text:
DPP Rally, Dec 19, 2009
Sunday I marched in the DPP's march & rally "breaking the black box/protecting the rice bowls" to protest the arrival of PRC negotiator Chen Yunlin in our fair city of Taichung. We came early, before the crowd gathered here along a 1.5 kilometer stretch of Anhe Rd.
Tripods await news cameras.
A TV announcer warms up.
Preparing for the big broadcast.
Rally goers began arriving around 1:00 in buses from all over Taiwan.
The family is ready.
Rally-goers in uniform vests were a common sight.
An airhorn seller. Thankfully there did not seem to be many airhorns in our part of the crowd.
Although the sun came out for brief moments throughout the march, it was quite cold.
The DPP had plenty of its own volunteers doing traffic management and security.
Here a security volunteer receives instruction in the use of the lightsaber.
We ran into one of my wife's old classmates, now a DPP county councilman for Taipei county.
The crowd builds.
Taichung Mayor Jason Hu, a canny politician, laid on buses to move the protesters from the train station to the rally point. They were called "Love Democracy Buses" as the sign atop the bus says.
The old were a strong presence in the rally, with a leavening of families in their 40s with small children. There was hardly anyone under 35. The DPP rallies offer nothing to attract the young, so they don't come.
This cute father and son team was heavily photo'd.
Lots of home-made signs.
As the crowd stacked up, traffic become more and more difficult to manage. The police and the DPP volunteers did a great job.
This DPP politico lead the crowd cheers. Here she is giving out interviews.
Another contingent arrives.
The crowd continues to build.
Perhaps the most interesting vehicle was the photographers truck. It was dog-eat-dog up there.
Tossing oranges to the crowd.
Festooned with signs and banners and....a large crustacean, this truck drove by to cheers from the crowd.
The crowd stretched down both sides of Anhe Rd here for over a kilometer.
A number of prominent DPP politicians appeared. Here former Chairman Yu Shyi-kun arrives.
Frank Hsieh spoke as well.
Of course, Tsai Ing-wen had the last word.
A rally-goer.
The crowd waits to move.
A cameraman films the crowd as we walk up Anhe Rd.
Lin Cho-shui was there just standing by the side of the road.
On the move.
A large ROC was painted on a building near Chen Yunlin's route. Another equally gigantic sign announced "one China, one Taiwan."
Marching along Taichunggang Rd to chants of "One country on each side!"
The HSR roars overhead.
Security films the crowd.
I was never able to get above the crowd for a good shot, too many signs and things blocking the view.
It wasn't the only thing shivering.
Emerging into the city.
Construction cranes everywhere on this side of the city signal strong construction-industrial state support for the incumbent KMT mayor, Jason Hu.
The police were everywhere and did a fantastic job in traffic and crowd management.
The crowd approaches Liming Rd.
Moving in style.
Marching down Liming Rd.
As the marchers went down Liming, the crossing traffic cut up the crowd into chunks.
My family and I with my friend Drew, taken by Drew's wife, Joyce.
Crowd estimates: as we were walking and talking on the phone with people in the other line, there was much cynical commentary among us foreigners on how badly the international media would lowball the crowd size and how much credence it would give the always absurdly low police figures. Some estimates:
AFP: "up to 30,000"
AP: the police said 20-30,000, and reported (fairly) "tens of thousands."
Reuters: "Organizers said 100,000 people attended the march. Local police put the figure at 10,000." The report said "thousands" demonstrated. Reuters also said:
"Among the protesters were hardliners who want Taiwan to declare formal independence from China. Some waved banners advocating 'one side, one country.'"
This construction is ridiculous on every level. Apparently, in the international media, if you march peacefully waving a banner and declare that you support an independent and democratic Taiwan, you're a "hardliner." But if you point missiles at Taiwan, declare that everyone on the island must submit or die, and threaten to plunge the region into war if you don't get your way, you're.....a statesman? Hey Reuters, the President of China is a mass murderer. I guess if only he would wave banners and chant, people would really think he was a hardliner.
Not to mention the grossly incorrect formulation that Taiwan is declaring independence "from China." We're not part of China, and no internationally recognized treaty makes us part of China. There's a reason people read blogs, and errors like this are it.
The CNA, by contrast, did an excellent job; the reporter who wrote this piece was actually there:
In the days leading up to Sunday's protest rally, the DPP said it hoped to mobilize 100,000 people, and the party estimated after the event that the turnout had surpassed its goal. The Taichung City government, on the other hand, put the turnout at 31,000.
Fears that clashes would break out never materialized. Taichung City government spokesperson Tsou Mei-liang earlier said that no confrontations took place Sunday, and it was not a surprise since "the protest was legally applied for and all arrangements had been implemented beforehand." Prior to the main rally, the protesters marched for more than two hours in Taichung's streets, and made the most noise when they walked past the Windsor Hotel, where Chen will stay during his five-day stay, to express their displeasure over the Chinese negotiator's visit.
The Taipei Times also reported a police figure of 30,000. Good to know that the process ran peacefully, but with Chen Yunlin arriving later this morning, and local KMT councilman coyly asking the DPP not to get violent, I smell a set up.
What I believe is the correct figure is given in the Taiwan News piece by longtime Taiwan journalist Dennis Engbarth, who was actually there:
Marchers in the first route, which was mobilized by the DPP, numbered over 40,000, according to former DPP secretary-general Lin Chia-lung, while the "Break the Black Box" route had over 30,000 participants.
DPP Spokesman Tsai Chi-chang stated that over 100,000 participated in the event, surpassing the party's target.
Dennis and I were in different lines, I would say about 60-70,000 for the whole march as well. 30,000 is ridiculous; there were more people than that in my line alone. The DPP figure of 100,000 is also too high. The mysterious 10,000 number in the Reuters piece is simply the kind of nonsense that makes you shake your head. UPDATE: Found out that incredibly lowball figure was the first figure the police were giving out. That was later changed to 30,000.
This march had a different feel than the rallies I was in last year, much less electric, more mellow. As a friend noted, fewer airhorns, thankfully. Perhaps it was just the cold weather. Turnout was probably also depressed by Taichung's lack of convenient public transportation.
Taiwan News quoted the DPP's Lin Chia-lung, the likely challenger for the upgraded Taichung mayoralty next year:
Former DPP secretary-general Lin Chia-lung told The Taiwan News that the fact that the march attained its target "will exert pressure on the Chiang-Chen talks."
"Hu Jintao (PRC State Chairman) stated that the ECFA talks should be launched before the end of this year, but the size of this march in Taichung City, which is under KMT administration, and the strong showing of young people shows that many people in Taiwan identify its advocations."
"The march has sent a message to Hu that the CCP cannot simply strike a deal with Ma or the KMT and ignore the Taiwan people," said Lin, who added that "Ma now faces a combined pressure from the Taiwan electorate and the CCP."
Young people? What young people? I don't know about the other line, but there were few in mine.
ADDED: There were young people among the crowds lining the roads. I suspect if the DPP offered the right activities, consumption items, rituals, and gestures, the young might well turn out. It should also be noted, as a friend reminded me, that the turnout along the road is important too.
CORRECTED: maddog writes:
The DPP rallies offer nothing to attract the young, so they don't come. Kou Chou Ching (sp?) and Dog G performed at the rally. Did you miss it? I did miss it! Thanks man. That's good news.
Labels: DPP, rally
(Permalink) 7:30 AM
Thomas said...
I have several thoughts about your comments. First, do you have any idea how many "young people" attend KMT rallies? Before knocking the DPP rallies for their lack of non-grey heads, perhaps a bit of comparison is warranted. I ask because it seems to be common in many places that the young are the least politically active. If we can show that young greens are less active than young blues, then we may have a problem.
Second, you noticed that the march was more subdued. I was not there, so I can't comment on the energy of the crowd in itself. However, if it was more subdued, a plausible reason would be the nature of the talks that will be going on this week. The four agreements that will be signed may include nuggets that harm Taiwan (we won't know until later), but their stated aims are, for the most part, not too problematic. This means that the crowd didn't have an urgent problem to protest against. Rather, people were protesting an ongoing process.
Third, I was interested to note that the SCMP's coverage of the protest both the day before and today were largely positive, despite the fact that Lawrence Chung wrote them.
Sunday's paper presented the rally as a key test of Tsai's leadership and a measure of the discontent of the opposition. Today's paper used "tens of thousands" as the number of protestors, but did later use the police number of 30,000 (SCMP channels AFP a lot, so this is not surprising). But the number aside, LC actually said played the rally as somewhat of a victory for Tsai and the DPP because there were no incidents. The key idea was that she delivered on a promise that there would be no violence and came off looking reasonable, much aided by the absence of Chen Shuibian.
Especially like your people pics. You should do a portrait essay on progressives in Taiwan!
les said...
Public TV (公視) news had the number at 200,000. Their footage also showed the crowd as elderly and working class.
I think it is not that young people are not supportive or disinterested, but DPP rallies (political rallies in general) have changed little in the past 20 years with the same songs, stunts and methodologies. It probably comes across as a little hokey to a 28 year-old tech engineer who is two or three generations removed from the "simple farmer" image the DPP likes to cultivate.
The old are retired from their occupation,and they works in DPP's rally for their young who are still working to bring up a family which has the younger studying in schools.That's why there are lots of the old in DPP's rally.
Formosaness do this for generations.When the young get old,they will follow this steps to build a nation.
Thanks for the pictures. As a "young" one, I can say that for the most part, a majority of the young Taiwanese crowd that I have come in contact with is definitely leaning on the "green" side in a very general scale. I know very few that are outspokenly in favor of the KMT, or the KMT unification politices, and Ma (although that may just be my inadvertent ability to tend to draw closer to "greener" Taiwanese folks).
It's definitely an issue of inability to mobilize the young generation, even though they may agree with and support the "green" side. Most of the responses I heard when I invited some of my friends to participate in the 517 rally earlier this year, were that they just don't think going out and protesting does anything to help the situation or solve. That and of course the, "I have other stuff to do."
I guess it's just something that will have to "hit home" for most of us to realize that actions need to be taken. I think a reasonable goal for Tsai Ing-wen is to mobilize these young folk to just get the vote out in elections, at the very least- and that is when it really counts. Something similar to the U.S. where there was campaign to "rock the vote."
"I think it is not that young people are not supportive or disinterested, but DPP rallies (political rallies in general) have changed little in the past 20 years with the same songs, stunts and methodologies."
Fucking troll. Another one of those "the DPP is for southerners with no manners types" with a smug sense of Taipei superiority.
The DPP had its starts as an ultra urban party. Basically no one supported the "radical" DPP, but of those that did, nearly all of them were in Taipei and in the north. They started out having very significant strength in the north of Taiwan, owning the northern city/county heads, though in Taipei, that was an upset by Chen Shui-bian through a split of the Blues (still, ~40% of the vote during the mid 90s!!). It was the party of intellectuals, radicals, young people, and idealists, all of whom tend to live in big cities.
I think very unfortunately, there has been a loss of idealism by the intelligentsia, the current generation whom only knows of martial law in their childhood if at all, but even today, it's still true that the young and intellectuals lean Green. And you ignore that the DPP has GROWN its support throughout the nineties till now.
The better question is why the KMT was so quick to have the southern farmer type turn against it, so much so that the DPP became a majority in the south that it had not yet achieved in the north, not why the DPP "lost" some imaginary majority among the north it never had.
I wonder how much CSB's campaign had to do with the disinterest from the young? Remember his first campaign, how they managed to package him into a younger, cooler image? Beanie hats and so on?
I wonder how much more disaffected the young are these days, or that's a reason for the disinterest. I once had politics here described to me as the new religion. Are the young losing their faith in the whole process?
What is with you guys? The YOUNG lean DPP! TVBS poll from last presidential election!!! This discussion makes no sense!
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Another question to ask is how the DPP managed to lose so much of its urban support. In the past they have controlled Taipei City, Taipei County, Taoyuan, Taichung, Jilong, Xinzhu.They had a lot of support from the urban working class as well as the progressive middle class. I think they lost much of that support because they failed to do anything significant to advance the interests of the working class, and instead tried to mobilize support on the basis of (sub-)ethnic identity and a strong independence platform.
Still waiting for a genuinely progressive opposition party.
Michael Turton said...
Yes, but how do we get DPP-leaning young to get out there and demonstrate?
"Fucking troll. Another one of those "the DPP is for southerners with no manners types" with a smug sense of Taipei superiority."
I think this is hilarious. If you only knew who you called a "troll".
That's like calling anyone who criticizes "the Party" a XYZ roader. If you notice the criticism was constructive in that it raised the question asking if the DPP needs to start playing with the formula or if the DPP is changing to best reflect contemporary Taiwan. I think this is a very valid point. The generation gap is a very real marker of cultural change. It is a good thing because it eschews the "traditional" and seeks to create culture (freeing culture from traditional Historical narratives).
I think you misunderstood my criticism of DPP rallies, which recycle the same skits, slogans and rituals. These rallies are predictable because they are all the same and follow the same arc with the same memes. Remember Frank Hsieh's campaign. He ran a formulaic campaign with formulaic rallies and formulaic signs and formulaic memes. He was running on an old formula. It was tired. What mobilized people in the past will not mobilize people in the future. I remember Ma had a much slicker campaign.
I am not being classist, but I really don't think young Taiwanese envision themselves as farmers.
Still, I attend the rallies and throw my support behind the cause.
... Dumbass!
"Yes, but how do we get DPP-leaning young to get out there and demonstrate?"
Is that what it should be about? Showing up in large numbers to influence Ma and the KMT certainly has its place, but are we so unimaginative that all we want is for the young to show up for rallies?
The DPP is a loose alliance of ideologically similar politicians and their supporters. But it is also a platform and a forum for political discussion.
Why doesn't the DPP create an online presence that facilitates discussion and exchange of ideas? Why don't they think of new ways to enhance interaction among Green supporters that's beneficial to them and to the party? There are tons of local issues (destruction of old architecture, environmental issues like the Central Taiwan Science Park's twin clean water and waste water problems); where is the discussion and the positions?
I can't find the DPP's position on a carbon tax or water/electricity prices or on subsidence of land in Changhua. What are your constructive thoughts on more effective and meaningful participation of young in the DPP? They are very educated, very computer literate, and they don't want to just show up to a rally to support a very narrow platform of issues, important as they are.
That's a great reply. The DPP positions are out there laid out in white papers. But I take your main point.
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Is it possible for anyone to throw cold water on the 5G market potential and diminish ultra hyped expectations? YES!
Weldon further acknowledged that questions remain:"Will the enterprise appetite to spend more to use these futuristic use cases exist when 5G networks become a reality? Will devices to support these applications be in place once those networks are ready? Will businesses finally see wireless as a valid replacement for wireline broadband? And lastly, will operators be able to offer all these futuristic services profitably? Only time will tell.
Last year, Global Data said 5G networks will become mainstream by 2020, but Europe will lag behind Asia and the US, as operators seek to make the most of 4G, according to GlobalData, a recognized leader in providing business information and analytics. The company's 5G report forecasts that while over half of all mobile subscriptions will be 5G-capable in South Korea by 2022, compared only around 7% in Europe.
5G will, for the first time, go beyond increased bandwidth and capacity, as was the focus in previous wireless generations, adding low latency, high density and high reliability. These capabilities will enable a variety of use cases, opening the door to new, predominantly business-focused services such as self-driving cars and smart cities. 5G also supports the focus that many operators have in looking for new, adjacent revenue streams, including fixed-mobile integration, digital content and the Internet of Things.
Peter Jarich, Chief Analyst for GlobalData Technology, adds: "Hopes are running high for the potential of 5G to truly transform mobile business models, and tap new revenue opportunities moving beyond consumers and into diverse digital industries. The implications go beyond any individual operator to impact national and regional competitiveness.
This entry was posted in 5G, IoT. Bookmark the permalink.
"I talk to other CEOs around the world in this space, and we've all been struggling a little bit making the business case work," said Gavin Patterson, CEO of the UK's BT Group, when discussing the need for 5G at a recent conference. And he's right to be concerned. For each previous leap in mobile technology, there was a clear-cut business use that would drive additional revenue, but with the current price wars going on, there is less of a clear revenue case for 5G.
"It's possible for 5G ARPU to stay at the same level as 4G, which means it will take seven to eight years to recoup 5G investments." He noted 4G ARPU stayed at 3G levels for a long time.
Lee Yong-gyoo Lee, head of KT's 5G business unit, agreed the business case for 5G "is not clear at all" and admitted the South Korea-based operator is not yet ploughing ahead with large-scale investment in the technology, despite being a 5G front runner.
Despite the initiatives from the early market movers, industry players and analysts generally agree that there is too much hype around 5G and the business case for the technology remains vague. There currently aren't many clear use cases or applications which can only be supported with 5G.
Ronan Dunne, Verizon's group president of wireless, outlined a number of use cases for 5G mobility technology following its expected introduction next year, saying 5G will offer a "one-to-one relationship" that will provide customized experiences for users. Specifically, he mentioned seven potential use-case areas such as retail, gaming and health care.
The 'race to 5G' has moved beyond the telecoms industry and become a priority for governments around the world, but it remains unclear whether the end result will ultimately be worth the effort, according to GlobalData.
Our latest thematic research report, '5G – Thematic Research' reveals that the hype around 5G has been building for so long now that it can be easy to forget that it will not become widely commercially available until 2019 at the earliest. Even then, uptake will be minimal – just 0.09% of all mobile data traffic will be carried over 5G by the end of 2019, according to GlobalData's Global Mobile Broadband Forecast.
• This report looks at how the major players in the global telecoms industry are preparing for the arrival of 5G, which is expected to become commercially available in 2019.
• Highlights the main trends in 5G from a technology, macroeconomic and regulatory perspective.
• Included in the report are forecasts for 5G subscriptions and data traffic, analysis of recent 5G-related M&A activity, and a timeline tracking key developments in 5G.
• The report also uses a scorecard approach to illustrate the impact of 5G on telecom operators and telecom equipment makers.
More than half of mobile operators worldwide risk putting themselves at a financial and competitive disadvantage due to pessimism about the near term potential for the technology, new research indicates.
A survey of public statements by executives of the world's 20 largest mobile operators, conducted by Bain & Company, found that more than half (53%) see no near term business case for 5G.
But because 5G has the potential to dramatically increase network speed and capacity and give early adopters a competitive edge, operators left playing catch-up could face both market share and cash flow consequences.
"Generation after generation, we've seen network operators invest capital to upgrade their infrastructure with the firm belief that those investments would lead to more satisfied customers, a reinvigorated top line, and higher profits," said Herbert Blum, who leads Bain & Company's telecommunications practice in the Americas.
Skeptics are concerned that the technologies that will require 5G, such as augmented or virtual reality streaming and autonomous vehicles, are still years from being commercially available, he said.
But what this misses is that operators can develop a compelling rationale for 5G based on the improvements it will bring to existing services, such as by relieving 4G congestion or allowing the mobile network to act as a substitute for fixed line services.
Concerns about the large capex requirements for 5G rollouts also tend to make the faulty assumption that a contiguous canopy of 5G coverage and that operators will need to build large numbers of 5G cell sites.
In reality 5G can co-exist with existing 4G networks, most operators already have sufficient node density in urban markets to accommodate 5G over 3.5-GHz or even millimeter wave spectrum, and 5G is expected to evolve to be able to coexist with 4G on the same equipment.
Indeed, winning 5G operators are expected to be those that build the networks to make full use of their existing physical and spectral assets, Bain & Company said.
Finally, the company noted that some operators believe that the main reason to invest in 5G is to improve efficiency rather than increase revenues. But the most successful 5G operators will also use 5G deployments to increase revenue and create a cycle of 5G reinvestment.
Operators are expected to invest over $200 billion in capex on their 5G networks between 2018 and the end of 2023, and much more beyond that. Developed markets such as the USA and South Korea are taking the early lead regarding 5G rollout and service launch, but it will be China that comes to dominate capital expenditure within five years.
Heavy Reading's latest report, Mobile Operator 5G Capex Forecasts: 2018-2023, seeks to provide insight into how much might be spent, and where and when. It provides estimates and forecasts 5G capex by mobile operators (including investments made by those mobile operators in the fixed transport infrastructure to serve those networks), as well as breakdowns of investment by region, and by network segment (RAN, transport, core and civils). The estimates are underpinned by forecasts for 5G subscribers and 5G macro and microcell sites.
The inaugural survey, which T-Mobile plans to produce on a quarterly basis with HarrisX going forward, found that 57% of Americans are aware of 5G, and of those who are aware, 90% believe 5G will be better than 4G or LTE. Moreover, 64% of the survey respondents who are aware of 5G expect it to be "widely available" by 2020. Reliability, speed and wider coverage were all cited as the most appealing aspects of 5G among those surveyed.


For the last several days I have been unable to sign in to the other DWs. I cleared the browser cache and can't remember my password. When I try to reset, either my username isn't recognized or an email is supposed to be sent that I never receive.
The email notifications don't work, so I'll re-set your passwords and send you the log in info here in a PM at this Dharma Paths.


text:
$19,000 UNIL Master's Scholarships in Switzerland for Foreign Students – Switzerland 2021
Published Date: August 31, 2021
E-Mail: Mastergrants@unil.ch.
Masters scholarships are scholarships for excellence awarded exclusively to students who have graduated from a foreign university and whose academic results are of a very high level.
UNIL grants around ten scholarships a year.
The scholarship is granted for the minimum statutory period of the program chosen by the student. It amounts to CHF 1,600 per month from 15 September to 15 July (or 10 months a year) for the complete duration of the masters (one and a half years or two years depending on the chosen masters), with the exception of cases of definitive failure after the first year.
To have obtained a foreign university degree considered equivalent to a bachelor's at UNIL before the beginning of the master's program at UNIL.
To have distinguished as a student during these studies, especially through particularly brilliant academic results.
To have a language level of at least B2 (according to the European Language Portfolio global scale) in French or at least C1 in English according to the language in which each student has chosen to master as fluent.
Applicants must not be registered with UNIL.
To have paid the CHF 200.00 administration fee (see document, "list of documents to attach to the application").
The requirements for each applicant are to locate the exact documents required and scan or photocopy them to send in.
Candidates must send their completed application (refer to the document, "list of documents to attach to your application"), unbound, by post only to the following address:
Service des affaires sociales et de la mobilité étudiante (SASME)
Bâtiment Unicentre
CH – 1015 Lausanne
The application form must be completed on a computer and duly signed by the candidate.
The application for the Master's scholarship also serves as an application for admission to your chosen master's (and therefore an application to register at UNIL).
Candidates are made aware of the fact that the sum of the scholarship awarded is not sufficient to live in Switzerland.
Students offered a scholarship will be exempt from the fixed registration fees for the courses, with the exception of the CHF 80.00 fees to be paid each semester.
The deadline is November 1, 2021.
This is an annual scholarship.
https://www.unil.ch/
List of Competitive Scholarships at the Queensland University of Technology

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The number of murders in Sweden has decreased by more than half over the last two decades according to a new study that gives the country one of the lowest homicide rates in Europe.
Researchers from Linneaus University compiled statistics which revealed that the number of murders or manslaughters committed in Sweden last year was 62 compared to 127 back in 1989.
Indeed, the 62 murders/manslaughters was the lowest homicides figure since the 1960s, according to statistics from the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brottsförebyggande rådets statistik, Brå).
Sweden's decreasing murder rate is in keeping with figures compiled for the rest of Europe. France, Germany and Italy have also had seen the amount of murders decrease by half since the mid 1990s. In Denmark the murder rate has decreased by a quarter in that same time period.
The study also looked at emergency room visits to Stockholm South General Hospital, finding that the number of people seeking treatment for injuries from street violence had declined by a third between 2007 and 2012.
While violent crime is decreasing in general, the study found, violence related to the activities of organized criminal gangs in on the rise.
According to crime researcher Sven Granath, the drop in violent crime has, paradoxically, occurred in the wake of a more liberal approach to alcohol in Sweden since the 1990s including relaxed rules for how much alcohol people could bring into the country for private consumption.
"Here we should have had a sharp increase in the number of assaults and murders. In fact it was on the contrary. The worst violence was down," he told Dagens Nyheter (DN).
Another factor is that young people now spend more time interacting via social media and gaming, resulting in reduced alcohol consumption and violence.


2011 Mazda RX8 - Grand Touring in the only rotary-powered production car on the planet.
PLUSES: Sporty looks and performance. Lots of power in a small package.
The rotary was going to be THE engine of the future.
Mazda had one and General Motors was preparing to offer one in a subcompact called the Chevy Monza.
Even a silly looking car called Pacer from American Motors Corp. that resembled a 4 wheeled saucer was created to carry a rotary engine under its hood, though it never got the chance.
That was then and this is now and the only mass produced rotary powered passenger car on the planet is the Mazda RX8. The Monza car is no longer made and American Motors Corp. is no longer operating.
The rotary offered lots of power, but not exceptional mileage, in a small package. And with concern over high gas prices and limited fuel supplies, m.p.g. became a priority over m.p.h.
We tested the 2011 RX8 Grand Touring edition with its 1.3 liter rotary engine delivering 232 h.p. teamed with 6-speed manual. With 6-speed automatic its 212 h.p. The mileage rating is 16 m.p.g. city/22 m.p.g. highway.
Quick, yet quiet, the RX8 packs a V-8 punch from a rotary engine that's about 60 percent smaller and lighter than a V-6, about 40 percent smaller and lighter than a four cylinder.
Yet hybrids and electrics that squeeze more miles out of the source of energy command more attention than those engines that deliver potent power.
Stiil, the RX8 represents a lot of fun in a small package.
in back. Save the space for packages.
Smooth, pleasant suspension for very sure footed handling without getting tossed about in the snug cabin.
While stability control and side curtain air bags are standard common safety systems, more novel safety features include front seats designed to reduce whiplash injuries in an impact, a brake pedal designed to break away in a high force collision to protect feet and legs, and a "shock-cone" hood design that cushions the impact of a pedestrian onto the hood.
The RX8 Grand Touring starts at $32,260 which includes Xenon headlights, fog lights, auto dimming mirror with Homelink, auto on/off headlights, Bose audio with 6-disc CD auto changer, satellite radio, automatic climate control, driver seat memory, power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support, leather seating surfaces, heated front seats, heated outside mirrors, keyless entry and pushbutton start, rain-sensing wipers, power moonroof, and Bluetooth hands-free phone capability. A DVD-driven satellite-navigation unit is a stand-alone option.
Engine: 1.3 liter, 232 h.p. rotary engine.
Mileage: 16 m.p.g. city/22 m.p.g. highway.
Price as equipped: Add $795 freight.


Re-homing organisations across the UK are suspending rabbit rehoming over Easter weekend for fears of impulse custom.
With their floppy ears and fluffy tails, bunnies are the third most popular pet in the UK. And due to being historically recognised as symbols of fertility and rebirth, bunnies are associated with Spring and Easter with their popularity as pets soaring during these periods.
Subsequently, leading re-homing organisation Support Adoption For Pets is suspending its re-homing of rabbits over the Easter bank holiday weekend, although it will still accept animals into its care. This preventative measure is being adopted by hundreds of rabbit and animal rescues across the UK to prevent impulsive rehoming.
Support Adoption For Pets is an independent charity established by Pets at Home in 2006, since then it has helped over 1,000 re-homing centres and animal welfare organisations across the UK. In addition to its fundraising work it also runs dedicated adoption centres in nearly all Pets at Home stores.
To find out more about Support Adoption For Pets or to support the charity visit www.supportadoptionforpets.co.uk.


I agree 100%! When I read about the film and then watched the trailer, I questioned the premise that this was romance, or the bloom of young love, or whatever. It was inappropriate, period. I am a retired high school teacher. Think back to all the stories about high school twenty-something teachers who have affairs with their seventeen and eighteen year old students. It's against the law. I did not see the film. My small, invisible form of protest.


text:
, a series of texts written by an 18th-century samurai, Yamamoto Tsunetomo. It is a window into the samurai mind, illuminating the concept of bushido (the Way of the Warrior), which dictated how samurai were expected to behave, conduct themselves, live, and die. While Hagakure was for many years a secret text known only to the warrior vassals of the Nabeshima clan to which the author belonged, it later came to be recognized as a classic exposition of samurai thought. The original Hagakure consists of over 1,300 short texts that Tsunetomo dictated to a younger samurai over a seven-year period. William Scott Wilson has selected and translated here 300 of the most representative of those texts to create an accessible distillation of this guide for samurai. No other translator has so thoroughly and eruditely rendered this text into English.
For this edition, Wilson has added a new introduction that casts Hagakure in a different light than ever before. Tsunetomo refers to bushido as "the Way of death", a description that has held a morbid fascination for readers over the years. But in Tsunetomo's time, bushido was a nuanced concept that related heavily to the Zen concept of muga, the "death" of the ego. Wilson's revised introduction gives the historical and philosophical background for that more metaphorical reading of Hagakure, and through this lens, the classic takes on a fresh and nuanced appeal.", "schema:abridged": "false", "schema:encodingFormat": "MP3 Audiobook, WMA Audiobook, AAC Audiobook", "schema:playerType": "Requires OneClick Digital Media Manager", "schema:audio": "https://audio-ssl.itunes.apple.com/apple-assets-us-std-000001/AudioPreview123/v4/a5/18/0b/a5180b4c-a1f9-630c-cdff-983f4db030ea/mzaf_5265721525063436472.std.aac.p.m4a", "schema:embedUrl": "https://audio-ssl.itunes.apple.com/apple-assets-us-std-000001/AudioPreview123/v4/a5/18/0b/a5180b4c-a1f9-630c-cdff-983f4db030ea/mzaf_5265721525063436472.std.aac.p.m4a" }
Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai (Unabridged)
By William Scott Wilson (translator) & Yamamoto Tsunetomo
Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai (Unabr William Scott Wilson (translator) & Yamamoto Tsunetomo
More by William Scott Wilson (translator) & Yamamoto Tsunetomo
William Scott Wilson (translator) & Yamamoto Tsunetomo
The Unfettered Mind: Writings from a Zen Master to a Master Swordsman (Unabridged)
Takuan Soho & William Scott Wilson (translator)


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Tag: University of Houston
A Pre-Game Look at the Fertitta Center's Progress and Where Its New Seating Sections Will Post Up Inside
Renovations, Stadiums, Third Ward
The plaza outside UH's basketball arena — soon-to-feature a statue of the building's former namesake Roy Hofheinz — is currently a mess of dirt and constructions vehicles working to make the place look like the rendering above. The big red Fertitta Center sign isn't up yet; it's set to rise over the glassier new entrance fronting Cullen Blvd.
On the inside, a new scoreboard, new AV equipment, bigger bathrooms and new food and retail are being added. The ceiling is going up 30 ft. above a brand-new court and some lower seating sections, creating a crater-like hole in the roof that — viewed from nosebleed land — will look something like this:
Hofheinz No More
77204, Renovations, Stadiums, Third Ward, University of Houston
Upstairs in the New Pharmacy Building Where UH Will Be Birthing Its New Medical School
Institutional Buildings, University of Houston
Where's the University of Houston going to put its new College of Medicine? In the top 2 floors of this new structure behind the campus Rec Center, pictured here as construction completed this summer: the new Health and Biomedical Sciences Building 2. The College of Pharmacy is expected to complete its move into lower floors of the building by the end of this year. The adjacent tower (shown in the upper right of the photo below) is the 4-year-old Health and Biomedical Sciences Building (soon to be known as HBSB1), which, together with the older but also-attached Armistead Bldg. at the corner of Calhoun and Wheeler, houses the school's College of Optometry.
Campus Med Center
77004, Institutional Buildings, University of Houston
Comment of the Day Runner-Up: How About a Do-Over for UT's Houston Campus Proposal?
Quicklink, South Main
COMMENT OF THE DAY RUNNER-UP: HOW ABOUT A DO-OVER FOR UT'S HOUSTON CAMPUS PROPOSAL? "I'd be steaming mad if I were UT right now. I don't see how everyone can align with A&M, but UT asks for everyone to come together after they get the land and everyone tells them to leave. Why didn't the city/UH/politicians suggest a similar model for UT? They should now move forward with their initial plans. It would be great for the city." [Innerlooped, commenting on Houston's Record Rental Levels; The Neighborhoods Hit Hardest By Harvey; A Debris Removal Progress Update; previously on Swamplot] Map showing location of proposed 300-acre UT Houston campus: Houston Public Media
77057, Comments, Land Sales, South-Main, Universities, University of Houston, UT Houston
Calhoun Banished from UH's Calhoun Lofts
Quicklink, Real Estate Marketing, University of Houston
CALHOUN BANISHED FROM UH'S CALHOUN LOFTS A statement out this afternoon from UH: "The University of Houston does not have statues, memorials or monuments honoring the Confederate era. Calhoun Lofts were originally named to coincide with the name of the adjacent city street when the university began its aggressive residential expansion in the last decade. While the residence hall was not named in recognition of John C. Calhoun, in the wake of recent events, and out of sensitivity to our diverse student community the university has decided to change the name to University Lofts. The change will be made as soon as practical." [Daily Cougar] Photo of Calhoun Lofts, 4700 Calhoun Rd.: Kirksey Architecture
77204, Dorms, Names, Real Estate Marketing, University of Houston
Fertitta to UT: Why Not Work Together on That UT Campus Idea We Ran Outta Town?
South Main, University of Houston
A little bit of tune-changing looks to have happened with respect to the University of Texas's Houston data science campus idea in the month or 2 since UT formally canned the plans to pursue it. At yesterday's State of the City luncheon, where Mayor Turner asked a bunch of major regional universities to work together on making a data science research center happen after all, Lindsey Ellis reports that University of Houston board of regents chair and Landry's CEO Tilman Fertitta also made some comments in support of the project. Fertitta (who back in March immediately issued a victorious press release when UT announced it would sell off the 300 acres of land it'd purchased) told the audience that UH would be "excited to sit down and collaborate" with other Houston and Texas universities on a campus, Lindsey Ellis reports for the Chronicle.
The difference now (versus last spring when UH snubbed an invitation to join that task force working up potential uses for the land)? Fertitta says UT wouldn't be able to single-handedly "come in and dictate" with respect to the final project; he also suggests that perhaps UT might like to donate the purchased property to whatever group of local universities might end up in charge.
UT Houston Rematch
77057, Land Sales, South-Main, Universities, University of Houston, UT Houston
Katy Asian Town, Super H Mart Planned Alongside UH's Grand Pkwy. Mall Ringroad Campus
by Brian Walz
Institutional Buildings, Katy, Land Development, Mixed Use, Proposed Developments, Retail
The long-vacant lot above, near the northeast corner of I-10 and the Grand Parkway, is now being cleared and flattened to make room for the Houston area's third Super H Mart, according to leasing materials a larger retail development being marketed as Katy Asian Town. Plans for the 16-acre site look to including a pair of smaller strip-style buildings and 2 pad sites, in addition to a long string of retail spots flanking the grocery store:
Latest Grand Plans
77449, Commercial Buildings for Lease, Institutional Buildings, Katy, Katy Asian Town, Proposed Developments, University of Houston
UT's Houston Campus Plans Crushed By Cougar Defensive Line, UH Fans
All that booing over the last year and a half from Houston's most expansive university system and its legislative friends looks to have paid off: UT has cancelled its plans for a new research campus south of the Astrodome, citing fears that continuing to press for the project could throw a wet blanket on projects at its other campuses. The school's press office announced the pivot this afternoon, adding that UT's real estate office will look into how to sell the 307 acres they've spent the last year collecting, though it might take some time to put together a sale that makes sense.
UH Board of Regents chairman and reality real estate TV star Tilman Fertitta said today that the sustained backlash to UT's land buy was really a team effort, assisted by elected officials, administrators, and other folks aiming to prevent what Fertitta calls an unnecessary duplication of state resources. UT had previously announced that the campus wouldn't have been a 4-year university; chancellor Bill McRaven suggested this afternoon that plans for the land might have shaped up to include a big data science center with a focus on health care, energy, and education, and that the ideas from the task force put together to plan for the land could be put to use elsewhere instead.
Chancellor McRaven ends plan for UT project in Houston [UT Press Office]
UT System Says It Won't Proceed with Houston Campus [Texas Tribune]
Previously on Swamplot: McRaven: New UT Houston Campus Not a 'Dump'; Just a Contaminated S. Main Industrial Site Like Any Other; UT Writes Back to UH Pen Pals, Lawmakers on Houston Campus Plans; Texas A&M Weighs Houston Expansion As UT Collects Land for Its Planned Campus; What That Land UT Bought on Friday for Its Houston Campus Might Have Turned Into Instead; The Best Views of the New UT Houston Campus Are Available Now from the Fairway on the 5th Hole, Above a Trash Heap; What You'll Find In and Around UT's New Houston Campus
Conceptual rendering of UT Houston campus: Houston Public Media
Higher Ed Shutout
77057, South-Main, University of Houston, UT Houston
Scott St. Block Bought Up by Frenchy's Gets Cleared Out by Cougars Fan
Third Ward, University of Houston
The legal entity that has recently taken control of this block of Scott St. — located between Hadley and Bremond streets just off I-45 — appears to have been named in honor of the University of Houston's early September football defeat of the Oklahoma Sooners. The previous owner of the land, a corporation called 3919 Scott Street (which, yes, is also the address of the up-for-eventual-demo original Frenchy's restaurant down the road), transferred the property shown above over to an entity called UH33-OU23 near the end of last month, after putting in a request to the city to turn the 1.79 acres of mostly-vacant smaller lots into 1 big unrestricted parcel under the name University Gateway. The land is less than half a mile up Scott St. from the Elgin / Third Ward light-rail stop at the edge of UH's central campus:
Sooners or Later in Third Ward
77004, Houston Planning Commission, Third Ward, University Gateway, University of Houston
Church Expansion Plan Casts Out Frenchy's from Original Scott Spot
The gospel-soundtracked video above, showing Wheeler Avenue Baptist's plans to plant a larger sanctuary next door to its existing facilities, appears to show that new structure landing on top of the original Frenchy's location at 3919 Scott St. The creole chicken chain, which announced last year that it would be pushing for national expansion to 500 locations, also previously announced plans to tear down the original spot and rebuild bigger, though the exact location of that rebuild wasn't specified. (Just up the street, meanwhile, a Frenchy's-connected entity called 3919 Scott Street appears to have purchased the entire city block southwest of the corner of Scott St. and Hadley back in 2009. )
The property at 3919 Scott St. was bought over the summer by the church; the renderings in the video (posted just this week) more or less match up to a few older depictions featured on Harrison Kornberg Architects's website for the project:
Third Ward Chicken Prophecy
77004, Churches, Houston Landmarks, Proposed Developments, Restaurants, Third Ward, University of Houston
Fertitta's $20 Million UH Donation To Bump Hofheinz from Pavilion to Plaza Status
The $20-million basketball stadium donation previously rumored to be on its way from Landry's owner and UH board of regents chairman Tilman Fertitta was confirmed this morning by the school, which also released renderings of what's planned for Hofheinz Pavilion — eventually to sport the name Fertitta Center. The depictions of the $60-million upgrade include some prominent views of a well-labeled Hofheinz Plaza, part of a deal with the Hofheinz family after a lawsuit over the basketball arena's planned renaming.
Below are a few more shots of the plans, which UH says should be wrapped up by the end of the 2018-19 season:
Center Moving Forward
77204, Names, Renovations, Sports Courts, Stadiums, Third Ward, University of Houston
UH's Hofheinz Pavilion Could Pick Up Tilman Fertitta's Name
UH'S HOFHEINZ PAVILION COULD PICK UP TILMAN FERTITTA'S NAME That anonymous naming-rights-sized donation toward the redo of UH's Hofheinz Pavilion looks to be coming from none other than local real estate mogul and reality teevee star Tilman Fertitta, writes Benjamin Wermund this week. The UH board of regents, which Fertitta also chairs, voted to authorize the basketball arena upgrade last fall after the donation was announced. Fertitta also helped the university navigate the subsequent lawsuit from the Hofheinz family over the potential renaming; the matter was eventually resolved by new plans to rename part of Holman St. and to erect a statue of late county judge Roy Hofheinz near by. Based on a chat with former Georgia Tech Foundation president John B. Carter, Wermund writes that the board "would have to vote to accept Fertitta's gift and to name the arena after him. It's not uncommon for members of university governing boards to give large donations to the colleges they represent, but board members who become donors should recuse themselves from any discussions or votes about granting them naming rights on a university building." [Houston Chronicle; previously on Swamplot] Photo of Hofheinz Pavilion: University of Houston
Names, Naming Rights, Renovations, Sports Courts, University of Houston
UH Ready for Legal Action over South Texas College of Law's Houston Rebranding
Lawsuits, Quicklink
UH READY FOR LEGAL ACTION OVER SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW'S HOUSTON REBRANDING "It has come to the University of Houston's attention that South Texas College of Law has announced that it is changing its name to Houston College of Law. . . . The University of Houston is concerned about the significant confusion this creates in the marketplace and will take any and all appropriate legal actions to protect the interests of our institution, our brand, and our standing in the communities we serve." [University of Houston; previously on Swamplot] Photo of University of Houston Law Center: Douglas R.
Downtown, Lawsuits, Names, Schools, Third Ward, University of Houston
Interpreting Parking Lot Cryptograms Around the Big-Box-To-Be in Eastwood
Lovett has been dropping a few crumbs regarding the selection of restaurants and shops that will fringe the parking lot of the retail development planned for the former Fingers Furniture warehouse site on Cullen Blvd., across I-45 from the University of Houston's main campus. No anchor tenant for the site has officially named (though talk of Walmart has made its way to several tipsters in the Eastwood Civic Association this spring, along with assurances that the marker memorializing the former site of Buffalo Stadium's home plate will likely be preserved).
A site plan from December (shown above, with north angled roughly toward the top right corner) shows several pad sites along the feeder road marked up as QSR (presumably Quick Service Restaurant). A later sketch now up on Lovett's website as well adds more clues, however — including a cryptic label on what could be the first Starbucks to venture into the East End:
Cullen at I-45
77003, 77023, Affordable Housing, Apartments, Eastwood, Proposed Developments, Religious Facilities, Restaurants, Retail, University of Houston
UH Downtown To Plant STEM Building on New Acreage, Wait and See How the Freeways Grow
Outlined in red is the next addition to University of Houston Downtown's campus, per last Thursday's meeting by the UH system's board of regents. The image above comes from a marketing flier included in the board's agenda notes (as presented by board member and real estate reality TV star Tilman Fertitta). The 17-acre parcel on the north side of I-10 runs along the Daly St. student parking lot by the Burnett Transit Center light-rail station, and includes several areas west of N. Main St. already in use by UHD as faculty and student parking.
The land, bounded on the southwest by White Oak Bayou, will likely house a new science and engineering building — though it may have to cozy up with some additions to the downtown freeway system still in the planning phase. UHD VP David Bradley tells Nancy Sarnoff that the parts of the tract that may end up inside the expanded right-of-way will hang around as green space until TxDOT's map lines are firmed up.
Rail Yard Revival
77002, Downtown, Land Sales, Near Northside, University of Houston, University of Houston Downtown
U of H Preps To Buy Ex-Grand Katy Land, Sell in Cinco Ranch
On the agenda for tomorrow's meeting of the University of Houston's board of regents: a who-can-sign-for-it approval for the purchase of a 46-acre property in Katy, about a 10-minute drive from the 10-acre Cinco Ranch property the school is hoping to sell later this year. The land occupies half of the big round tract at the northeast corner of I-10 and the Grand Pkwy. once slated to become Simon Property's The Grand. That land was sold in 2014 to Moody-controlled Parkside Capital, which had been marketing it as a mixed-use office development called Verde Parc; if all goes according to the terms laid out in a late-April letter of intent describing the sale terms, the area will be rebranded as University Park (currently the name of the street the Cinco Ranch property sits on, at the intersection with S. Mason Dr.).
The Gensler site plan above appears in the notes that go along with tomorrow's board vote; another aerial map clarifies that the University is buying the top half of the circle, not the bottom parcels:
Campus Parking
77449, Grand Parkway, Katy, Land Sales, University of Houston


text:
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roninjax	in Life Influences, Photos, Travel	 August 16, 2019 August 16, 2019 158 Words
Settlers make a difference
Cunningham cabin at Grand Teton National Park
Frontier settlers throughout history made a difference toward building development and life itself. Wyoming's Grand Teton benefited by certain visionaries.
J. Pierce Cunningham was a rancher who became a conservationist. He settled in Jackson Hole in the 1880s despite the winter hardship. He originally opposed the expansion of Grand Teton National Park but later became an advocate.
Cunningham teamed with his neighbor, Josiah "Si" Ferrin to write a petition signed by 97 valley ranchers who agreed to sell their land to form a "national recreation area." John D. Rockefeller, Jr's Snake River Land Company bought Cunningham's land and other ranches. Rockefeller later donated more than 33,000 acres to expand the national park.
Examples of conservation and preservation of the national recreation area.
Now we can observe and preserve the beauty of the Grand Teton National Park.
Blessings along the Way!
#nationalrecreationarea
J. Pierce Cunningham
John D. Rockefeller Jr Snake River Land Company
Ranchers and Jackson Hole
11 thoughts on "Settlers make a difference"
Much of our country's conservation of public lands and establishment of national parks goes back to voices such as John Muir and leaders such as Theodore Roosevelt. Philanthropists such as John D. Rockefeller and others also contributed on their own ways.
I found these ranchers in Wyoming to be amazing and united in their cause to set aside land for future generations to witness and enjoy.
True. People who saw the greater good and gave unselfishly. I'm thankful. Thank you for the wonderful insight. 🙂
did they have pictures of how it looked in another time.. when the ranchers actually worked the area?
I saw one plaque with a tiny photo but it wouldn't enlarge with sufficient detail. I'm sure there are some photos somewhere around there. I'll need to research a little more. Thanks. 🙂
Create Space says:
Cunningham is an Irish name!
It's amazing the influence from those around the world. That's part of what is so great about the U.S. – people from all over the world contribute – just like the French who named the Grand Teton range too. Thanks. 🙂
Hopefully America will continue to benefit that way.
I agree. Thanks. 🙂
Our nephew and his wife were wed in Grand Teton national park. Was our first experience there and we were impressed. My son climbed one of the Tetons.
Thanks for sharing. I can see how the setting would be wonderful for a wedding. I imagine it's a challenge to climb them. I didn't have that aspiration. 🙂
Neither do I
Hello there. I appreciate your thoughts - let's talk.	Cancel reply


The Wici Song and Dance Theater was organized in 1972 in Chicago. Its mission has been to promote Polish culture in both the Polish and American communities through song, dance, and music. Wici has carried the traditions of their ancestors through with their authentic costumes and original choreography.
In 1983, Wici was established as an Illinois charitable nonprofit corporation. All of the members of the company perform without any compensation or monetary reward. Thanks to the efforts of their members and their sincere love of the Polish and American culture, the group has maintained an artistic standard that many professional troupes would envy.
Over 8,000 young people and adults have participated in the group's activities since its origin. Wici is comprised of two groups totaling over 300 dancers, musicians, and artists. The children's group, Male WICI, was founded by Magdalena Solarz in order to educate young dancers and to prepare them for the adult group. Male WICI currently encompasses ten children's groups, ranging from ages 3 to 14. Two hundred and fifty children dance in Male WICI, and the representative group is composed of over 70 teens and adults. The company performs to the accompaniment of a live folk band.
In addition, the group boasts an exceptionally large store of hand-made costumes imported from Poland. Complete collections of colorful men's and women's attire made from the finest materials (wool, velvet, and silk), include embroidered undergarments, footwear, accessories and headpieces, and number in the thousands of items, some of which are priceless original handicrafts.
Wici participates in over 60 performances each year, 60% of which are viewed by American audiences. Wici has performed in cooperation with the Grand Theater and Opera of Warsaw and Lodz. The company has performed at many renowned theaters all over the world including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. They have also produced choreography in the world renowned Benet production of the Nut Cracker, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and Coppelia. Wici has also worked in partnership with the Glen Ellyn Opera House. For the past 12 years, the company has also partnered with PASO – the Paderewski Symphony Orchestra in a variety of concerts ranging from operettas to musical cabarets. WICI also participated in the Polish Theater of Chicago's production of Polish Bethlehem, but these are only a few examples of the group's notable achievements. WICI has also appeared at the prestigious John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington D.C. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Wici is a phenomenon in the Polish and American artistic circle.
Wici has traveled and performed at venues all over the world including Canada, Italy, Poland, the Caribbean, and Mexico. In the upcoming year we are looking forward to travel to many new destinations and sharing our love of music and dance. Several years ago, we started exploring American folklore and music including country western and clogging. One of our new dances comes from the Cold Mountain Region and is filled with musical excitement, jumps, lifts and of course beautiful authentic costumes. The Wici Song & Dance Company hopes to continue enriching the American culture with vibrant ethnic variety.


text:
Tesla Appoints Board Member Robyn Denholm to Replace Elon Musk
© AFP 2019 / FABRICE COFFRINI
In September, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against Tesla founder Elon Musk for fraud, citing his public statements on taking the company private, which caused "confusion and disruption" in the stock market and harmed investors. The SEC and Musk then agreed that he would step down as chairman of Tesla Inc.
Tesla announced that Robyn Denholm had taken Tesla founder Elon Musk's place as chair of the company's board. She is due to leave her job as chief financial officer and head of strategy at Telstra Corp., the Australian telecommunications company, once her six-month notice period ends.
Denholm was cited by Tesla's Board of Directors as saying that she believes in "this company and its mission" and that she looks forward to "helping Elon [Musk] and the Tesla team achieve sustainable profitability and drive long-term shareholder value."
READ MORE: Tesla CEO Elon Musk Calls US Regulator's Accusations of Fraud 'Unjustified'
Musk, for his part, said that "Robyn has extensive experience in both the tech and auto industries, and she has made significant contributions as a Tesla Board member over the past four years in helping us become a profitable company."
"I look forward to working even more closely with Robyn as we continue accelerating the advent of sustainable energy," Musk underscored.
In late September, Musk and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) settled an out of court fraud charge brought against the billionaire by the regulator over Musk's statements suggesting taking Tesla private.
According to the agreement reached by Musk and the SEC, the entrepreneur will have to step down as Tesla's chairman and will not be able to hold this post for at least three years, but will remain as the company's CEO.
In addition, Musk and Tesla will have to pay a penalty worth $20 million each in compensation to harmed investors.
© AP Photo / David Zalubowski
Musk Fulfills His Promise as Tesla Earns First Profit Since 2016
Earlier in September, the SEC filed a lawsuit against Musk for fraud, citing his public statements on taking the company private, which caused "confusion and disruption" in the stock market and harmed investors. The regulator, among other recommendations, has asked a federal judge to prevent Musk from serving as a head of a public company.
On August 7, Musk via Twitter said he could take Tesla at a price of $420 per share just as the stock was trading at around $358 per share. Tesla's stock price increased by more than six percent from the time of Musk's tweet until the close of trading that day on the NASDAQ exchange.
company, team, mission, investors, stock market, Tesla, Robyn Denholm, Elon Musk