers. The older ones read much faster than I. This is frustrating for me, but I am very pleased for them. I will never even get through all the books in our personal library. But I am excited that our children will be able to have a good go at it. Even though Jeremiah, at 11, is not reading for pleasure yet, he has the desire and love of books his older siblings have. For example, when we are planning a trip, he will put out half a dozen books for himself to read on the way should his reading skills suddenly click into place....he wants to have enough books on hand to keep him going.
Andrew Sandlin writes: "When I first encounter a book I intend to read, I do what Mortimer Adler calls 'inspectional reading.' His book How to Read a Book, is an outstanding work; and it is probably the definitive work in this field. By inspectional reading, I mean what some people call "skimming". I will read the table of contents, any chapter subheadings, the blurb on the back cover, the book jacket's inside and outside flaps (although I am careful here, since these promotional blurbs are not always an accurate description of the contents!) and even glance over the index. The problem with people who skip the inspectional phase of reading, as Adler notes, is that they are forced to learn the book's general content while they are reading it. This is silly, unnecessary and counter productive. If you have a general idea of the author's thesis, you are much more likely to understand his detailed, sustained argument. In short, you should know the writer's viewpoint and thesis before you start reading his book.
Reading the previous two paragraphs by Rev Sandlin for me was so liberating. I now mark the books I read to my heart's content! This has greatly helped me find important or interesting things again so that I can use it or point others to it. Recently Diana Waring gave me a signed copy of her new book Reaping the Harvest. She had written such a nice note in it that I decided to read it without marking it. I regret that now. I told Diana that I would write a book review of it, but I now have to re-read the book - marking it this time! And I know I'll use it more if I mark the many things that impressed me. I also find I enjoy reading books after Craig has as I can see the things that have caught his eye, and it helps me to appreciate him more and can be a source of discussion for us.
"People go to sleep over good books not because they are unwilling to make the effort, but because they do not know how to make it. Good books are over your head; they would not be good for you if they were not. And books that are over your head weary you unless you can reach up to them and pull yourself up to their level. It is not the stretching that tires you, but the frustration of stretching unsuccessfully because you lack the skill to stretch effectively. To keep on reading actively, you must have not only the will to do so, but also the skill...the art that enables you to elevate yourself by mastering what at first sight seems to be beyond you.
"If you have the habit of asking a book questions as you read, you are a better reader than if you do not. But, as we have indicated, merely asking questions is not enough. You have to try to answer them.... The pencil then becomes the sign of your alertness while you read...Why is marking a book indispensable to reading it? First, it keeps you awake-not merely conscious, but wide awake. Second, reading, if it is active, is thinking, and thinking tends to express itself in words. Spoken or written.
"The person who says he knows what he thinks but cannot express it usually does not know what he thinks. Third, writing your reactions down helps you to remember the thoughts of the author.
"Reading a book should be a conversation between you and the author. Presumably he knows more about the subject that you do; if not, you probably should not be bothering with his book. But understanding is a two-way operation; the learner has to question himself and question the teacher. He even has to be willing to argue with the teacher, once he understands what the teacher is saying. Marking a book is literally an expression of your differences or your agreements with the author. It is the highest respect you can pay him.
"The endpapers at the back of the book can be used to make a personal index of the author's points in the order of their appearance. To inveterate book-markers, the front endpapers are often the most important. Some people reserve them for a fancy bookplate. But that expresses only their financial ownership of the book. The front endpapers are better reserved for a record of your thinking. After finishing the book and making your personal index on the back endpapers, turn to the front and try to outline the book, not page by page or point by point (you have already done that at the back), but as an integrated structure, with a basic outline and an order of parts. That outline will be the measure of your understanding of the work; unlike a bookplate, it will express your intellectual ownership of the book.
"Any art or skill is possessed by those who have formed a habit of operating according to its rules. This is the way the artist or craftsman in any field differs from those who lack his skill...Reading is like skiing. When done well, when done by an expert, both reading and skiing are graceful, harmonious activities. When done by a beginner, both are awkward, frustrating and slow...It is hard to learn to read well. Not only is reading, especially analytical reading, a very complex activity - much more complex than skiing; it is also much more of a mental activity. The beginning skier must think of physical acts that he can later forget and perform almost automatically. It is relatively easy to think of and be conscious of physical acts. It is much harder to think of mental acts, as the beginning analytical reader must do; in a sense, he is thinking about his own thoughts. Most of us are unaccustomed to doing this. Nevertheless, it can be done, and a person who does it cannot help learning to read much better.
"Every book has a skeleton hidden between its covers. Your job as an analytical reader is to find it. A book comes to you with flesh on its bare bones and clothes over its flesh. It is all dressed up. You do not have to undress it or tear the flesh off its limbs to get at the firm structure that underlies the soft surface. But you must read the book with X-ray eyes, for it is an essential part of your apprehension of any book to grasp its structure.
Home Educating parents must be readers. This could mean radical changes at home. Reading to our children and personal reading are usually the first disciplines, the first victims, sacrificed to the TV and VCR. As we said at the beginning, reading time must be taken from somewhere else: try taking it from these two, "redeeming the time for the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16).
1. From: Classical Education-The Home School. By Douglas Wilson, Wesley Callihan and Douglas Jones. Available from Geneva Books.
2. Chalcedon Report, No. 439, March 2002, "On Reading Books" by Rev. P. Andrew Sandlin, www.chalcedon.edu.


With the spooky festivities of fall just around the corner, Fanta's beloved Halloween packaging is resurrecting itself with four new ghoulish designs.
Fanta has again teamed up with renowned illustrator Noma Bar to bring to life popular monsters from Universal Studios. This is Bar's second set of illustrations for Fanta's popular Halloween packaging.
Similar to last year's designs, Bar added his distinctly minimalist approach, incorporating "negative space" with bold colors, shapes and clever iconography. Fanta fans will enjoy the playful storytelling Bar is known for.
In Fanta Orange and Fanta Orange Zero, Bar incorporates chilling orange slices to the eyes of Universal Studios' new character The Mummy, while the Invisible Man coolly gazes with his eerie grape eyes. The Phantom of the Opera, meanwhile, glares with frightening strawberries, and the Bride of Frankenstein shrieks with a ghoulish pineapple stare.
Fanta packaging featuring the four ghoulish characters rendered in Bar's signature style are now available in stores across the U.S. for a limited time.
In addition to the illustrations, Fanta will offer family movie night bundles. Fans can buy one of this year's Fanta Halloween cans and save on movie night essentials like Pop Secret popcorn and Red Baron pizza bundles.
For fans wanting more flavor variety, Fanta will also debut four limited-edition "Errie-Sistible Mixes" on Coca-Cola Freestyle. They can choose between the Mummy Mix, Mummy Zero Mix Zero, Phantom of the Opera Mix and Invisible Man Mix. Consumers who pour any Fanta or Fanta Eerie-sistible Mix via the Freestyle App during October will be entered for a chance to win a digital download of Universal's The Mummy.