text:
snapshotsofchaddotcom
the world through my eyes
Sheer Bitchery
August 23, 2016 Snapshots of ChadLeave a comment
Elda Furry rushed away from her boring life in Pennsylvania in the late 1800s and took herself right to Broadway, determined to see her name in lights.
Before, she had been the daughter of a butcher, she was a Baptist and had had half dozen siblings. In New York, she took the stage a few times, as a chorus girl, as a character actress, and as a traveling performer, before marrying a bona fide Broadway star, DeWolf Hopper, a man older than her father, and Elda was his fifth wife, and apparently he had a type: they all had names with two syllables and ending in A (Ella, Ida, Edna, Nella, then finally Elda). But DeWolf proved to be a bore to her as well, alcoholic and relatively self-absorbed and calling poor Elda any of his wives' names interchangeably. So she left him.
So Elda took her soon, DeWolf Jr (who later went by Bill) and moved to California, where she vowed to see her name not just in lights, but lit up in the credits of silent films on the silver screens across America. She consulted a numerologist for $10 and, guided by the stars, changed her stage name to Hedda. Hedda Hopper.
Starting in 1915, and for over two decades, she made over 120 movies, generally as a high society woman in the background, but never made it as big as she had hoped, even when she played Mona Lisa herself. Wanting the attention for herself but never quite making it, Hedda grew to resent the stars around her who proved to be great successes.
And somewhere along the way, Hedda learned her greatest talent lied in gossip. Securing a newspaper column in the late 1930s, Hedda Hopper's Hollywood, she was soon being read by millions as she told the public who was up-and-coming, who was washed up, and what films to be excited about. Hedda Hopper could make or break careers, and most in Hollywood knew to rightfully fear her power: making her angry, reporting a story to another newspaper first, or ignoring her were all very dangerous choices. Her greatest rival was Louella Parsons, another Hollywood gossip with a column, and they feuded for years.
Hedda worked through her own little network of spies (hairdressers and maids and everyone in between), her firsthand sources to pregnancies, affairs, divorces, and marriages, and her scandalous seeds over the next few decades, until her death of pneumonia in 1966, but many in Hollywood remained frightened of her for years after her death. Hedda relished in fear, even calling her home "the House that Fear Built", and she worried little about upsetting anyone. When actress Merle Oberon asked Hedda why she was writing such terrible things about Merle, Hedda famously smiled back at her at a party, and gave her most memorable quote.
"Bitchery, dear. Sheer bitchery."
While Hedda danced the night away with her close gay friends in clubs, she destroyed the careers of individuals she outted as gay in her columns. During World War II, while her own son (the actor William Hopper) served in the military, she accused certain celebrities of being anti-American. And after World War II, she listed names of suggested Communists, often leading to intense FBI investigations of the individuals; among the accused was Charlie Chaplin, who she suggested should be banned from the country (and indeed, for years, he was).
Most famous for her enormous and lavish hats, and nicknamed Hedda Hell by Louis B. Mayer himself, Hedda Hopper has been gone for 50 years now. While her legacy remains firmly entrenched in the tabloids and paparazzi of Hollywood, who now use blogs, tweets, and live social media broadcasting to scandalize celebrities, in many ways Hedda Hopper's worst nightmare has now come true: Her name has been largely forgotten.
#bitch, #bitchery, #bitchfest, #broadway, #charliechaplin, #columnist, #heddahopper, #hollywood, #hollywoodscandal, #hopper, #scandal, #tabloids
A Good Person
Cartoon Devil
Spirit 7: Truth or Consequences
Spirit 6: Inspiration
Spirit 5: Chastity
Lucas Jones on the intersection of dreams and…
Doug on First day in Halifax
Lenella on Skeleton of myself
Amy Oglesby on the intersection of dreams and…
Yunker on Learning to hate


text:
Q: How do you get post value in .NET Core I have a Customer controller that has these 2 action methods.
    [HttpGet]
    public IActionResult Create()
    {
        ViewBag.Title = "Customers";
        return View();
    }

    [HttpPost]
    public IActionResult Create(IFormCollection form)
    {
        return View();
    }

I also created a Customer view.
<form class="form-horizontal" method="post" action="/Customer/Create">

        FirstName *

            <input type="text" class="form-control" required name="FirstName">

        LastName *

            <input type="text" class="form-control" required name="LastName">

</form>

How do I get the post values? Every time I submit the form it goes to the [HttpGet] and I want to use the [HttpPost]. I'm new to ASP.NET Core so sorry for the simple question.

A: Add 2 parameter to your http post action method which is matching with your form element names.
[HttpPost]
public IActionResult Create(string firstName,string lastName)
{
    return View();
}

Another option is to create view model class with properties matching to form element names. This is useful when you have many input elements in the form and do not want to add clutter to the parameter list of your action method.
public class LoginVm
{
  public string FirstName { set;get;}
  public string LastName { set;get;}
}

and
[HttpPost]
public IActionResult Create(LoginVm model)
{
    // to do : user model.FirstName and model.LastName
    return View();
}

When the form is submitted, the model binder will read the posted form data and map it to the view model object property values.
Remember, view model is specific to the view. So if your view(form) is sending 5 fields, create a simple POCO view model with only those 5 fields.

A: Several ways:

*

*Add a FirstName and LastName (case insensitive) string parameter to the Create method that accepts a post

*Add a parameter of type IFormCollection to this same method and access the named values FirstName and LastName

*Directly access the values from HttpContext.Request.Form

*Access the values from the ModelState property

*Add a model parameter of a POCO class that holds whatever values you want to submit

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) welcomed on Tuesday the eastern-based parliament's vote with an overwhelming majority on the constitutional referendum law amendment.
It also wished them success in their endeavors.
On Monday, the parliament voted to amend the Constitutional Declaration, a sort of mini-constitution governing power, which makes article six of the referendum law on the country's permanent constitution irrevocable.
It also approved restructuring the Presidential Council to consist of one president and two deputies instead of the current one, which consists of one president and nine deputies.
Regarding the situation in south Libya, UNSMIL said it had briefed foreign embassies in the country and the international community on the deteriorating situation in Libya's south.
A mission statement clarified that the briefing discussed the political, social and security dynamics and access to basic services, humanitarian situation in the region and UN support.
During her political briefing, UNSMIL Deputy Head for Political Affairs Stephanie Williams focused on the dire security situation and lack of access to basic services in this resource-rich region.
If left unchecked, the fragility in the south could destabilize all Libya, she said, stressing the need for the international community's support.
Her statement came as the Sharqiya Municipality in southern Libya confirmed the kidnapping of three of its elders on their return from Umm al-Aranib area at Zwila-Tamsa Road on Monday night.
Mayor Mohammed al-Arabi said he believed that Chadian gangs are behind the kidnapping, pointing out that the fate of the abductees is unclear.


Get an alert with the newest ads for Men's Shoes in Guelph.
I have 2 brand new pairs of Sorel size 13 work boots for sale...one pair wide & one pair medium wide $75 each. Don't miss out on a great deal!
Bit of scuffing on the toe. Little to no wear on the tread. Elastic band not ripped or freyed. Lots of life left in these. Got a new pair from work so don't need these.
Used only two times for a site visit. Like new (though a little dusty). Steel toe. Men's size 9, Women's size 11.
Pristine condition. Worn once on dry pavement. Size 13.
I have brand new JB GOODHUE safety shoes for sale..its size is 8.
MENS FOOTWEAR TOP NAMES !!!!!
Post your classified or want ad in Guelph Men's Shoes. It's fast and easy.


Urdu Political Poetry is generally related to the poets like Allama Muhammad Iqbal, Habib Jalib and Faiz Ahmed Faiz that spoke openly against the tyrants of their times; however, we have ransacked the hidden treasures of Urdu poetry and brought out what there was on offer by different poets. In this case we have selected Ahmed Faraz' best verses that have political relevance to our country's present, past and future. It is pertinent to mention here that all of the verses mentioned in this page are not meant for political relativity but most of these are directly related to politic while a few have indirect or implied hints towards the political scenarios and the leaders of our country.
Keep enjoying the verses from احمد فراز شاعری and ask us a question or recommend us on the social networks if our work is appreciable and worthy of praise.


Fully renovated direct waterfront property. Facing west with water features and the Fraser River in front, this tranquil oasis offers you a fantastic life. Custom cabinets, S/S appliances, custom tile work, 5 jet shower, massive walk in closet & a gas fireplace are just a few things you get with this unit. We even have A/C for those hot summer nights. Enjoy a drink on your patio while watching the boats go by. Relax in your spa like bathroom after a hard days work or if you still have energy, enjoy a working in the gym and hot tub looking over the river. Harbor House offers you a great life in a great unit in a sound and quality building, all for a great price. Pet & rental friendly. Open Thurs, May 5, 5-6pm;Sun, May 8th, 2-4pm.


text:
« D'oh, bob just remembered the press have cameras
On the life and influence of Chris R. Tame »
Revisionist accounts of the New Deal
Johnathan Pearce (London) · Historical views
Why was that slump, over and done with by 1922, so much shorter than the following decade's? Well, for starters, he said, President Woodrow Wilson suffered an incapacitating stroke at the end of 1919, while his successor, Warren G. Harding, universally considered one of the worst presidents in American history, preferred drinking, playing poker and golf, and womanizing, to governing. "So nothing happened," Mr. Vedder said. Of course Mr. Vedder does not wish ill health — or obliviousness — on any chief executive. Still, in his view, when you're talking about government intervention in the economy, doing nothing is about the best you can hope for from any president.
From a nice article on revisionist accounts of the New Deal and Roosevelt.
Via Marginal Revolution, which has a quite good comment thread on this issue.
Talk of Warren Harding, a much maligned president, reminds me of Paul Johnson's book, Modern Times, in which that president gets a much-overdue rehabilitation, along with Calvin "Silent Cal" Coolidge.
April 8th, 2009 |
8 comments to Revisionist accounts of the New Deal
"Oh come on, Cal darling – I want more than two words out of you…"
President Coolidge: "You lose."
David Gillies
There are few ways in which a man can be more innocently employed than in getting money, said Dr. Johnson, and there are few ways in which a politician can be more innocently employed than in whoring and gambling. As was pointed out at the time, when Two Shags Prescott was screwing his secretary, at least it was consensual, as compared to the daily Deliverance-style porking the rest of us are getting when politicians are not having a quick knee-trembler.
Harding was lousy; Hoover was exponentially worse.
The problem with Hoover was not that he did too little; his problem was that when he did anything presidential, it was usually awful.
Most of FDR's New Deal would have been impossible without the foundations laid by Hoover.
Mark Levin's book Liberty and Tyranny puts Hoover's presidency into its proper perspective.
Calvin Coolidge… now that's my idea of a decent president.
"Harding was lousy".
Well he supported the income tax (a tiny one – but these things always grow) back in 1913, and he did not support free trade as President.
However, his record as President (other than on overseas trade) is actually very good – not "lousy" at all.
Paul Johnson was quite correct in his book Modern Times.
Of course the main mistake was having Herber "The Forgotten Progressive" as Commerce Sec (the one department that increased its budget under Harding – and a department that should not exist), althought the various insane suggestions Hoover made were not followed – till he became President himself of course.
"No man has offered me more advice – and all of it has been bad advice".
Calvin Coolidge on Herbert Hoover.
Coolidge was probably about as good a politician we're ever going to get. I love the story about his son who was working one sumer on a farm and one of his co-workers said "If my father were President I wouldn't be working on a farm." To which the young man replied "If your father were my father , you would !"
Compared to the Sunshine of Our Lives who is now in the White House FDR was pretty good. At least the New Deal actually built useful stuff like Damns and Fertilizer plants that could be turned into explosive factories when needed. He provide electricity to parts of the nations that didn't have it. He may have done so in a awful socialistic way, but at least he did it.
The Sunshine of Our Lives is shutting down the nuclear power industry and has promised to kill our coal fired electrical plants. We're all going to freeze to death in the dark, but the Sunshine of Our Lives will tell us that its good for the environment.
Harding, by virtue of only being president for two years and being a lazy fellow with more interest in boozing than world saving, deserves to be seen as the best 20th century president.
I think that historians have made too much of the corruption under Harding. H.L. Mencken noted that the corruption under Harding was nothing compared to the corruption under the Wilson administration, especially during the period America was at war with Germany.
kentuckyliz
I live in coal country. The EPA is interfering with permits and they have just about stopped. Mines are reducing shifts or closing. You see fewer coal buckets (trucks) out on the road. I hear fewer coal trains going by. There has already been a rate increase in my power bill starting this month.
Some people are in for a rude awakening. They think fairies make energy out of thin air. Not so.
Let the freezing and overheating deaths begin.
It's a Dark Green ObamaNation.
Corruption in the Harding Administration was indeed less than in many others – such as the Truman Administration (so praised by historians).
But Warren Harding was not "lazy" – a lazy President would not have been able to cut government spending by 25%.
Those who think government spending cuts are easy to get into effect know nothing of the nature of the state.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Subscribe to our posts to stay informed about YES!
YES is currently seeking event sponsors for our 1st annual benefit concert - Folk & Funk, Bring Me Home. Every dollar raised through sponsorship will support our crucial services and directly impact the lives of youth and young adults experiencing homelessness in Baltimore. Please see the list of sponsorship levels below with details about sponsor benefits at varying contribution levels.
On Friday, Sept. 5th, at the historic Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute and Cultural Center, YES is hosting Folk & Funk, Bring Me Home -our 1st annual benefit concert. The concert will feature performances by folk artist Caleb Stine, hip-hop/funk group J. Pope & Funk Friday, and a presentation by YES youth leaders. Event proceeds from ticket sales, donations, and sponsorship funds will directly support the work of YES.
For tickets or to make a tax deductible donation go to our Eventbrite page: Eventbrite - Folk & Funk, Bring Me Home.
Celebrate YES's first year with us by participating in the YES Birthday Celebration and Fundraiser!
Over the past year we have assisted over 130 youth experiencing homelessness. We have been able to assist then in becoming housed, employed, healthier, and hopefully on their way to a stable adulthood. We can't thank you enough for your current and past support, as it has made it possible for us to engage with some extraordinary youth.
YES is aiming to raise $2,013 -- the year of our first birthday! We are starting now through a WePay campaign and we will continue throughout the Birthday celebration.
The Birthday Party will include a birthday cake and ice cream, and many surprises!
Please call: 410-235-7744 or e-mail Harriet@yesdropincenter.org for more information.
Consider buying YES some food. We have served 1,153 meals and 1,294 snacks since October. Help YES to keep meeting the needs of the many amazing young people who step through our doors.
Luther Thompson, a peer counselor with Youth Empowered Society, explains his work and experience related to homelessness.
The Storybank Blog features art and writings by youth who were charged as adults about why it is important to keep youth out of the adult criminal justice system.
An interview with Just Kids Youth Leader, Kevin J., about what he learned in the process of successfully advocating against the construction of the proposed youth jail in Baltimore.
YES coverage on ABC news.


Does Theoretical Chemistry allow the order of a reaction to be derived?
Thread: Does Theoretical Chemistry allow the order of a reaction to be derived?
#1 Does Theoretical Chemistry allow the order of a reaction to be derived?
This has never really sat well with me; does theoretical chemistry allow the order of a reaction to be derived or modeled by computer etc. or is it really only possible to obtain it by experiment?
Is it POSSIBLE to understand a singularity.
Atoms-Reason for the specific the 2,8,18Â… electron spread?
It is only possible to obtain them from experimental data.
Indeed, this is what I've seen wherever I've looked it up, but surely this implies that our theoretical understanding of how chemical reactions take place is incomplete?
Quantum Electrodynamics should at least allow any problem in chemistry to be posed in its entirety even if the majority can't be solved exactly. Surely at least some of the reactions can be modeled entirely? Could the order of reaction be found in this way?
Actually, am I looking at it the wrong way, say maybe the order of reaction concerns large scale dynamics and it's more a problem of statistical physics for example?
The order of a reaction is an empirical measure of how the rate of reaction varies with concentration, if you could calculate the exact mechanism from first principles and model the kinetics and thermodynamics as a function of time, concentration, temperature and pressure you may get an answer. The first part is something we can't do yet with any real accuracy.
Last edited by PhDemon; March 14th, 2014 at 05:58 AM.
Yes see PhDemon's reply. I don't see how quantum physics will help.
It strikes me that one difference between chemistry and physics is that chemistry has to cope with an almost infinite combination of arrangements of atoms. Real molecules are very complex systems, compared to most of the systems physics deals with quantitatively. We can't even solve the Schroedinger equation exactly for any system more complex than the hydrogen atom. In even a simple molecule you have numerous internal degrees of freedom among which energy can be distributed, in a huge number of quantised levels. Collisional modelling of reactions is fiendishly difficult, even in the gas phase. When you have solvation effects as well, in reactions taking place in solution, it is likely to be worse.
I see, thanks for your replies - can you give me any suggestions for where to look for attempts at this? Is that a subset of physical chemistry?
I don't see how quantum physics will help.
Well ultimately QM is how the world works - we have trouble calculating reaction cross-sections for collisions in the many hundreds of MeVs (the domain of other forces) but at a few eV the physics is very well understood. Quantum electrodynamics has an unparalleled agreement with experiment. As I said, I do appreciate the difficulty in solving practical problems in chemistry with molecules and many electron atoms so my query wasn't a complaint or meant to imply an obvious failure on any ones' part I was just curious why I can't find any attempt at deriving the course of a reaction and a full expression of the rate entirely from first principles.
At the simplest, 2 hydrogens colliding, the classical Hamiltonian at any point is known (and indeed the QED Lagrangian is known at every point in the process, but that's really not necessary for such low energies). Is it really true that we cannot model this sufficiently to predict the steps of the reaction in advance and find the cross section for each step?
Your point about the multiple orientations making a difference is a good one if you want to treat it like a series of colliding particles, I'm sure for things like proteins, it's vastly more complicated than my naive approach would be able to deal with!
but at a few eV the physics is very well understood.
Not only unnecessary but also completely useless. QED is for different things.
Is it really true that we cannot model this sufficiently to predict the steps of the reaction in advance and find the cross section for each step?
We can. You yourself said that Hamiltonian is known. Thing is it is incredibly computationaly demanding.
I am not so sure about that. Also what you mean by classical quantum?
Well you might I suppose for H + H -> H2. But even for that, you may find you a "chaperone" molecule helps to carry off the excess energy in the newly formed H-H bond. If it does, the reaction may have a higher order, due to the greater likelihood of the bond staying intact if a molecular collision - with another molecule , that is - can be expected before it the new bond has a chance to break apart again. I have not looked up the kinetics of the atomic hydrogen combination reaction but I expect somebody has generated the data on it, at least in some pressure/temperature regimes.
[I see, thanks for your replies - can you give me any suggestions for where to look for attempts at this? Is that a subset of physical chemistry?
You might want to read up on computational chemistry. Although there are ab initio (from first principles) techniques, they use various approximations and are very compute intensive.
how is e to the x derived still e to the x?


text:
What is Natif?
Due to the number of examples listed, please click here for the overview of this page or read on.
Natif is the conceptualization of rhythmic patterns, chords and progressions based on the movements and intervals of the "vaksin" that are authentic to Haitian music. Natif is not and ought not to be analyzed only from a western comprehensive approach of music. The evolution of collective intuition, such an ultra-sensorial component of human nature linked to supreme and ethereal sources, acquired during thousands of years by the Black civilization cannot be grasped solely by the cognitive criteria of such a new entity known as the western civilization. Having said so, new elements can and must be added to known conventions in order to define our music as precisely as it must be for proper execution and interpretation.
It is the ultimate responsibility of an innovator to codify all elements of his or her creation. Let me say that this conceptualization should have been the works of a team although it could have been inspired by one person at the beginning. But, repeated pleas for collaboration near my Haitian peers have fallen into deaf ears. Consequently, limited illustrations will be explored and presented by your humble servant but as any sphere of creation, possibilities are endless and evolution reigns unquestionably and unavoidably for nothing is static.
These are the fundamentals of our music.
It is:
1.	Poly-rhythmic
2.	Based on calls and responses
3. Frequent use of micro-tones by the singers
4.	Syncopated
5.	Dissonant
6.	Percussive
7.	Strongly flavored with the pentatonic scale—major or minor
8.	Atonal when it comes to "Enkantasyon" or "Chants".
9.	Very repetitive except for "Enkantasyon" or "Chants", and *monologues
10.	With more than 60 beats, almost each beat comes with its own melodic development
*By monologues, we mean songs that are sung by a lead singer with no emphasis at all on the calls and responses aspect of our traditional music. One example is "Ba Kristyan Chèz Pou We."
Je vouze mande
Si w wè Kristyan
Pase pou we
Ba li chèz chita
Jalouzi pa lapòt, anye
Ala lite Kristyan lite
Pou konbat lamizè
Ala lite Krisyan lite
Pou chase lamizè
Men jevouze mande
Those traits will be found in the "natif" concept.
Chordal approach to the "vaksin"
One of the major characteristics in the use of the vaksin lays in the fact that it is being played independently of the tonality of the singer. Consequently, one must expect that some rhythmic patterns reflect such an occurrence by using what I call a "chordal grouping"—a set of chords played within one bar at least in order to create a rhythmic pattern.
In order to see the scores clearly, click on them and you may enlarge as you please.
Here is one example:
As one can see, the melody is being played on Bmi flavored with a D major pentatonic. We have also shown above the substitutions made possible by the "natif" concept for I, IV, VII, vm chords in this song.
Similar rhythmic patterns can be seen as musical formulas which one can apply to some melodic developments. This approach remains more intuitive than cognitive. The Blacks did not write down the complexity of the polyrhythmic aspect of their music. It has been passed on based on that collective intuition that is fueling traditions. The use of western instruments while basic concepts of harmony must be followed should embrace that collective intuition. Our sensibility is more acute, we have more to convey in much broader and specific ways.
"Fonde" is another example of this chordal approach to the "vaksin"
The use of such chords over this melody is rather intriguing and does not quite comply with the notion of close relation between chords and melody as established by western music. This allows us also to introduce a new term in Haitian music:
"Konpozant" can be defined as a group of chords in one bar or measure that sounds like one when played together.
The first 3 chords below– Arpegio E-G-C is the Chord of C; The first triad is B minor and the second one E minor. It should be seen as a "konpozant" though I have identified the C and the B minor as a Cmaj9♭5.
With the next song entitled "Na Tchatcha", it is getting a little bit unconventional. Remember that Natif is based on the movements and intervals of the "vaksin." In some rhythmic patterns where they are strong and prevalent, how are we going to emphasize the notes that reproduce them especially when they represent low frequencies or bass notes? The reason I'm asking this is because conventionally one can only have one note on a "Slashed chord." We have decided to have more than one note on the "Slashed chord" so we can mention and emphasize the notes played by the "vaksin" in this specific chord.
Notes and Notations on the Slashed Chord
We may need to indicate the movement of the vaksin on the Slashed Chord. This movement can be ascending or descending or mixed—ascending and descending at the same time. We are introducing 3 indicators: < ↑ ↓ to complete those possibilities.
For an ascending movement, no indicator is needed: Am/C,D,E
For a descending movement, "< " is the indicator-- Em/E "<" B "<" G For a mixed movement within an octave -- Em/G,B,"<" E or Am/C,"<" A,D For an ascending movement greater than octave, "↑" -- Em/D,C,↑C For a descending movement greater than an octave, "↓" -- Em/A,C,↓G not to be confused with Em/A,C,"<" G For a mixed movement greater than an octave Em/C,"<" A,↑D not to confuse with Em/C,"<" A,D
The last song "Na Tchatcha" shows also how it is easy to joggle between the major and minor tonality of the same chord in our music. The next song "Ayizan Nan Lapenn" is another representation of this very interesting element.
The ii, V, I progression has basically "contaminated" the compositions of many of our songwriters of 1920's and throughout the 1950's. As a musician myself, I have never done such cover tunes until I came up with the "natif" concept. With all due respect to those very famous musicians who left us such a great legacy, I believe that many of those songs do not convey this acute sensibility of our Haitian collective soul. Case and point—I have never heard a peasant sing "Ayiti Cheri" or Panama MwenTonbe" or "Lasirèn Labalèn" or "Choucoune". Troubadours playing in the cities would sing them, but I have never heard any in "Anba tonèl."
"Panama Mwen Tonbe" and "Lasirèn Labalèn" are listed on my book "Kantik Natif, Volim I." I'm posting "Ayiti Cheri" in order to show the substitutions I use in this song.
Sometimes, it is possible to create progressions that sustain tensions throughout a melody. I call this system "camouflage"—chords built with 4th interval notes that open tremendous possibilities for substitutions. "Vive Haïti" written and sung by Lumane Casimir is a perfect example where I use it as substitutions for the ii,V, I progression played in this song. On my guitar, these are usually 5 or 6 notes barred chords, those notes played all vertically one below one another with one 3rd interval note on the 5th or B string.
This passage from the previous "Natif" page is totally relevant to this approach:
Among the endemic elements of Natif music is the omission of the 3rd degree of a chord; the addition of a sharp 9 to a major chord; the coexistence of both the fifth and its flat within a chord, the use of inversions and substitutions using different notes from the root, the 3rd or the 5th on bass. Suffice to say that Natif music answers to a novel harmonic conceptualization.
Full arrangement of this song where I play the same chords can be heard on this link:
http://www.soundcloud.com/simid-1/
I must add that the "camouflage" system was widely used in my book "Kantik Natif, Volim I" and "Pyè Aleman Lèmiso Batala", one of my favorite songs, is a perfect illustration which you can appreciate by watching this clip below:
About team work
Before I continue further, I would like to open a small window in order to make a few valuable points. The American jazz movement started from a concept that was based on improvisations which themselves could be formulated from seven modes, except obviously for non-pitched percussion. The Afro-Cuban jazz movement embraced the same movement but put a lot of emphasis on a rhythmic approach overall and the piano became the instrument of predilection with the new "Latin fingering". The Brazilian Jazz movement came up with a very sophisticated chords and progressions approach and a new beat called Bossa Nova. A lot of emphasis was put on the guitar.
The Natif concept is being developed on the guitar. But, I hope that my fellow musicians will contribute also to it in order to include other instruments. Improvisations are not to be defined and restricted by modes but they must flow from keys to keys and from scales to scales with an essentially unapologetic, uncontrollable and unrestricted sense of freedom in totally defiance for known conventions.
In a lighter note, I would add that the "vaksin" is played only in Rara music not in voodoo music as played in the humfò during the ceremonies. However, we have extended his role in our concept to voodoo, roots and folk music under the "natif" umbrella.
Moving vaksin over a chord or triad pedal—The vaksin keeps moving but the chord remains the same.
g) ♭5 in "Rara" music and the "Natif" concept
When reading a little bit about musicology, I was surprised to find out that the ♭5 was banned by the Catholic Church because they have declared it devilish. This ♭5 is widely hit by the vaksin in "Rara" music. It might have been also one of the reasons why they went after voodoo with such a bloody toughness. In the next song, this attenuation of the 5th sounds very interesting.
This tune of Emerante de Pradines is the typical example why I believe strongly and honestly that the musical expressions of our feelings were spoiled by western musical influence.
It is being played on the key of C minor in the original version which can be seen on Youtube below:
The iv chord is the next chord that is played with a strong emphasis. Though it is not a wrong chord, the Bb minor conveys much more our feelings and this ties us to Brazilian music where we do find also this Minor 7th chord to Minor I chord progression. Moreover, the Natif concept emphasizes also the Minor 7th chord while reproducing the vaksin intervals at the same time.
Here are the scores as suggested by the Natif concept:
Lègba N a Konsole
Subtle structure and modulation
Though repetitive and very short and this is one particular aspect of Haitian folk music, most melodies present some very interesting approach of songwriting. In my effort to codify the "natif" concept, it is very important to me to think musically as a Haitian peasant, to let my inspirations, wherever they may come from, to take me to those places where they defy conventions and rules. This exhilarating sense of freedom prevents me from putting those inspirations in a context where scholars should enjoy their comfort zone. Possibilities are endless, indeed.
This song is a perfect example.
Another good example of "Konpozant."
The choice of those chords creates a close harmony and a "pedal illusion." Since the "natif" concept evolves around the movement and intervals of the "vaksin", our interpretation of the chords will follow that approach. The "E" and "A" notes are pretty constant. The "G" and "B" are in fact part of the "G-B-E" triad. I have omitted the 'E" in order to have more bottom, create a better percussive effect and emphasize more the high notes of the phrasing.
Yon Lanmou Fou
Fooling around with the "sus4"
While the ♯9 commonly used with a major key opens a small window to improvise on a minor scale, the "sus4" seems to reinforce both the major and minor keys. Maybe, this is why I feel such an affiliation to it. The melody determines the major or minor key, but the use of "sus4," while it is not making the tonality of the melody irrelevant, reinforces it without any emphasis. I also believe that the "sus4" brings a mysterious and ethereal flavor to the progressions used in the "natif' concept, consequently in Haitian music.
The analysis of the chords of the song below entitled "Si w Te La", becomes much easier when one includes the tuplet of the last beat of the precedent measure. The "sus4" must not be seen as the 1st since the first 3 notes A-G-F of the melody suggest clearly either the F major key or its minor vi chord which, in this case, is the key of that melody.
The "natif" concept evolves around the movement and intervals of the "vaksin." The consistency of the "A" and "E" notes on the bass is a strong reminder of that. As one can see, the "A" remains the 5th for the Dmi9 and the "E" is the 9th. But, the former becomes the 6th or 13th for the C9 and the latter the 3rd.
But, it will be good to note that the B♭6 is the only chord immune from the "sus4."
The V, IV, I, i progression
This song below presents once again some very interesting aspect of Haitian music. Was the choice of the key a conventional or accommodating one? The IV chord is a major chord. Without evoking the "Blues convention" where a major 4 chord can be found in a minor key progression, to write this song in a major key is totally appropriate. However, what I find interesting is the fact that IV chord imposes itself despite of the presence of the 4th (the F note) and the 7th degree (the A♯) in the melodic lines in that measure, contrarily to the strong suggestion of a minor iv chord in western music.
Moreover, some may say that the use of the major I chord is simply sentimental. But, in fact, it reinforces the fact that this song is in a major key and the minor 3rd of the melody at the beginning of the song is a just a nuance that reflects the sensibility of the Haitian collective soul in music.
But, my greatest surprise in writing this song was not the progression since I know that the "natif" concept has opened a new window in compositions, especially in the relations between melodies or themes and chords.It was the microtone of the A (3/4 note) which I have highlighted. Again, this endemic element of Haitian music is present in this song.
Chordal formula
When I first started feeling that I was getting somewhere with the "natif" concept, this notion of "chordal formula" stroked me as a valid and tangible way to describe this "test of stylization of Haitian music" as noted by Professor and musicologist Claude Dauphin.
In the song below, the 3rd chord in the 3rd bar when playing the melody, must not be seen as E Major ♯9, but rather as the 3rd and the Major 7th of the A chord. Again for the Emi7 seen as the ii minor chord in Western music, the "natif" concept just discounts it and still emphasizes the 3rd and the Major 7th of the A chord. This all makes sense when one knows that the musician who plays the "vaksin" blows one, two or three intervals at the maximum, and does so more intuitively than knowledgeably.
Romancing the 7th
Possibilities are just endless! Finding new ways to hear chords and progressions not necessarily from conventions of western music widens the horizons of musical expressions. The "natif" concept offers such a platform on which music can be understood from other aural perspectives.
This song below is again one way to use chords from the movement and intervals of the "vaksin", among which evolves the "natif" concept. Please, click below in order to view the scores.
3 Responses to What is Natif?
Okai Musik says:
For a music to be so complex, you did a pretty good job explaining the rhythms. Haitian and Cuban rhythms are some of the hardest to learn but the best sounding in the world.
Gifrants says:
Thanks, my man. I really appreciate it.
Matyas Olah says:
Dear Mr. Frants,
I'm a cellist from Transylvania, and I love to listen to your works. I would like to play some of your music for cello. Where can I buy the sheet music of your works? I haven't found any on the internet yet…
Thank you in advance for the information regarding your music. I wish you all the best!
Matyas


text:
Home / Research / Research Groups / Romantic and Victorian
Romantic and Victorian is a faculty research group that meets several times per year to discuss:
British literature of the "long Romantic" and Victorian periods (1750-1900)
Transnational Romanticism
Romantic and Victorian aesthetics, theory, and philosophy
Most semesters the group gathers once to discuss the research of a group member and once to workshop with a visiting scholar. While most of the group's agendas are faculty-driven, between five and fifteen graduate students and advanced undergraduates participate in most meetings.
For more information, contact Paul Westover (English)
Previous guests include: Kevis Goodman, UC Berkeley (Fall 2008), David Simpson, UC Davis (Winter 2009), Murray Pittock, Glasgow (Winter 2009), Jeffrey Cox, Colorado (Fall 2009), Ian Duncan, UC Berkeley (Fall 2009), Diane Hoeveler, Marquette (Fall 2009), Talia Schaffer, CUNY (Winter 2010), Saree Makdisi, UCLA (Fall 2010), Mark Lussier, Arizona St. (Fall 2010), and Devoney Looser, Missouri (Fall 2010). More recent guests are listed below.
Northwest Romanticism & Eighteenth-Century Symposium (NWRECS) 2017: "Romanticism Then and Now"
October 20-21, 2017, Oregon State University
Following a highly successful works-in-progress symposium hosted by BYU and the University of Utah in Fall 2014 (at Aspen Grove, next door to Sundance in the Wasatch mountains), this second by-invitation gathering brought together scholars based primarily in Oregon, Utah, Washington, and British Columbia.
In addition to works-in-progress sessions, other sessions were devoted to planning future collaborations as well as to strategizing how to achieve higher visibility for eighteenth-century studies and Romanticism, both within academic institutions and in the public sphere at large.
Ann Rigney, September 22
Rigney is professor of Comp. Lit. at Utrecht and a fellow of the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences. She works on the intersections of literature, cultural memory, and history. Most recently, she's the author of The Afterlives of Walter Scott (Oxford, 2012). Her talk was a footnote of sorts to that study—a meditation on literary afterlives as manifested in material culture.
WRECS Symposium
This symposium was co-organized by Nick Mason and Paul Westover (BYU) and by Andy Franta and Scott Black (University of Utah). Held at Aspen Grove, above Sundance, it convened scholars of eighteenth-century studies and Romanticism from around the Western US to discuss individual works in progress.
Wasatch Romanticism and 18 th -Century Studies Symposium
Opportunities at the Wordsworth Trust (Jeff Cowton)
Scott Black (Utah)
Billy Hall (BYU)
Ann Rowland (Kansas)
Matt Wickman (BYU)
Andy Franta (Utah)
Jonathan Sachs (Concordia)
Evan Gottlieb (Oregon State)
Paul Westover (BYU)
Samantha Harvey (Boise State)
Nick Mason (BYU)
Padma Rangarajan
Mark Canuel, Professor of English, University of Illinois-Chicago: "Romanticism's Imperfect Perfectionism."
November 14th, 11:00 a.m., JFSB 4188.
Tony Jarrells, Associate Professor of English, University of South Carolina: "Hybrid Forms: The Tale and the Ballad."
September 26th, 4:30-6:00 p.m., JFSB 4168
Kate Flint, Professor of English and Art History at USC: "'More rapid than the lighting's flash': Photography, Suddenness, and the Afterlife of Romantic Illumination."
March 28th, 4:00 p.m., JFSB 4068.
Jeff Cowton, curator of the Wordsworth Trust.
April 8th, 4:00 p.m., JFSB B192.


My name is Sam Provenzano and I am a Teaching ARTist for Mirror Image Arts. During the recent development of our 6 week after-school program, I was asked to become the lead facilitator for the project. I said yes without hesitation!
I was really affected by the students in the program. With such a small group, it was easy to see where students wanted to share and where they were protecting themselves. After one student opened up about being bullied, I couldn't stop thinking about him for a week. I had forgotten really how raw and mean people can be. I live in a very PC and polite everyday world so it shook me to reconnect directly to that harsh environment full of embarrassment and self doubt. I understand bullying is a real everyday struggle for many people, but this student put it into a real perspective that I hadn't seen in awhile.
I am nervous and excited for the next one. I think this program is fun for students while still challenging them to be creative and brave. I am nervous because a larger group will be a brand new learning experience. But because I trust the curriculum, I can't wait to see what form future programs take.


When you're traveling with family but you and your spouse want some time away from the kids, Tranquility Two provides exactly what you need. This cabin has 5 beds for up to 8 guests and is split into two different sections: the upper cabin with luxury spa amenities for the parents, and the lower cabin with nook-like sleeping pods for any other guests.
You'll always have privacy upstairs with the large barn doors that section off the master suite from the rest of the cabin. Because of the divided floor plan, you'll be able to enjoy the relaxation provided by the heated jet spa tub, rain shower for two, and king-size bed whether you're just staying as a couple or you've got family staying in the lower level. A high-def television, a state-of-the-art kitchen, and a covered porch with an outdoor hot tub complete the upper level with utility and style. You'll even appreciate the exquisite finishes: marble, stacked rock, mosaic tile, natural wood, and white quartz.
The appeal of the upper level doesn't mean anything has been sacrificed in the lower level! Almost like a second cabin, the downstairs suite has two king beds and bunk twin beds for the rest of your entourage, plus a two-sink bathroom including a full shower and full tub. The pool table and sauna are unique features that even the upper-level residents will head down to enjoy. Comfortable seating and a television fill out the lower living space, as well as patio furniture just outside the cabin door.
Tranquility Two is located in a safe, rustic, and private gated cabin community for your enjoyment.
Parents who desire a romantic, spa-like cabin stay while traveling with or without the children.
This family cabin will host up to 8 people, but only includes 4 on the rental pricing. Each additional guest is $10/night.
We'll be adding helpful guest feedback when it arrives.


text:
IPC Annual Report 2019/20 released
The NSW Information and Privacy Commission NSW (IPC) CEO, Information Commissioner and Open Data Advocate Elizabeth Tydd today released the IPC Annual Report 2019/20 (The Report) which also includes a report of the work of the NSW Privacy Commissioner, Samantha Gavel for the period.
The Report documents the work, activities and organisational achievements of the IPC during the reporting period and outlines the IPC's focus for the year ahead across both information access and privacy in NSW. It also includes the Report on the Operation of the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 by the Privacy Commissioner.
Ms Tydd noted that the Annual Report demonstrates the IPC's effectiveness and efficiency in managing increased work volumes.
"Over the past 5 years reviews, complaints and advice provision by the IPC increased by 88%. This increase in regulatory work, demonstrates the pivotal role the IPC plays in the NSW integrity landscape.
"Digital government has resulted in an intensifying importance of information access and privacy rights. Information access and privacy applications to the IPC increased by 15% in 2019/20 this further demonstrates the increasing value citizens place on these rights. The IPC has capably met this challenge with an 8.5% increase in finalisation of cases".
The IPC continued to support NSW public sector agencies with the provision of independent advice and guidance to address information governance challenges in the development and implementation of digital services that are designed to deliver timely outcomes for the public.
"Governments' demonstrated commitment to the preservation of privacy and information access rights will be the determinative factor in achieving success in digital transformation. We will continue to be unwavering in our commitment to protect and promote these rights to ensure that digital transformation delivers benefits equally to government and citizens", said Commissioner Tydd.
The increase in rights awareness by the community and reliance upon digital solutions intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic will continue.
"Our proactive work in conducting major investigations, including audits, increased with four major regulatory initiatives undertaken in 2019/20 and a reduction of 44% in days to finalisation. This is impactful regulatory work that when objectively measured produces sustained elevation of compliance and enhanced cultural commitment. Publishing these reports and guidance, together with our informative and influential promotional activities, ensure that information access and privacy rights are visible and accessible," said Ms Tydd.
Privacy Commissioner, Samantha Gavel noted that the IPC has had a 31.6% increase in the provision of information access and privacy advice, this is largely due to the increased number of government digital projects.
"This significant increase is largely referable to the IPC's provision of expert advice in respect of the NSW Government's digital transformation agenda. Upholding and promoting NSW citizens' right to information access and privacy is central to the work of the IPC. Our service to the public has been enhanced through our finalisation of applications, provision of guidance to members of the public, strategic regulatory initiatives and our active promotion of these rights," she said.
Ms Gavel added that privacy issues continue to be a key consideration of the work being done by NSW Government agencies and privacy initiatives which reflect this include release of Fact Sheets on the Role of the Privacy Commissioner: Consulting the IPC on Initiatives and Projects; Privacy by Design, De-identification of personal information and De-identification of personal information. 79 voluntary breach notifications were made to the Privacy Commissioner during the reporting period.
2019/20 highlights included:
providing 575 information access and privacy advices to support compliance by agencies, an increase of 31.6% on the 2018/19 reporting period
finalisation of 814 reviews and complaints, reviewing information access and privacy rights, an increase of 8.5% on the 2018/19 reporting period
Commissioners provided submissions to 11 reviews and inquiries conducted by government including 7 joint submissions by the Information Commissioner and the Privacy Commissioner
dealing with 2782 enquiries from the public, representing a 5.7% increase on the 2018/19 reporting period
513,794 page views of its website, a 3.7% increase on the 2018/19 reporting period
improving awareness of privacy and information access rights with the release of 18 new publications and reviewing 75 existing publications.
To access the IPC Annual Report 2019/20 click here.
IPC media team on 0435 961 691 or email communications@ipc.nsw.gov.au
About the Information and Privacy Commission:
The Information and Privacy Commission NSW (IPC) is an independent statutory authority that administers New South Wales' legislation dealing with privacy and access to government information. The IPC supports the Information Commissioner and the Privacy Commissioner in fulfilling their legislative responsibilities and functions and to ensure individuals and agencies can access consistent information, guidance and coordinated training about information access and privacy matters.
About the NSW Information Commissioner
The NSW Information Commissioner's statutory role includes promoting public awareness and understanding of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act); providing information, advice, assistance and training to agencies and the public; dealing with complaints about agencies; investigating agencies' systems, policies and practices; and reporting on compliance with the GIPA Act.
About the NSW Privacy Commissioner
Samantha Gavel was appointed as NSW Privacy Commissioner on 4 September 2017. Her role is to promote public awareness and understanding of privacy rights in NSW, as well as provide information, support, advice and assistance to agencies and the general public.
For further information about the IPC visit our website at www.ipc.nsw.gov.au
Download the Media Release here.


text:
using System;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

internal partial class Interop
{
    internal partial class SecurityBase
    {
        [DllImport(Libraries.SecurityBase)]
        internal static extern bool AllocateLocallyUniqueId(out LUID Luid);
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Cynthia Long Westfall, PhD, is assistant professor of New Testament at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario. She is the author of Discourse Analysis of the Letter to the Hebrews: The Relationship Between Form and Meaning (T. & T. Clark, 2006), and Paul and Gender: Reclaiming the Apostle's Vision for Men and Women in Christ (Baker Academic, 2016) and has been part of an urban mission to the inner city in Denver for more than twenty years. For the last five years, she has also been involved in urban ministry in the Greater Toronto area.
Cindy lectures widely for academic, popular and church audiences on gender and faith. She has mentored more than 50 graduate students, some of whom write and speak for CBE. Cindy serves on CBE's Board of Reference; the ETS Gender and Evangelicals study group; the Regional ETS of Ontario and Quebec and the former Front Range CBE chapter in Denver. Cindy also founded and chaired The Sophia House, transformational housing for women at risk for homelessness.
In recognition of her achievements, CBE awarded her a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.


text:
At one end, water rushes down pebbled streams and over large boulders on either side of a cluster of thick vegetation before falling in two glassy sheets into the bright turquoise pool. More than a dozen towering evergreens are scattered a bit farther out, providing a gorgeous backdrop and privacy screen.
"That's one thing we like to do with a lot of our projects," says Patrick Vogt, owner of By The Blade. "Rather than one type of plant material, we like several including evergreens and deciduous shrubs –– various blues and greens so there are blue spruce, blue alice cedar and green giant arborvitae. It creates a sense of intimacy. Those (other) houses disappear and you're the only ones around."
Nearby, a large round fire pit is built into a stone wall that surrounds the perimeter of the pool's stone deck. A round table and chairs sit to one side of it, and four chaise lounges line up on the other side.
A large open-air pavilion, constructed of stone and cedar, features a seating area next to a kitchen, bar and television. A smaller covered area right next to it contains a hot tub ensconced by natural stone, giving it the same elegant look as the rest of the pool.
"The Leas really loved a natural look with a Colorado theme," Vogt says. "So we used more natural materials, it's all Oklahoma sandstone flagstone, the coping is natural and the water feature looks straight out of Colorado, including the boulders."
The pavilion and outdoor kitchen were not in the original plan, according to Vogt.
"We always had that idea but didn't really talk to the Leas about it until they had a need for a covered space for shade and a place to hang out and watch Royals games," Vogt says. "It's typically the case where just the pools are put in, and the family is out in and around it all the time and they start thinking, 'Why would I run up to the grill on my deck when I can have one down here?' and 'Why would I eat inside when we could be having dinner out here?' So one idea for just a pool usually grows into another for a whole outdoor living experience. The Leas came back a couple of years later and wanted to add on."
Unsuspecting guests to the Leas' yard are shocked when they turn the corner for the first time and get a load of the resort-like space.
According to Darren, they stop dead and say, "Whoa!"
He opened the pool in April and expects to use it almost daily until fall.
"It makes hanging out on the weekends and hosting parties all that much better," he says. "Sometimes when we go on vacation, I wonder 'Why are we on vacation?' So I don't regret it at all. Plus it gives us more family time than we'd have otherwise. We're definitely getting a good return on our investment."
Judy Revenaugh
Royals drop series finale to Indians despite Bubba Starling's first big-league blast
Maker City KC
Whiskey business: Catching up with Nathan Perry, head distiller at J. Rieger & Co.
By Sarah Gish
Nathan Perry worked as a high school teacher and a microbiologist at Boulevard Brewing Co. before accepting a job as head distiller at J. Rieger & Co., which recently opened a new distillery in Kansas City.
MORE SPACES
A Kansas City home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright will soon sell to the highest bidder
Making it work: The living room in this 100-year-old KC home has space for a piano
Back to his roots: Chef Amante Domingo of The Russell shares his favorite salad recipe
How KC native Matt Castilleja went from unpaid intern to high-end furniture designer
La dolce vita: Modigliani brings handmade Italian ceramics to Kansas City [sponsored]
That's amore: Ragazza Food & Wine is a cozy midtown hangout with tempting Italian fare


7 steps to become an iOS coding test BOSS!
Lead iOS Engineer Sam Dods outlines the 7 simple steps that helped him become the iOS coding test boss he is today.
Product Owner Theo Letts discusses the balance between transparency and function, using the 'match-based' recommendation system used by Netflix & Google.
In our previous post, we looked at how the creative matrix helps to focus the innovation process, providing clear parameters to guide lateral thinking. In this post, we'll teach you how to run a creative matrix workshop in 10 simple steps.
The most successful organisations are designing, building and implementing software to connect all aspects of their operations. By doing so, they are able to create the capabilities necessary to outperform their competitors and disrupt highly competitive industries.
Today, we're excited to announce that St Ives is relaunching as Kin + Carta.The group will fuse its three specialisms — strategy, innovation, and communications.
Banks are now fighting two battles simultaneously: the age-old battle against cash, and now, the battle against Fintechs.
TAB Product Owner Joss compares the two Agile frameworks that we use here at TAB.
Watch the highlights video from our Connected Organisations event. Download the report to understand why connected organisations are racing ahead and how you can become one.
Here's a quick look back at our journey to Solstice's FWD Conference and how we created a voice-powered on-boarding experience designed for the health sector.
TAB Product Owner Joss rethinks the renowned Chicken & Pig analogy often used in the technology industry and presents the challenges we see with the story.
In this third post of the series, we introduce four ways which make it easier to become a Connected Organisation.
We highlight some of the most interesting updates from Apple's latest annual developer conference.
In this post, we list the practical ways that enterprises can become Connected Organisations, through the smart application of great software.


Painting and decorating Arnside & Silverdale, Wilkinson Decorators has been offering high-quality decorating to clients in the surrounding area for almost 40 years.
More than 80% of our work is repeat business and we are proud of our reputation for offering unparalleled quality and competitive prices. As a long-established team of professional decorators, we have extensive experience in interior and exterior decoration, woodwork repairs and renovations, and floor sanding.
We work on all sorts of properties, from private houses to stately homes, hotels to offices. Whether you're based in Arnside or Silverdale, or the surrounding area, we will work hard to transform your creative ideas into a beautiful finish that will last for years to come.
We know that busy lives don't leave much time for decorating upheaval or disruption, that's why we work hard to ensure your project happens on time, on budget and with the minimum disruption.
We will come in person to assess your requirements and then provide a no-obligation quote. Our quotes are fully itemised so there are no hidden surprises, and we will work hard to book your work in at a time that suits you.
We also guarantee a polite and respectful team who will treat your property with care, work tidily and efficiently, and leave each room in perfect condition.
Based in Kendal, we regularly travel to Arnside and Silverdale to meet with our clients. We're happy to schedule in an initial appointment to discuss how we can work together to transform your property.
If you have any questions or need advice on any of the above, we are happy to help.
Selecting the right decorator is an important decision and we are very happy for you to review our portfolio of recent work. Check out our Project pages to see how our work speaks for itself.
If you'd like to discuss your ideas for decoration or renovation, or to request a free consultation in Arnside, Silverdale or the surrounding area, please do call us on 01539 726974. We look forward to hearing from you.


text:
Squash Amash Rally in Grand Rapids – Event will be Held on June 14 to Also Celebrate Trump's Birthday and Flag Day
June 14, 2019 @ 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
« Putnam Township Senior Center Rummage Sale
Join Citizens For An Undivided America for a rally to celebrate the birthday of President Trump and Flag Day! »
Squash Amash Rally in Grand Rapids
Event will be Held on June 14 to Also Celebrate Trump's Birthday and Flag Day
Grand Rapids, MI [Immediate Release]: Michigan Trump Republicans will host a "Squash Amash" rally to respond to Congressman Justin Amash's continuing attacks on President Donald J. Trump.
The "Squash Amash" rally will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, June 14 at 110 Michigan St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, the location of Amash's local office. That date is also President Trump's birthday and the date that America celebrates Flag Day.
"Congressman Amash surely may have his opinions," said Meshawn Maddock, co-founder of MTR. "Many Republicans said nothing as he voted again and again like a Pelosi Democrat. To note only a few such votes, Amash voted against protecting first responders, voted against "Kate's Law" to increase penalties on illegals who re-enter and commit more violent crimes and voted against a balanced budget!"
"But when he joined with radical Democrat 'Never Trumpers' this event was launched. Our supporters and voters in his District now know that he does not represent Michigan values. District 3 voters have heard enough. It's time to squash Amash and elect a true conservative in 2020."
Learn more about Amash's extreme voting record at https://nojustinamash.com/voting-history. A petition requesting him to resign is available at that website.
"The loudest voices supporting Representative Amash are left-wing Democrats in his District who understand that electing him is the same as electing a Democrat," said Diane Schindlbeck, founder of West Michigan Republicans. "Republicans need to wise up and elect someone who represents our values! I meet with voters in District 3 every day. None of them are happy to have Amash supposedly be their representative in Washington. Squash Amash is something I hear daily."
The Squash Amash rally will be held outdoors, rain or shine, so come dressed for the weather. To honor Flag Day, those who attend are encouraged to bring American flags. Please use appropriate language on all homemade Squash Amash signs, but come to be heard. Signs supporting President Trump are also encouraged.
"Trump's America First message remains very strong in Michigan. With numerous events already completed in 2019, MTR volunteers hear regularly from Trump backers across the state. Trump's message continues to generate excitement wherever we go—even in Amash's District," said Maddock. "As Trump's strongest supporters, we know that the radical left, the political establishment and the "Never Trumpers' will continue to attack our President and, frankly, those who support him."
Michigan Trump Republicans' updates may be found at its Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/events/2215231345192599/ or at its website https://michiganconservativecoalition.com/
Questions about Michigan Trump Republicans' events may be addressed by email to michigantrumprepublicans@gmail.com or by telephone to Diane Schindlbeck at 616-502-6192.
This entry was posted on June 6, 2019 by 19445731.


.MID - How to open .MID file?
What application can open .MID file?
When there is a problem with opening files with the extension .MID you do not need to immediately use the services of the IT expert. In most cases, using the helpful suggestions of experts contained in our website as well as appropriate programs you can solve the problem with the .MID file yourself.
The file extension allows the operating system or the user of the device to recognize its format and use the appropriate program that allows to run it. It also happens that the file extension is associated with a number of different file formats. This is the case with the .MID file, which is associated with the 2 file types. The most common file format with the extension .MID belongs to the "Audio Files" category. The manufacturer of the file is N/A.
How to convert a .MID file into a file in another format?
What program supports a .MID file?
What programs help to edit a .MID file?
What program reads a .MID file?
The purpose of our site is to provide all relevant information on available programs, the use of which will enable to start, make changes, and even to save the file with any extension. We provide data concerning the manufacturer of this type of software and if necessary refer you to valuable sites that contain more detailed information in the area of interest. Search for the file MID on Wikipedia.


The Department of Agriculture and Food, WA is pleased to advise two grant schemes will open on 5 December 2016, to grow WA's agrifood sector.
The grants form part of the Agriculture Sciences R&D Fund, managed by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia, with Royalties for Regions investment.
Up to $11.8 million will be invested in WA's agrifood sector to stimulate research and innovation along supply and value chains through the Grower Group R&D Grants Program – round 2, and the Industry Grants for International Competitiveness (IGIC).
Please note both grant programs are open to applicants who were successful in Grower Group R&D Grants Program Round 1.
The Grower Groups R&D Grants Program awarded $6.7 million to 16 grower groups across Western Australia in its inaugural round – view successful projects from round 1 here.
Round 2 Expressions of interest from eligible organisations must be submitted online using the SmartyGrants program, which will open on Monday, December 5, 2016.
The IGIC program will invest up to $1.3 million in grants to support organisations working together along supply/value chains, who see their future as part of an internationally competitive export-oriented agrifood sector.
Industry Consortia are considered to be alliances involving combinations of agrifood businesses, industry organisations, recognised Grower Groups and professional service providers.
The IGIC and Grower Group R&D Grants programs are part of the $22.1 million Agriculture Sciences R&D Fund managed by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia, with Royalties for Regions investment.


Depicted below is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park near Angel Fire, NM. Originally named the Vietnam Veterans Peace and Brotherhood Chapel, it was built by Dr. Victor Westphall to honor his son, David, who as a Marine Infantry Lieutenant was killed in battle while serving in Vietnam. Dr. Westphall also wrote David's Story, an emotionally driven book about his son, war and life. It's available at: http://www.vietnamveteransmemorial.org/.


"This penguin will be living in Italy."
Translation:Ten pingwin będzie mieszkać we Włoszech.
maybe he is being relocated to different zoo?
Thanks to Emwue, today I learned something I didn't know, serendipity.
This reminds me, there is a very good and funny polish dub of "penguins of madagascar" that is fun to watch once you get a bit of vocabulary down.


text:
Burnley fan, 13, investigated for alleged racist gesture towards Spurs' Son
ReutersMore from Reuters
Updated: December 9, 2019 11:43 AM MST
VAN DIEST: Road to Tokyo Olympics begins at qualifying tournament for Canada
TFC II has new head coach
Former MacEwan Griffins, U of A Pandas soccer player paralyzed in Costa Rica bike accident ...
Toronto FC banking on another standout season from Richie Laryea
A 13-year-old Burnley fan ejected from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday for an alleged racist gesture directed at Spurs' South Korea forward Son Heung-Min is being investigated by police, the Lancashire club said on Monday.
The supporter, who was accompanied by a guardian, was spotted by stewards when he made the alleged gesture during Burnley's 5-0 Premier League defeat. The club said the teenager was under investigation by the Metropolitan Police.
Son, named Asia's International Player of the Year last week, scored in the first period when he picked the ball up in his own half and cut through Burnley's midfield and defence with a solo run before slotting it past the goalkeeper.
"Burnley Football Club will be contacting the teenager and his family, with a view to an enforced educational programme, run in conjunction with Kick It Out and Burnley FC in the Community," the club said in a statement.
"Burnley Football Club would like to reiterate its zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination of any kind. We will continue to work with the authorities to help eradicate the growing problem of discrimination within football."
On Sunday, two fans from the away end at Brighton & Hove Albion's Amex Stadium were ejected, arrested and later released by Sussex Police for homophobic abuse during the 2-2 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Daily Sports Newsletter


"Club Dues," by Peter Morin, in Needle, Fall 2011.
I may have to demand my money back. Needle calls itself "a magazine of noir," but this story isn't noir; it's hardboiled. Jack Bludis created the classic distinction: "Hardboiled = tough. Noir = screwed."
But on the other hand, I like hardboiled better than noir, so I suppose I shouldn't complain.
Ray Hannah is an attorney in Hyannis. His stockbroker calls to report finding a dead body, specifically a crooked hedge fund manager who is one of his clients. Somebody beat his head in with an antique golf club.
Motives start piling up as last as lies, which is very quick indeed. Some of the plot twists are easy to see coming, but one caught me by surprise. The writing is low-key and precise. And Morin shows proper respect for Italian cooking. Buon appetito..
"Sweet Croquette," by David Barba, in Barcelona Noir, Akashic Press, 2011.
When I found out about the disappearance of Swiss gourmet Pascal Henry, I had no doubt that his body had become part of the larder for the liquid croquettes offered on the degustation menu at El Bulli.
Did that opening sentence get your attention? It certainly grabbed mine. I should say that Barba's story of madness, murder and cannibalism is not going to be to everyone's, uh, taste. But it is fascinating and, as it rolls to a bizarre conclusion, hilarious.
The narrator has a job in his family's butcher shop and a wife who has become obsessed with literature at just the point when her husband has sworn never to read another book. Not a recipe for marital bliss. The narrator's ambition is to be a great chef and he becomes obsessed with the workings of the high-tech gourmet restaurants of Barcelona. As you can tell from the first sentence, he draws a conclusion about their secret ingredient, and decides to experiment on his own... in more senses of that phrase than one.
"Plain Reckless," by Scott Mackay, in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, December 2011.
To my mind one of the worst phrases used to advertise a crime story (next to "transcends the genre) is "This time it's personal!" As Jon L. Breen wrote "I think the necessity for the series detective to suffer enormous physical and/or emotional trauma in every book and to be personally involved in every case is one of the worst trends in contemporary crime fiction, but I'm not typical."
Maybe you aren't typical, Jon, but you are right, because you agree with me. In fact, in the same e-conversation I wrote "Those books are self-limiting in a way. How many times in a series can the detective be betrayed by his lover, best friend, etc., before the series begins to look a little silly? Only in TV do they get away with that sort of stuff."
But the self-limiting issue doesn't apply to a one-off novel or short story. Take this story of a cop named Michelle Evans investigating a murder. "With a twinge of anxiety, I realized I now had a personal connection to the case...It happened from time to time. And it always made me nervous when it did."
I like the way Mackay uses the personal involvement in the story. A lot of cops say one of the hardest parts of the job is that they find themselves using their work skills on their friends and families and that is what happens here. When Evans talks to her sweetheart about the case "I detected regret... I observed guilt and evasion." How is she supposed to react? As cop, or as lover?
"Who I Am," by Michael Z. Lewin, in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, December 2011.
Mr. Lewin becomes the second author (after James Powell) to appear in this column twice. This story raises the question: how do you make a genre story new and unique?
For instance: Indianapolis private eye Albert Samson gets a client whose house has just been robbed. A few things of no great value were taken, plus a memento of his father. Samson investigates and finds the culprit.
Well, okay, but we've all read that one a few thousand times before, haven't we? What makes this story different from the others?
Just one thing really. Samson's client, who calls himself Lebron James (but isn't the famous basketball player) claims that his father was a space alien. Samson doesn't believe it, of course, but he does believe the roll of hundred dollar bills Mr. James pays him with. This is apparently the first in a series of stories about a rather sympathetic guy who his neighbors call "spaceman" and "the weirdo." I'm looking forward to more.
"The Investigation of Boyfriend #17," by Maureen Keenan-Mason, in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, December 2011.
If you look back at your notes from previous classes you will find that I said the one thing the opening of a story must do is keep the reader reading. I mentioned that there are lots of other things the opening can and probably should do. One of them is to tell us what kind of a story we are about to read. It is easy for the opening to tell us: this is noir, get ready for a cosy, there's going to be spooks here, or whatever.
On the other hand, sometimes it can be fun to have no idea where a story is going. That's what Keenan-Mason pulls off in this tale.
Lila is a twenty-four-old woman who, after several bad experiences, has started investigating each boyfriend. She has a locked desk where she keeps files on each new swain, checking out their stories to see if they have a wife, criminal background or other no-no in their past.


text:
J L
Herbert Ekwe-Ekwe
The African humanity currently generates, overwhelmingly, the capital resource that at once sustains it and is exported to the Western world. The notion that Africans are in any way dependent on a European/Western world or any other overseas 'handout' is at best a myth, at worst an all-out lie
Africa has uninterruptedly been a net-exporter of capital to the Western World since 1981. The thundering sum of $400 billion is the total figure that Africa has transferred to the West in this manner to date (Herbert Ekwe-Ekwe, Readings from Reading: Essays on African Politics, Genocide, Literature, 2011: 41-42, 176-177). These are legitimate, accountable transfers, largely covering the ever-increasing interest payments for the 'debts' the West claims African regimes owe it, beginning from the 1970s. A 2010 study by Global Financial Integrity, a Washington-based research organisation, shows that Africa may have also transferred the additional sum of $854 billion since the 1970s ('this figure might be more than double, at $1.8 trillion', the study cautions) through illegitimate exports by the 'leaderships' of corrupt African regimes – with Nigeria topping this league at US$240.7 billion. In effect, the state, in Africa, no longer pretends that it exists to serve its peoples.
Additionally, and this might appear paradoxical, trade figures and associated data readily obtainable indicate that these African states of seeming dysfunction have performed their utmost, year in year out, in that key variable for which their European world creators established them in the first place: redoubts for export services of designated mineralogical/agricultural products to the European world/overseas. There are no indications, whatsoever, that any of these countries has found it difficult to fulfil its principal obligations on this accord. This is the context that that seemingly contradictory aphorism, 'Africa works', becomes hugely intelligible. Appositely, the raison d'être of the 'state' in Africa is not really to serve its people(s), African peoples; it is, on the contrary, to respond, unfailingly, to the objective needs of its creators overseas.
For instance, thanks to the continuing inordinate leverage that Britain and France, the two foremost conqueror-states of Africa, exercise in these essentially anti-African principalities tagged 'the state' in Africa, both European countries have a greater secured access to Africa's critical resources today than at any time during decades of their formal occupation of the continent. France, right from the post-World War II leadership of Charles de Gaulle to the current François Hollande, has such glaring contempt for the notion of 'sovereignty' in the so-called francophonie Africa, ensuring that France has invaded most of these 22 African countries 51 times since 1960 (for an excellent study on French hegemonic control of the finances/economies of these countries, see Gary Busch, 'Africans pay for the bullets the French use to kill them', [accessed 15 May 2013">).
As for Britain, sheer greed and opportunism appear to be the guiding principle to attaining its unenviable position as the leading arms-exporter to Africa, including Africa's leading genocide-states (See, for instance, journalist Charles Onyango-Obbo's candid insight on the subject in a BBC interview, 'UK arming African countries', [accessed 12 May 2013">). Indeed, France and Britain have never had it so good in Africa.
Those crucial African capital exports referred to earlier, legitimate or/and illegitimate, are funds of gargantuan proportions produced by the same humanity that many a commentator or campaign project would be quick to categorise as 'poor' and 'needy' for 'foreign aid'. In the past 30 years, these funds could and should easily have provided a comprehensive healthcare programme across Africa, the establishment of schools, colleges and skills' training, the construction of an integrative communication network, the transformation of agriculture to abolish the scourge of malnutrition, hunger and starvation, and, finally, it would have stemmed the emigration of 12 million Africans, including crucial sectors of the continent's middle classes and intellectuals to the Americas, Europe, Asia and elsewhere in the world since the 1980s.
Yet, despite these grim times of pulverised economies and failed and collapsing states in Africa, we shouldn't ever forget that those who still ensure that the situation on the ground is not much worse for the peoples than it is, are Africans – individuals, working alone, conscientiously, or working in concert with others or within a larger group to feed, clothe, house, educate and provide healthcare and some leisure to immediate and extended families, communities, neighbourhoods, villages and the like.
For example, the surgeon who not only works tirelessly in a city hospital, with very limited resources, but uses his scarce savings to build a health centre and an access road in his village with subsidised treatment and prescription costs; the nurse who travels around her expansive health district, unfailingly, bringing care to the doorsteps of the people who neither can afford nor access it physically; the retired diplomat who has mobilised her community to set up a robust environmental care service that has involved the construction of public parks, regular refuse collection and some recycling, after-school free tuition for children with a planned community newspaper in the pipeline; the coach transport operator who lays out scores of his coaches to ferry survivors of a recently organised pogrom 350 miles away to safety; the civil rights activist and intellectual who rallies members of his internet discussion groups within the course of a month's intense campaign to successfully apprehend a contractor who was about to abscond with millions of dollars' worth of public funds meant for a crucial upgrade of an international airport initially built by the community; a stretch of individuals' programmes of scholarships for students at varying levels of school life, provision of staff salaries in schools and colleges, maintenance of libraries and laboratories in schools and colleges, construction and maintenance of vital infrastructure in villages and counties, etc., etc. These are the authors busily scripting the path of the renaissance Africa.
To cap these phenomenal strides of Africans, the 12 million African émigrés mentioned earlier presently constitute the primary exporters of capital to Africa itself. Africans now dispatch more money to Africa than 'Western aid' to the continent, year in year out. In 2003, according to the World Bank, these African overseas residents sent to Africa the impressive sum of $200 billion – invested directly in their communities (World Bank, 'Migrant Labor Remittances in Africa', Africa Regional Paper Series, No. 64, Washington, November 2003: 12). This is 40 times the sum of 'Western aid' in real terms in the same year – that is, when the pervasive 'overheads' attendant to the latter are accounted for (cf. Fairouz El Tom's recently concluded informed research, 'Do NGOs practise what they preach?'). In a sentence: The African humanity currently generates, overwhelmingly, the capital resource that at once sustains its very existence and is intriguingly exported to the Western World. It is precisely the same humanity that those who benefit immeasurably from this conundrum (over several decades and are guaranteed to benefit indefinitely from it, except this is stopped by Africans) have consistently portrayed, quite perversely, as a 'charity case'. The notion that Africans are in any way dependent on a European world/Western World or any other overseas's 'handout' is at best a myth or at worst an all-out lie – perpetuated by a circle of academics and in the media who in fact in the not-too-distant-past would have been in the vanguard 'justifying'/'rationalising' African enslavement or/and the conquest and occupation of Africa.
Surely, this historic big lie of characterisation can no longer be sustained. Africa is endowed with the human resource and capital resource (in all its calibration and manifestation) to build advanced civilisations provided Africans abandon the prevailing 'Berlin-states' of dysfunction that they have been forced into by the latter's creators as we shall be elaborating soon. Thus, Africa's pressing problem in the past 57 years of presumed restoration of independence has been how to husband incredible range of abundance of human and non-human resources for the express benefits of the peoples rather than it being fritted away so criminally.
POPULATION, FOOD, FUTURE
There has often been a 'politically correct' rhetoric bandied about incessantly by some in academia, media and elsewhere who discuss this grave crisis of contemporary Africa in the context of population (as a useful background to this rhetoric, see, particularly, Roland Oliver, 'The condition of Africa', Times Literary Supplement, London, 20 September 1991: 8). Africa, it is concluded in these assertions, requires some 'decrease' in its population and/or population-growth as an important measure towards achieving a 'solution'. On the contrary, as we now demonstrate, Africa is, indeed, in no way overpopulated. The population argument is usually advanced on a number of fronts. First, there is a 'theory' that the given landmass which presently defines Africa and its various so-called 54 nation-states cannot sustain the existing populations, but, more critically, the 'projected populations' in years to come. We shall examine the degree to which this 'theory' is able to stand up to serious scientific scrutiny first by comparing Africa's landmass vis-à-vis its population and those of some of the countries of the world.
Africa's population is currently one billion covering an incredible vast landmass of 30,221,533 sq km or about four times the landmass of Brazil (all the statistics here on countries' population, landmass and the like are derived from The World Bank, World Development Report 2012 and United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Report 2012). Ethiopia's landmass is 1,221,892 sq km, five times the size of Britain's at 244,044 sq km. Yet Britain's population of 62 million is three-quarters that of Ethiopia's 83 million. As for Somalia, it is 2.6 times the size of Britain but has a population of only 9 million. Sudan and South Sudan provide an even more fascinating comparison. Whilst both countries are 10 times the size of Britain, they support a population of 45 million – about 70 per cent the size of Britain. In fact the Sudans have a landmass equal to that of India which is populated by 1.22 billion people – that is, more than the population of all of Africa! Britain is one-tenth the size of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) which has a landmass of 2,345,395 sq km, similar to the Sudans and India. In other words, the DRC is about ten times the size of Britain but with a population of 71 million, nine million more than the population of the latter. Even though the DRC landmass is about twice that of all of Britain, France and Germany (1,275,986 sq km), it has just about one-third of these three west European countries' total population of 208 million. Inevitably, the evidence does beg the question as to where this population really is!
Second, let us examine similarly sized countries. France has a landmass of 547,021 sq km close to Somalia's. However, France's population of 65 million is about seven times the population of Somalia. Similarly, Botswana is slightly larger than France at 660,364 sq km but with a population of 2 million, a minuscule proportion of France's. Uganda's landmass at 236,039 sq km is about the size of Britain's 244,044 sq km. Yet with a population of only 33 million, Uganda is about half that of Britain's. Similarly, Ghana's landmass of 238,535 sq km makes it approximately equal to the size of Britain. Ghana is however populated by only 25 million people, far less than one-half Britain's population.
Southern world to Southern world comparisons can also prove useful in exposing the fallacy of either Africa's 'large population' or 'potential explosive population'. Iran's size of 1,647,989 sq km is about two-thirds that of Sudan and South Sudan combined. Yet its population, unlike the Sudans' 45 million, is at least one and one-half times as large at 75 million. Mexico's landmass is 1,943,950 sq km. This is approximately the same size as the Sudans but with a population of 115 million, Mexico is two and one-half times the former. Pakistan's landmass of 803,937 sq km is just about Namibia's 864,284 sq km but Pakistan's population is 174 million while Namibia's is 2 million! Even though Bangladesh's 143,998 sq km-landmass makes it roughly one-eight the size of Angola (1,246,691 sq km) as well as that of South Africa's (1,221,029 sq km), Bangladeshi population at 159 million outstrips Angola's 13 million and South Africa's 50 million. If we were to return to our earlier comparisons, Angola and South Africa are about 4-5 times the size of Britain but with one-fifth and four-fifths respectively of the latter's population.
CRUCIAL REMINDERS, GENOCIDE, POST-BERLIN STATES
Finally, we should turn to the question of resource, its availability or lack of it, and therefore its ability or inability to support the African population – another component of Africa's 'over-population' fallacy. Well over 50 per cent of Uganda's arable land, some of the richest in Africa, remains uncultivated. Were Uganda to expand its current food production significantly, not only would it be completely self-sufficient, but it would be able to feed all the countries contiguous to its territory without difficulty, and GM free too! The overall statistics of the African situation are even more revealing as with regards to the continent's long-term possibilities. Just about a quarter of the potential arable land of Africa is being cultivated presently (FAO and IIED, 'What effect will biofuels have on forest land and poor people's access to it?', 2008). Even here, an increasingly high proportion of the cultivated area is assigned to so-called cash-crops (cocoa, coffee, tea, groundnut, sisal, floral cultivation, etc.) for exports at a time when there has been a virtual collapse, across the board, of the price of these crops in international commodity markets. In the past 30 years, the average real price of these African products abroad has been about 20 per cent less than their worth during the 1960s-70s period which was soon after the 'restoration of independence'. As for the remaining 75 per cent of Africa's uncultivated land, this represents 60 per cent of the entire world's potential (John Endres, 'Ready, set, sow', The Journal of Good Governance Africa, Issue 6, November 2012: 1). The world is aware of the array of strategic minerals such as coltan,** cobalt, copper, diamonds, gold, industrial diamonds, iron ore, manganese, phosphates, titanium, uranium, and of course petroleum oil found in virtually all regions across the continent.
Africa remains one of the world's most wealthy and potentially one of the world's wealthiest continents. What is not always associated with the profiles of Africa is its vast acreage of rich farmlands with capacity to optimally support the food needs of generations of African peoples indefinitely. In addition, the famous fish industry in Sénégal, Angola, Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana for instance, Botswana's rich cattle farms, west Africa's yam and plantain belts extending from southern Cameroon to southern Sénégal, the continent's rich rice production fields, etc., etc., all highlight the potential Africa has for fully providing for all its food needs. Thus, what the current African socioeconomic situation shows is extraordinarily reassuring, provided the acreage devoted to cultivation is expanded and expressly targeted to address Africa's own internal consumption needs. Land-use directed at agriculture for food output must become the focus of agricultural policy in the new Africa, as opposed to the calamitous waste of 'cash-crop' production for export and/or the more recently observed 'land-grab' – parcelling away of land to foreign governments and organisations – occurring across the continent (on this, see the excellent work of Emeka Akaezuwa's 'Stop Africa Land Grab' movement [accessed 14 May 2013">).
It is an inexplicable and inexcusable tragedy that any African child, woman, or man could go without food in the light of the staggering endowment of resources in Africa. Africa constitutes a spacious, rich and arable landmass that can support its population, which is still one of the world's least densely populated and distributed, into the indefinite future. There is only one condition, though, for the realisation of this goal – Africa must utilise these immense resources for the benefit of its own peoples within newly negotiated, radically decentralised sociopolitical dispensations which must abandon the current murderous 'states' or 'Berlin-states' as they should be more appropriately categorised (Ekwe-Ekwe, Readings from Reading: 27, 41, 44, 69, 200). These principalities that dutifully go by the very fanged names of their creators (Nigeria, Niger, Chad, the Sudan, Central Africa Republic… whatever!) are an agglomeration of inchoate, inorganic and alienating emplacements that have been an asphyxiating trap for swathes of African constituent nations with evidently distinct histories, cultures and aspirations.
We now no longer require any reminders that the primary existence of these principalities is to destroy or disable as many enterprisingly resourceful and resource-based constituent peoples, nations and publics within the polity that are placed in their genocide march and sights. Here, the example of the Igbo people of west Africa cannot be overstressed. This is one of the most peaceful and industrious of peoples subjected to the longest-running genocide of the contemporary epoch by the Nigeria state. The Igbo genocide is the foundational genocide of post-(European)conquest Africa. It inaugurated Africa's current age of pestilence. During the course of 44 months (29 May 1966-12 January 1970) of indescribable barbarity and carnage not seen in Africa since the German-perpetration of the genocide against the Herero people of Namibia in the early 1900s, the composite institutions of the Nigeria state, civilian and military, murdered 3.1 million Igbo people or one-quarter of this nation's population. To understand the politics of the Igbo genocide and the politics of the 'post'-Igbo genocide is to have an invaluable insight into the salient features and constitutive indices of politics across Africa in the past 50 years.
Africans elsewhere remained largely silent on the gruesome events in Nigeria but did not foresee the grave consequences of such indifference as subsequent genocides in Rwanda, Darfur, Nuba Mountains, South Kordofan (all latter three in the Sudan) and Zaïre/Democratic Republic of theCongo, and in other wars in every geographical region of Africa during the period have demonstrated catastrophically. Just as the Nigerian operatives of mass murder appeared to have got away without censure from the rest of Africa, other genocidal and brutal African regimes soon followed in Nigeria's footpath, murdering a horrifically additional tally of 12 million people in their countries considered 'undesirables' or 'opponents'. These 12 million murdered in the latter bloodbaths would probably have been saved if Africans had intervened robustly to stop the initial genocide against the Igbo people.
It is abundantly clear that the factors which have contributed to determining the very poor quality of life of Africa's population presently have to do with the non-use, partial use, or the gross misuse of the continent's resources year in year out. This is thanks to an asphyxiating 'Berlin-state' whose strategic resources are used largely to support the Western world and others and an overseer-grouping of local forces which exists solely to police the dire straits of existence that is the lot of the average African. As a result, the broad sectors of African peoples are yet to lead, centrally, the entire process of societal reconstruction and transformation by themselves. Surely, an urgently restructured, culturally-supportive political framework that enhances the quality of life of Africans is really the pressing subject of focus for Africa.
One immediate move that states across the world, especially Britain, the leading arms exporter to Africa, and the rest of the West, Russia and China and others can make to support the ongoing efforts by peoples across Africa to rid themselves of such frighteningly genocidal and dysfunctional states is to ban all arms sales to Africa. This ban must be total and comprehensive. A total and comprehensive arms ban on Africa will radically advance the current quest on the ground by Africans, across the continent, to construct democratic and extensively decentralised new state forms that guarantee and safeguard human rights, equality and freedom for individuals and peoples. Africans have both the vision and the capacity to create alternative states – for them it is an imperative upon which their survival is based.
Forty-seven years and 15 million murders on, Africans finally realise that there cannot be any meaningful advancement without abandoning the post-conquest state, essentially a genocide-state. This state is the bane of African existence and progress. It is in the longer-term interest of the rest of the world, especially in the West, to support African transformations initiated by the peoples rather than the 'helmspersons'/'helmsconstituent nations' ostensibly entrenched in the hierarchical architecture that maps the typical continent's genocide-state.
*Herbert Ekwe-Ekwe is visiting professor in graduate programme of constitutional law at the Universidade de Fortaleza, Brazil, and specialist on the state and genocide and wars in Africa. This is a keynote paper he gave to a one-day conference on Africa on Monday 20 May 2013 at the Universidade Estadual do Ceará, Fortaleza. He wishes to thank Professor Mônica Dias Martins and her team for a very successful conference which featured a very engaging and rewarding stretch of discourses among scholars and students from an array of disciplines well into late evening. Obrigado!
**Refined columbite-tantalite, coltan, is critical in the manufacture of a range of small electronic equipment including, particularly, laptop computers and mobile phones; 80 per cent of the world's reserves of this mineral is in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which is being currently subjected to a genocidal conflict where 5 million people have been murdered since the 1990s.
* BROUGHT TO YOU BY PAMBAZUKA NEWS
* Please do not take Pambazuka for granted! Become a Friend of Pambazuka and make a donation NOW to help keep Pambazuka FREE and INDEPENDENT!
* Please send comments to editor[at]pambazuka[dot]org or comment online at Pambazuka News.