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Unapologetically New Orleans
The president and CEO of the New Orleans Business Alliance, Quentin Messer is not afraid to play favorites. In his second sit-down with Biz New Orleans, he shares how NOLABA is re-imagining economic development and what it's going to take to secure New Orleans' economic future.
Kim Singletary,
Portraits by Adrienne Battistella
It's been a big year for the New Orleans Business Alliance and Quentin Messer.
Since he became president and CEO of the New Orleans Business Alliance—the official accredited economic development organization for Orleans Parish—on July 1, 2015, Messer's job has been to lead a team in championing New Orleans to businesses around the globe. It's something the organization has been doing since its founding in 2010, but over the past year, things have really been moving and shaking.
Amid a lot of staff changes—seven of the 29 professionals at NOLABA have been hired in the past year, including the state's only biomedical economic developer and a developer focused on the food and music industries—the nonprofit launched a Workforce Leadership Academy with the Aspen Institute, created a Community Development Finance Certificate Program through a partnership with UNO, hosted 40 urban specialists from around the globe as they examined issues specific to the city and launched a new business growth initiative called InvestNOLA to accelerate the growth of businesses owned by people of color, to name just a few things.
NOLABA has also garnered some impressive accolades on the national scene. This past October, the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) named the organization the winner of a Gold Excellence in Economic Development Award for its New Orleans Health Innovators Challenge, and this past May, Messer was recognized as one of the Top Economic Developers for 2019, by Consultant Connect, in part because of his innovation in the field.
A lot has changed since we first sat down with Messer for the November 2016 issue of Biz New Orleans, so this month we asked Messer to join us again and share his views on the city's future, including what, exactly, we should be learning from the Texans.
"New Orleans is sexy-smart. We're never not going to be interesting. We're never not going to be fun. But trust and believe we are deadly serious about getting the business of business done."
Biz: How does NOLABA differ from organizations like JEDCO and GNO, Inc.?
QM: We're actually pretty similar to JEDCO or St. Tammany Corporation, because JEDCO and Jerry [Bologna] and his team are focused only on Jefferson Parish and [Chris] Masingill over at St. Tammany Parish Corporation is focused on St. Tammany Parish. GNO, on the other hand, has to be agnostic across 10 parishes in Southeast Louisiana, so it can't play favorites. It can't favor Jefferson over Orleans over St. Tammany over St. Bernard over Washington, whereas we at the Business Alliance are exclusively, and I think everybody understands, unapologetically, ensuring that New Orleans has a seat at the table.
Biz: A lot has happened since NOLABA was founded in the post-Katrina landscape of 2010. How has the organization also changed?
QM: I think the biggest change is that we are now focused on economic development re-imagined. When we first came about, it was about traditional economic development focused on business attraction retention, perception management. Basically, about how people perceive the business environment here in New Orleans. Today, with economic development reimagined, we really look at the place, the individual. We try to think about how our work improves the lives of each one of our friends and neighbors here in Orleans Parish.
Biz: NOLABA currently focuses on four core areas: business attraction/retention, talent and workforce development, small business growth, and strategic neighborhood development. Why those specific work streams?
QM: I think over the past nine years the population everybody wants to win, the college-aged millennial population, has basically signaled to employers, to economic development organizations, that their decisions about where they're going to take their talents, where they're going to grow their careers, where they're going to grow the next great companies is going to be based upon cities that engage their total self.
This means it's not just sufficient to have great jobs, you've got to have an interesting place in which to live. You've got to have vibrant neighborhoods. You also have to have a community that cares about the least of its citizens. I think all of us, whether you're a millennial or not, are sort of drafting off millennials and saying, 'Hey, there's more to life than just sort of work.' Obviously, that's critically important, but we're looking at more of a holistic approach. We believe those four work streams when we execute them well, will make New Orleans much more competitive than it's been in the past.
Biz: What are New Orleans' biggest strengths, besides being a fun place to visit?
QM: I think there are three strengths. You alluded to one of them: People want to be here. New Orleans is one of the few cities where people will come without a job to live. People will come and take maybe a 15 to 20% discount on their salary desires just to be here. That is a rare commodity and should not be underappreciated.
Second, we are a brain magnet. I don't think people fully appreciate that, so one of our opportunities is to talk more about the fact that we are a center of learning. We are an intellectual center. We have two medical schools physically in Orleans Parish proper, plus the Ochsner Queensland physician training right across the parish line. Plus, there are almost 30 to 40,000 young people pursuing an associate's or bachelor's degree here in Orleans Parish in an academic school year. We have two law schools, three business schools; I mean, that's a lot of intellectual horsepower in a city. Companies' capital tends to go places where there's smart people and there are a lot of smart people in New Orleans.
Finally, in terms of looking at how the economy benefits everyone, I think there's been undeniable economic progress over the past decade. Now, I think we're all focused on how we make sure every New Orleanian feels that. There are very few cities that are consciously leaning in the way that we are in New Orleans and I think that's highly attractive.
Biz: On that front, post-Katrina, there's definitely areas that have not rebounded in the way that the rest of our city has. And I'm assuming that's what you're talking about—spreading that a little further?
QM: I agree with you. I would only phrase it slightly different. I believe everyone, if you sat objectively, has benefited post-Katrina. I think when you start talking about relative benefit is when I think you begin to realize that while nothing is ever going to be 100%, if you're in Algiers or New Orleans East or Gentilly, you may feel that some of the amenities that were here pre-Katrina have not returned to your neighborhood. One of the things that we are very cognizant of today are some of the non-skill challenges, like public transportation, that prevent people from fully participating in the economy as they would like to.
I am unapologetically optimistic about the future in New Orleans. We are on a undeniable, upward trajectory. Now it's just about how we make sure that we get everybody on the field. I mean, I'm a big sports fan and I think for too long, New Orleans was playing 7 and 11 when we got to the field of economic play, and that we can't continue to do. I think everybody gets that.
Biz: When you say economic development reimagined, what are you talking about?
QM: On January 1, 2018, we integrated the former network for economic opportunity, and we brought over greater capacity in talent and workforce development and in-place strategic neighborhood development. When that happened, that began sort of re-imagining what it meant to be an economic development organization, and I think over the course of 2018, and maybe the first quarter of 2019, we began to say, 'Wait a second, we've got four work streams—business attraction retention, talent and workforce development, small-business growth and development, and strategic neighborhood development—and if we can be effective across all four of those work streams, and realize that all four of them are critically important in order to grow the economy, in order to enhance the economic security of all New Orleanians, then that's really a different type of economic development.'
That's really reimagining what it means to do economic development. We're still unapologetically focused on attracting capital, financial human capital. We believe in the power of capitalism, we believe in the power of entrepreneurialism, but we are also in a city that's majority person of color and female and the entrepreneurial class has to reflect the demographics. We believe you can do that without compromising quality, without compromising adherence to free market principles. You just have to be much more creative about getting everybody on the table.
Biz: What are some of the things NOLABA has been doing recently to bring different groups to the table?
QM: We are doing things in each of our four work streams. We had an event with NASA, rocketing new revenue; that was tremendously successful and really focused on two work streams —small business and business attraction/retention. NASA's presence at Michoud is one of those tremendous assets that I don't think that we have fully leveraged, and one of the things that we've dedicated ourselves to for the remainder of this calendar year and into the future is how to do that.
We also just completed the second year of the New Orleans Health Innovators Challenge, which encourages digital health startups to bring their solutions to New Orleans. [This year's winner, a California-based company called MedAux, has since said it is considering New Orleans as a headquarters.] Not only is doing an event like this good for diversifying our local economy, it's also good for just the life of our city. We lose a lot of productivity from the fact that people are not able to fully give their best selves at work because they're dealing with conditions that could be wholly treatable or monitored with advances in digital health and medical technology. So, not only does focusing on this area make good business sense, it makes good sense in changing people's lives.
Biz: There's a lot of focus on big companies coming in, which is wonderful, but NOLABA also focuses a lot on small business. How big is small business?
QM: Small business is the biggest single employment engine for the local economy. Most people employed in New Orleans are employed by small- and medium-sized businesses. Every Google, every DXC Technology, every Amazon started as a small business. So, if you want to be successful, if you want to have a thriving economy, if you want to have greater local spending, you have to be focused on small business. That doesn't mean that we're not going to go out and try to compete and try to get more DXC Technologys or more GE Digitals, we certainly are. But we believe that whether it's Lucid, whether its Taurus, whether it's Turbo Squid, whether it's, you know, Lawn Doctors; there are a lot of great businesses who are on the precipice of becoming $50, $100, $200, $300 million companies.
We've got to make sure that we provide them with access to management expertise, financial capital, as well as market intelligence. And that's some of what we announced when we announced the Small Business Tool Boxes. It's not just a small business tool box, but it's a tool box of resources that could be beneficial a business of any size.
Biz: Let's talk a little bit more about these Small Business Tool Boxes, which launched during your last annual meeting this past June. What types of things do they help with?
QM: We have three free online tools. The first is the Business Insight Tool, which is a comprehensive business information resource. We're one of only two American cities—the other is Seattle—that has a tool of this robustness and capability.
The second tool is the Crescent City Biz Connector—a mapping tool that categorizes resources for services that help small businesses identify technical assistance providers appropriate for them. For instance, a small-business owner may be great at marketing, but not the best at financial book keeping. You may be great at customer service, but you may not be as fluent with how to go out and get new business. We want to make it easier for companies to find those technical assistance providers that can be most beneficial to them.
The third tool is the Opportunity Portal. This tool helps entrepreneurs of color and women identify opportunities for procurement with the city's office of small business, including supplier diversity as well as procurement programs from Orleans Parish School Board, to the Port of New Orleans, to Woodward Design Build, to New Orleans and Co., to the Morial Convention Center, to companies like Entergy. It basically says, 'Here's what you need to do in order to be ready to take advantage of these procurement opportunities.'
Essentially, if you can demystify the playbook of what it takes to be successful as an entrepreneur, successful in the free market, then you can allow people to be incredibly competitive and thrive.
Biz: When you spoke with us a few years ago, you said one of the biggest issues that New Orleans has is a perception problem. Can you talk a little bit more about that? Have things changed at all?
QM: I think it's improved tremendously, but you know, perception lacks reality. I think perception is two-fold: there's external perception and there's self-perception. Externally, we have made strides in getting people to realize that New Orleans is business-friendly. We're open to business. We're committed to the free market. We're committed to making sure that's it's an easy and open place for capital. And that matters for small businesses too—it's not just big companies that are looking for places that have business-friendly policies.
I still think our biggest opportunity for improvement on perception, however, is with our self-perception. If you've ever sat next to a Texan on an airplane and you don't have on noise-canceling headphones, they're going to try to convince you to move to Texas. They just are evangelistic about the wonders of Texas. No knock against Texas, they have done a tremendous job, but we are a city that's given birth to jazz, to Creole cuisine. We are a city that has a wonderful time celebrating family, faith, spirituality. We have a vibrant entrepreneurial scene. We have a tremendous higher-ed community. I can't think of another city that has all of this and is also walkable, where you don't have to sit in traffic for an hour and 15 minutes.
New Orleanians are very humble, but there comes a point where you have to own and tell your own story. Each and every one of us has to be an ambassador for our city. Folks in Texas do it all the time. And you may say well, that's just corny, but there's tangible proof that Texans have said this so much that the rest of the world believes there's something magical happening in Texas. Look at the population trends. Look at the migration of capital to Texas and I'm not just talking about one part of Texas.
It is a part of the psyche. I think that we have to feel the same way and I think we will. I think increasingly we will.
Biz: What is NOLABA doing in terms of battling this perception problem?
QM: One of the things is that we've created something called the Economic Development Ambassadors Program, where we're providing information to folks so they feel more comfortable telling the full story of who we are as it relates to the economy and the opportunity that exists for people to realize their entrepreneurial dreams in this city.
Another thing we're doing relates to something I like to say, and that is New Orleans is sexy-smart. We're never not going to be interesting. We're never not going to fun. But trust and believe we are deadly serious about getting the business of business done.
On that note, New Orleans in the Center is a programming that we do with Aspen Institute—one of the most highly esteemed think tanks and thought leaders globally on multiple issues—where Aspen comes to New Orleans every year. Last year, they looked at the changing nature of work and what automation would mean toward the workplace of the future. Both local thought leaders and leaders from all over the world come and discuss these ideas and help us as a business alliance think about what this means for our work. We think that's just only a small way of sort of beginning to get people to see New Orleans in its full richness in 3D, rather than in sort of flat 2D image that we sometimes have nationally and internationally.
Biz: Any final thoughts you'd like to share?
QM: There are no silver bullets. You're not going to do a quick hit. You have to be about the business and about the grind and about sort of trying to move the needle forward day after day, month after month, year after year, generation after generation.
I remember growing up when the state of North Carolina was just tobacco and maybe people went to the beach at Wilmington and Cape Hatteras. Now, it's about financial institutions. It's about the Research Triangle. It's about innovation. That started in 1959—60 years ago. You look at Nashville, Nashville has become a tremendous healthcare, IT and health mecca, but that work started in the '70s.
In New Orleans what we've been embarking on started you know when folks like Matt Wisdom at Turbo Squid and Patrick Comer of Lucid said, "Hey, we're going to grow a great technology company here in New Orleans." That started in the 2000s. It hasn't even been 20 years yet. But they have been at it, they weathered the storm and they inspired others to take a leap of faith. And I think that that's critically important—getting people to buy into something that's going to last across political administrations. We may not be the full beneficiaries, but it's about getting people to understand the need for collective investment in our future.
At NOLABA we think we can be an important voice, but certainly not the only voice, in help making that happen.
Favorite book?
Can I only name one? "Giovanni's Room" by James Baldwin. If I had a second, it would be Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man."
Favorite TV Show?
Can I only name one? "Meet the Press." If I had a second, it would be "Cuomo Prime Time."
Who do you look up to?
My father, Quentin Sr. He is no longer physically present with our family, but he was a tremendous human being and I will never measure up to him.
Biggest life lesson learned?
From my wife, Dr. Kenya LeNoir Messer: Speak life into every situation, and consider the timing of everything that you say (meaning, does it need to be said then and there?)
Best advice ever received?
From my mom, from "Hamlet": Always remember, "To thy own self be true."
Hobbies?
Sadly, none in the traditional sense. A lot of interests but nothing outside of faith, family and work in which I have invested consistently time, talent and treasure.
Daily habits?
Reading the Bible, WSJ, Politico.com, Biz New Orleans, Nola.com and ESPN.com and listening to an up-tempo song prior to starting my day.
Pet peeve(s)?
Throwing folks under the bus. Pass the credit [but] shoulder the blame alone.
What are you most looking forward to in the next year?
Having a Super Bowl parade! From an economic development perspective, demonstrating real, tangible financial benefits from reimagining economic development (e.g., more small businesses showing increased profit and revenue growth, higher labor force participation rates and announcements for new capital investment in our city).


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Mikael Blomberg (born 23 October 1974) is a retired Swedish football midfielder.

He has played for IFK Norrköping and Kalmar FF. After his retirement from top-tier football he played for Lindö FF and Hargs BK.

References

1974 births
Living people
Swedish footballers
IFK Norrköping players
Kalmar FF players
Association football midfielders
Allsvenskan players
Superettan players
People from Nyköping Municipality
Sportspeople from Södermanland County

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Ysgol Hafan Y Môr would like to invite your Son / daughter to take part in the Sport Pembrokeshire 6 week surf & Paddle Boarding programme following the 'SSA Scheme'. This is available for children of all abilities, be they 'seasoned professionals' or complete beginner venturing out on their first ever taste of Surfing.
Those who attended the Autumn surf sessions again saw some superb surfing conditions along with a few bigger windy Autumn surf condition. The surfers made incredible progress in both technique, watermanship skills and confidence. Most schools also had the chance to try out the exciting sport of Stand Up Paddle boarding at either Stackpole Quay or Pembroke Castle Moat, which hopefully, if conditions allow we shall be paddle boarding again.


The Xenia Design midi dress is perfect for the in between length in both hot and cold weather. The unique layering and draping of premium materials gives the Xenia Design dress volume and adds a fun personality and characteristic to the piece. Xenia dresses are the perfect addition to our collection of midi dresses showcasing unique textures and designs giving the dresses an individual look. Xenia Design is known for standing out and making women feel special in their clothes and that is exactly what our range of Xenia Design dresses delivers.


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Adora is the most renowned Macedonian construction brand, with a high international reputation, which has been a leader in high-rise construction in Macedonia for 20 years, through the primary activity of building high-quality revolutionary real estate. By restructuring the business, through the Adora Business Group, the company's business expands to finance, stock exchange trade, pharmacy and organic food trade throughout Europe and the Middle East. Adora is the largest individual owner in Komercijalna Bank AD Skopje, which is the largest bank in Macedonia. The company Adora Living Solutions represents the Adora brand in Serbia, with the mission to bring rich experience gained through the construction of 400,000 m2 of real estate with pioneering housing solutions to Serbia.
Adora is a family business of the famous Macedonian family Čifliganec, which dates back to 1992. A proven entrepreneur, manager and philanthropist, Prof. Dr. Vančo Čifliganec in 2002, founded the construction company Adora Engineering under the motto Only deeds are reality, which quickly established itself in the TOP 20 most successful and TOP 5 fastest growing companies in Macedonia.
The founder of the company has won 10 international and 50 national awards, and a team of 500 top experts led by prof. Čifliganec built 40 representative residential and business complexes and realized investments worth over 400 million euros.
When the second generation of owners, daughter Dragana and son Duško Čifliganec, joined the family business, the brand became more powerful by introducing modern standards and innovations that are the last word in architecture and design, but also by expanding the business to other areas of business and investment outside Macedonia. In addition, Adora's main mission is to create a better, more humane and happier world, and in that name, the company has invested more than 5 million euros in socially responsible campaigns (CSR).
For the realization of the latest construction project "21st Century", Adora chose Zlatibor as its first destination in Serbia, motivated by the desire to provide clients with superior, mountainous, hedonistic enjoyment.
We are convinced that we are creating the absolute best holiday destination on Zlatibor, which can be your wisest decision for future generations and the smartest investment that will quickly return your invested money!
The Čifliganec family

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Meet Latest Ransomware: Crysis
A recent and advanced strain of Ransomware has suggested that security-dominated headlines will not be a thing of the past any time soon.
Crysis, first discovered in February this year, is multi-platform with the ability to penetrate both Mac and Windows systems.
Security experts also say that it is more dangerous than other forms of virus seen to date. Stu Sjouwerman, founder and CEO of KnowBe4, a security awareness platform, says one of the most alarming characteristics of Crysis is a highly-advanced code that gains administrative control of target systems.
"Once a cybercriminal has that kind of access they can do more damage," said Sjouwerman.
More concerning is Crysis' ability to encrypt files and usernames, which are then directed to a command server. The strain copies files and pulls them from the network, placing organisations into a data breach,
"It can be hard to keep tabs on these types of ransomware strains", Sjouwerman said. "They compete; they come and go. We were expecting with the sudden demise of TeslaCrypt (a ransomware Trojan) that Locky would take over. If you look at the majority of ransomware attacks, Crysis, at the moment, is the number one prevalent attack."
Crysis attacks began at financial institutions then migrated to healthcare. Sjouwerman anticipates that manufacturing will be the next target but healthcare is still in cybercriminals' crosshairs.
"There are no groups immune to ransomware attacks," said Lysa Myers, security researcher for ESET, a security company. "Hospitals can be lucrative targets, and many are still poorly protected. My hope, with all the coverage about hospitals being hit, is that this serves as a wakeup call and motivates hospitals to start performing thorough risk assessments and moving quickly to mitigate those risks."
Myers says that creating offsite and offline backups is the most important action hospitals can take to protect data, according to Myers.
Sjouwerman adds that it is essential that backups are kept up-to-date otherwise, if an attack strikes, they will be obsolete.
"The human is a weak link of cybersecurity and bad guys are counting on that," Sjouwerman said. "On a board level, it needs to be clear that cybersecurity cannot take the backseat. And they have to open up resources to improve their cybersecurity posture."
Source: Healthcare IT News
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Published on : Mon, 13 Jun 2016
Healthcare, IT Security, Crysis
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Crysis, IT security, healthcare Latest ransomware: Crysis


Would you lie on your application and during an interview if it meant getting hired for your dream job?
No, it can only lead to trouble. I was so angry when my former employer lied on my behalf. I was a consultant (analyst-developper) and often, my company would lie on my CV to get contracts. And when they sent me to the job, I had to figure out how to deal with their lies without hurting the customers or my reputation. Luckily, I was able to learn fast. The pressure was huge. I removed myself from this place and found a better job.
In all honesty, I would prefer everything to be out on the table. If I have nothing to hide, why would I lie to the employer? "Hey here's everything I am, deal with it or hire someone else."
Then again, I'm the kind of person who would show up to an interview in relatively nice, comfy street clothes, or something I would wear on the job normally than something fancy and outspoken.
same here, but I always dress fancy for interviews. I even put on make up and where skirts if I have to. Now, I would be reasonable, sometimes interviewers want to see ypu more serious, some more logically dressed, and some fancied up.
True, true. Really it depends on where you're applying.
It would depend on what would be the lie about, if it was something I could learn before I start working, why not. If it was about employment or experiences, I wouldn't lie, because I would be afraid that they'll find out.
Well it depends for what.
No plain and simple. I want the job because id be the most qualified not because I miss repesented myself.
Its not worth risking losing your job if they find out as well. Because they probably want truthfull employees and if you lied on your application and they found out you could very well be fired and I doubt they would ever trust you to do anything of great importance because of the lie they caught u in.
Depends on what I'd be lying about. A small lie that I could keep up forever? Yeah I could do that. But something big, like having to hide that I'm in a relationship, or saying I have a college degree when I don't- that I wouldn't do.
º I am a horrible liar.
probably. firstly though, it depends on how serious the lie [like if you said you weren't tried for a crime even if you were] or if it's something that would easily be noticed. like if you said you tend to be very energetic, but you aren't at all actually, then don't lie. most times though, the person hiring you wouldn't even know that you were lying because it's not like they test you for lying or not.


…produced by means of the Ames process, developed by the American chemist F.H. Spedding and his colleagues in 1942 at Iowa State University, Ames. In this process, the metal is obtained from uranium tetrafluoride by thermal reduction with magnesium.


text:
Alan John Scarfe (né le ) est un acteur, metteur en scène et auteur canadien. Il est un ancien directeur associé du Festival de Stratford (1976–77) et du Everyman Theatre de Liverpool (1967–68).

Il a joué plus de cent rôles dans des théâtres d'Europe, du Canada et des États-Unis. Il a également fait carrière au cinéma et à la télévision pendant une quarantaine d'années, ayant fait des apparitions dans Star Trek : La Nouvelle Génération et Star Trek: Voyager.

Il a remporté le  en 1985 pour son rôle dans Un printemps sous la neige ainsi que deux nominations pour  (1984) et Overnight (1986).

Biographie

Scarfe naît à Harpenden, en Angleterre, fils de Gladys Ellen (née Hunt) et Neville Vincent Scarfe, professeurs universitaires.

Alan Scarfe a deux frères. Colin et Brian Scarfe. Le premier est professeur d'astronomie à l'université de Victoria et le second, professeur universitaire de sciences économiques, administrateur universitaire et consultant en économie.

Scarfe fait des études à la London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (1964–66) et commence sa carrière comme acteur au théâtre.

Ayant habité un temps Los Angeles, Alan Scarfe revient au Canada en 2002. Il commence à écrire des romans sous le pseudonyme Clanash Farjeon (une anagramme de son nom). Il écrit ainsi , , The Vampires of 9/11 et Vampires of the Holy Spirit.

Alan Scarfe se décrit comme un athée de longue date. Il est le père de Jonathan Scarfe et a été marié à Barbara March de 1979 jusqu'à la mort de cette dernière en 2019. Le couple a eu une fille, Antonia (Tosia) Scarfe, une musicienne et compositrice.

Filmographie partielle
 (1963) - Des
Une si gentille petite fille (1977) - George Gimble
 (1982) - John Websole
The Wars (1983) - Capt. Leather
Deserters (1983) - Sergeant Ulysses Hawley
Un printemps sous la neige (1984) - Sgt. Tom Coldwell
Walls (1984) - Ron Simmons
Joshua Then and Now (1985) - Jack Trimble
 (1985) - Vladimir Jezda
Keeping Track (1986) - Royle Wishart
 (1987) - Eugene Powers
L'Aigle de fer 2 (1988) - Col. Vardovsky
Kingsgate (1989) - Daniel Kingsgate
Divided Loyalties (1990) - George Washington
Double Impact (1991) - Nigel Griffith
L'Arme fatale 3 (1992) - Herman Walters
Le Portrait (1993) - David Severn
 (1994) - Sean Devlin
 (1997) - David Ashby
 (1997) - Fermier Brown
Silence (1997) - Avocat
Sanctuary (1998) - William Dyson
Sept jours pour agir 7 octobre 1998  – 29 mai 2001
The Hamster Cage (2005) - Phil
 (2007) - Père Cassidy

Distinctions
Il a remporté le Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role en 1985 pour son rôle dans Un printemps sous la neige ainsi que deux nominations pour Deserters (1984) et Overnight (1986), ainsi qu'une nomination pour le Prix Gemini du meilleur acteur pour aka Albert Walker (2003).

Il a également remporté le  du meilleur acteur en 2005 pour son rôle dans la pièce  du . En 2006, il remporte le prix du jury à la Fantastic Fest pour  ainsi que le prix honoraire du Vancouver Film Critics Circle pour l'ensemble de sa carrière.

Enfin, The Vampires of Juarez remporte le BIBA Star de 2018 The Revelation of Jack the Ripper won the 2019 BIBA (Best Indie Book Award).

Notes et références

Liens externes

Naissance en juin 1946
Acteur canadien
Metteur en scène canadien


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But the road back to the quarterfinal hasn't been an easy one for the senior, who wanted to play so badly that when she blew her knee out, she tried to get up and walk. She fell to the ground quickly, though, and trainers and coaches encircled her.
They told her that the whole knee was gone.
"I tried thinking he was wrong," Lancaster said.
Another trainer on the sideline gave her the same diagnosis. Still, Lancaster didn't want it to be true. When Lancaster got to a doctor in Yakima, no exams needed to be conducted.
She had torn her ACL, MCL and meniscus, "basically my whole knee," Lancaster quipped.
Lancaster had surgery and nine months of rehab awaited. Tearing a knee for any athlete presents an arduous road to recovery. Still, Lancaster had no doubts she would get back on the court to play her final season with the Lyncs.
Despite Lancaster's best attempts at coercing the coaches to let her play, the Lyncs stuck to the timeline for her return, which had her back on the court for the Cloud 9 Christmas Classic, although with a minutes restriction while she got her legs and rhythm back.
Unfortunately, that timeline coincided with the toughest part of LC's schedule — a four-game stretch against some of the best schools in the state from all classifications. With their star point guard still not back in the full swing of things, the Lyncs struggled, losing three of four.
Still, it was tough for a player who loves to win and hates to lose.
Lancaster trusted her coaches, though, and although, it was difficult for her to not play as much as she was accustomed to, she worked through it.
Eventually Lancaster returned to full strength and was back leading the team as she had the previous year.
Lancaster, who is averaging 4.4 points per game, is marked as one of the better perimeter defenders in the league and an elite point guard. Having her at the helm helped the Lyncs to an undefeated Northwest Conference season and the division title.
Going into the her final games with the Lyncs, Lancaster said the fact her time in high school basketball is ending has sunk in and she's not ready to let it go.
Last year, she took Yakima for granted.
After finding out it could end in just minutes of being on the court, her mentality is different this time around.
And she's hoping that her final minute on the high school hardwood is in a championship game, something Lancaster has twice been a part of but never got to play in.


A new concept has been developed for generating highly dispersed base sites on metal-organic framework (MOF) lattices. The base catalytic activity of two alkaline earth MOFs, M2(BTC)(NO3)(DMF) (M = Ba or Sr, H3BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid, DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide) was studied as a function of their activation procedure. The catalytic activity in Knoevenagel condensation and Michael addition reactions was found to increase strongly with activation temperature. Physicochemical characterization using FTIR, 13C CP MAS NMR, PXRD, XPS, TGA-MS, SEM, EPR, N2 physisorption and nitrate content analysis shows that during activation, up to 85 % of the nitrate anions are selectively removed from the structure and replaced with other charge compensating anions such as O2-. The defect sites generated via this activation act as new strong basic sites within the catalyst structure. A fluorescence microscopic visualization of the activity convincingly proves that the activity is exclusively associated with the hexagonal crystals, and that reaction proceeds inside the crystal's interior. Theoretical analysis of the Ba-material shows that the basicity of the proposed Ba2+-O2--Ba2+ motives is close to that of edge sites in BaO.


2811 Orchard dynamically transforms a long forgotten building into an exciting new home for Fetch Robotics - an exciting Silicon Valley company changing the integration of robotics into the manufacturing and warehousing industry. Stained accoya stacked in a rhythmic pattern screens and shadows the facade, while a wood clad retaining wall situated behind sloping board formed concrete directs movement towards the translucent entry and a procession of light filled spaces into the new modern interior.
A simple palette of timeless and earthen materials integrated into the facade reappear in landscape and outdoor elements, intimately tying the newly transformed spaces together.
Custom designed waterjet cut perforated screens create a perimeter fence that brings both privacy and energetic shadows into the intimate outdoor spaces. Dynamic technological aspects paired with warm natural materials create a customized environment for an exciting company to flourish.


Cunneen Fellows 2015 talk with Sr. Seton Cunneen, in whose honor the Cunneen Fellowships were established, at an event during Reunion Weekend.
The Sr. Seton Cunneen, SNDdeN '65 Summer Service Fellowship (Cunneen Fellowship) was established in 1996 to honor the work and commitment of Sr. Seton Cunneen SNDdeN '65, former Campus Minister and faculty member at Trinity. Funded by the Maurice R. Robinson Foundation, the Cunneen Fellowship offers Trinity students the opportunity to participate in a paid ten-week community service internship as a way of exploring social issues and making a commitment to serve the good of the community.
This fellowship links the realities of direct service needs with larger social issues. Concentrating on particular issues and working closely with the agency staff enlarge the Fellow's perspective on understanding the way the agency works and its impact on the greater good of society. Working with the particular population served by the agency, the Fellow learns firsthand the genuine needs and concerns of people in vulnerable situations.
Applicants may choose from any number of Trinity's community partners, or may select a community service organization or NGO with prior approval of the fellowship committee. Choices depend upon the applicant's interest, among which could be poverty, homelessness, domestic violence, ecological justice, community building through the arts, or human rights abuses. Students may consider working for an organization where they have already volunteered or worked, provided they strongly support its mission and want to learn more about that NGO or community service organization.
The Site Supervisor, the Cunneen Fellow, and the Director of Campus Ministry participate in a site visit and an evaluation process that includes details of the Fellow's participation and the program process. The Cunneen Fellow, the Site Supervisor, and the Director of Campus Ministry at Trinity Washington University sign a service-learning agreement that outlines the expectations of the Cunneen Fellowship.
At the conclusion of the 10-week fellowship, each participant is required to submit a case study that addresses a facet of her experience in the agency, exploring how the agency works to resolve or solve problems inherent in this vulnerable group.
Fellows are expected to present a talk about their work to the Trinity Community in the next academic year; such venues have included the service fair, a celebration of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, or the Sower's Seed event. In each case, the presentation gives the Fellow the opportunity to share her knowledge and reflections, as well as to promote the Fellowship to the larger campus community.
Please see our application page for information about applying to be a Summer 2019 Cunneen Fellow! Due date is March 15, 2019.


ANDRE SANTOS has been suspended for 30 days after testing positive for a banned drug.
The ex-Arsenal defender was found to have banned substance Hydrochlorothiazide, designed to flush water out of your system more quickly, in his system.
Hydrochlorothiazide is not a performance-enhancing drug but can be used to mask the use of performance-enhancing drugs and is classed by the World Anti-Doping Agency as a "specified substance".
EPSN Brazil say Santos, who made 25 appearances for the Gunners, was initially found to have the diuretic in February.
He asked for a B sample to taken last month but it was found again in his system and was handed the ban by the Sports Justice Tribunal of Sao Paulo.
Through his lawyer Antonio Carlos de Azevedo, Santos believes there may have been an accidental contamination.


Our fully qualified salon team are pleased to offer Sclerotherapy as a vein removal treatment in Inverness.
To help get rid of unwanted veins, our approved Medispa staff can carry out this easy, effective vein removal procedure, which involves a small intravenous injection of a sclerosing agent before compression is applied.
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If you want to remove problem veins, Inverness salon staff at Fantasia Medispa and Beauty Boutique are waiting to advise you on vein removal treatments available in the Highlands.
Contact us now for a consultation about visible vein treatments in Inverness.


text:
The Search for Major Plagge
The Search for Major PlaggeThe Search for Major PlaggeThe Search for Major Plagge
Moral Courage
Plagge Documents
Naming The Victims
Gallery of the Saved
Von Deschwanden
Alfons Von Deschwanden
"A Light in the Darkness"
Alfons von Deschwanden was a 19 year old draftee and a private in the HKP 562 unit commanded by Major Karl Plagge when he and his comrades were ordered to the Eastern Front and found themselves in Vilna in July 1941. Alfons came from a Catholic family that had been persecuted for rejecting the Nazi regime during the 1930s. Before he was drafted into the Wehrmacht, by talking to older friends from his Catholic Youth Group returning from German occupied Poland, he learned of terrible atrocities being committed against Jews in the East. Thus when the HKP 562 unit paused in the Panerai forest on their way to Vilna, Alfons heard volleys of gunfire coming from the forest, he intuitively understood that he was hearing the execution of Jews. Years later when asked if Wehrmacht soldiers knew about the genocide he said "If ones eyes and ears were open, one could see the truth".
While serving as a mechanic for the HKP 562 Engineering unit which was tasked with repairing damaged vehicles on the Eastern Front, he supervised a dozen Jewish slave laborers employed by the HKP unit in the spare parts warehouse he was in charge of. While working alongside these Jewish workers he learned more details about the killing of Jews being carried out by the Nazis and their local collaborators as well as the difficult conditions within the Vilna Ghetto. Over time the Jewish workers came to see that Alfons had a sympathetic and just attitude and turned to him for help in their struggle for life. They asked him to help them smuggle food for their families into the Vilna Ghetto, to stand with them during terrifying inspections by their SS overlords and he even helped one of his workers, Samuel Taboryski, by hiding his wife and 2 year old child under his workbench in the spare parts warehouse for two days before the notorious Kinder Aktion of March 27, 1944.
Over time Alfon's commander, Major Karl Plagge became aware that Private von Deschwanden was a "Like-Minded" person. Alfons recalled that on the night of July 1, 1944, after Plagge had warned the Jews that the SS was coming to kill them, Alfons was unexpectedly ordered by the unit's Master Sergeant to be in charge of the guard detail and man the machine gun at the Subocz Street camp for the first time. (As a mechanic, he had no weapons training and had never stood guard before). He was ordered to shoot any Jews trying to escape. Thinking back on this unusual circumstance in the decades that followed the war, Alfons came to believe that Plagge covertly placed him in this position because he could trust him not to shoot the Jews who, following Plagge's warning, he expected to try to escape. Their escape route involved leaving the barracks after dark and going to the Blacksmith shop, then jumping out a second floor window placing them near a wooden perimeter fence that ran just a few feet away and enabled them to penetrate to the outside world. As Plagge guessed, Alfons did not shoot the escaping Jews that he observed that night. While saving the lives of many Jewish workers, this exposed Alfons to great danger after the SS learned that nearly 35 Jews were missing on the morning of July 2. Fortunately Alfons and the rest of the HKP unit soldiers were ordered to retreat that very morning and he was able to escape before the SS could finish their investigation into the night time escapes at the Subocz Street camp. (In 2005 Alfons drew a sketch of the camp layout on the night of July 1, 1944).
Many years after the war, two HKP families who survived the war and were living in Israel (the Uspitz and Taboryski families) tracked Alfons down through the German Embassy and wrote to thank him for protecting and helping them during the war. Shoshana Uspitz who was grateful for his assistance during a time filled with terror wrote in July 1971: "For us, you were like a shining star in the darkness". During the 1970s Alfons reunited with both families, inviting them to his home in Offenburg Germany and visiting them in Israel. The Uspitz Letters can be viewed in German (Scanned original and transcript) and in English. The more detailed and dramatic Taboryski letters can be viewed in German (Scanned original and transcript) and in English.
Copyright © 2018 The Search for Major Plagge - All Rights Reserved.


We offer a comprehensive eye examination here at K S Naru Opticians.
You will get an up to date spectacle prescription and a full check of the health of your eyes both internally and the anterior eye, as well as the surrounding area.
We also have a Fundus camera, so have the ability to take photographs of the retina, this is available for an extra fee.
Appointments are usually 30minutes duration, which gives ample time for a thorough eye examination and time to discuss any findings, answer any questions you may have and also to discuss you optical needs if required.
Call into the practice or contact us by phone to book your eye examination today.


Ram Kapoor is back with the third season of web series Karrle Tu Bhi Mohabbat. The actor spoke to Hindustan Times about the show, co-star Sakshi Tanwar and the #MeToo movement.
Sakshi Tanwar On Today\'s Actresses Quitting Shows To Avoid Playing Mother On Screen: "Started My Career With Such A Role"


text:
title:  Hvem skrev Bibelen og hvor?
date:  30/03/2020
---

**Hvad fortæller følgende tekster om de bibelske forfattere og deres baggrund?**

`2 Mos 2,10`

`Amos 7,14`

`Jer 1,1-6`

`Dan 6,1-5`

`Matt 9,9`

`Fil 3,3-6`

`Åb 1,9`

Bibelen blev skrevet af mennesker med meget forskellig baggrund og under mange forskellige situationer. Nogle skrev i deres palads, andre i fængsel, nogle var i landflygtighed, andre var på missionsrejse for at forkynde evangeliet. Disse mænd havde forskellig uddannelse og arbejde. Nogle var som Moses udset til at blive konger, eller som Daniel til at gøre tjeneste i høje stillinger. Andre var enkle hyrder. Nogle var meget unge; andre temmelig gamle. Men på trods af deres forskelligheder havde de alle en ting fælles: de blev kaldet af Gud og inspireret af Helligånden til at nedskrive budskaber til Guds folk, uanet hvor eller hvornår de levede.

Nogle af forfatterne var også øjenvidner til de begivenheder, de genfortalte. Andre foretog grundige personlige undersøgelser af begivenheder eller forsigtig brug af eksisterende dokumenter (Jos 10,13; Luk 1,1-3). Men alle dele af Bibelen er inspireret (2 Tim 3,16). Det er grunden til, at Paulus siger, at "alt, hvad der tidligere er skrevet, er jo skrevet, for at vi skal lære af det, så vi med udholdenhed og med den trøst, som Skrifterne giver os, kan fastholde håbet" (Rom 15,4). Gud, som skabte menneskers sprog, gør udvalgte mennesker i stand til at kommunikere inspirerede tanker på en troværdig og pålidelig måde med menneskelige ord.

"Det har behaget Gud at kommunikere sin sandhed til verden gennem menneskelige personer, og han har selv gennem Helligånden udrustet mennesker og gjort dem i stand til at udføre hans gerning. Han vejledte sindet i udvælgelsen af, hvad de skulle sige og skrive. Skatten blev betroet jordiske kar; men det er ikke desto mindre fra himlen" (Ellen White, Selected Messages, 1. bind, s. 26).

`Til at tænke over. Så mange forskellige forfattere, så mange forskellige sammenhænge, og alligevel er det den samme Gud, der åbenbares af dem alle. Hvordan er denne fantastiske sandhed med til at bekræfte Guds Ords sandfærdighed?`

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Obviously, nothing in your life costs nothing. If you wish to secure that loan, you're going to need to expect to pay fees and interest.
Having said that, financing may enable you to spend less than spent. When you are getting a loan, you'll be able to avoid late fees, disconnection fees, and other troublesome costs.
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Kathleen O'Grady is a textile and fibre artist and clothing designer who grew up in Saskatchewan and has traveled extensively. Kathleen received training in clothing and surface design at Capilano Community College and Vancouver Community College, both in Vancouver, and at the University of Washington in Seattle.
In the 1980s, Kathleen lived in Greece for a year and in Japan for two years. While in Japan, she fell in love with indigo-dyed textiles. In recent years, Kathleen has traveled in Southeast Asia, India, and Africa seeking out naturally dyed textiles and learning about the people who make them and the techniques they use. In Laos, she participated in a 3-day intensive workshop dying silk with natural dyes.
After living in Seattle for 12 years, Kathleen returned to Saskatoon in 2010. She is focusing on establishing her clothing line incorporating naturally dyed fabrics as well as bringing beautiful textiles from Asia to the people of Saskatchewan.


text:
HomeCurriculumResources Ava DuVernay Warns Oprah That Mass Incarceration Might Only Grow Worse Under President Donald Trump
Ava DuVernay Warns Oprah That Mass Incarceration Might Only Grow Worse Under President Donald Trump
Creator of the documentary '13th' raised concern on the worsening of mass incarceration after Donald Trump got elected as the President of the United States. She warns that Trump's policy and perspectives may put African Americans at greater risk of mass incarceration.
From Vulture:
Just days after Donald Trump was elected president, Ava DuVernay, the filmmaker behind 13th, a devastating Netflix documentary about America's prison system, sat down with Oprah Winfrey. While Oprah praised DuVernay for providing viewers with a "wake-up call" about the prison industrial complex that keeps millions of citizens incarcerated and destroys families, DuVernay warned the audience at the Museum of Tolerance that under Trump's presidency, things could get worse. "He's addressed a lack of empathy for imprisoned and incarcerated people," Duvernay said of the president-elect, "he's talked about the industry around it. He's 'very good at business' and he feels that it's a business."
Contemporary News and Media Coverage, Interpretative Lenses


South Dakota Farm Bureau is presenting a Wetland Mitigation Forum at Dakotafest on Wednesday, Aug. 17 at 1:30 p.m., in the Reaves Technology and Innovation Building.
Wetland mitigation banking is a process that gives producers the chance to move a wetland from an existing field and use credits from the bank to replace it by creating a new or restored wetland within the same watershed. The price of the credits will be determined by supply and demand in an open market system.
"Soggy spots in fields are a nuisance for farmers," said Wayne Smith, SDFB Wetlands Specialist. "The banking concept will increase efficiency and will also protect our water quality."
Smith and Craig Rearick, with the Beadle County Conservation District, will moderate the forum.
SDFB, along with South Dakota Corn Growers, South Dakota Soybean Association and EcoAssets have collaborated to form Dakota Wetland Partners, which developed the framework for doing mitigation banking in South Dakota. Dakota Wetland Partners will be using the South Dakota Wetland Exchange to carry out wetland mitigation banking activities in the state.
"Response from producers has been overwhelmingly positive," added Smith. "We have heard from folks that are ready to start utilizing the bank to help increase their productivity and efficiency."
The group will also be collecting names at the forum of those interested in the wetland mitigation banking opportunity.
South Dakota Farm Bureau is recognized as a leader in agriculture representing more than 16,000 member families across South Dakota. More information about South Dakota Farm Bureau can be found at http://www.sdfbf.org.


text:
Q: How to get Vertical Align in Bootstrap 4 working? I see Bootstrap 4 now uses flex-box for vertical alignment. See Here
I've got Bootstrap Version 4.0.0-alpha.6 linked on my site yet I still can't get it working like in the example above.
My code is:

Logo

                Nav

Would anyone know what I'm doing wrong?
My links:
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://maxcdn.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/4.0.0-alpha.6/css/bootstrap.min.css" integrity="sha384-rwoIResjU2yc3z8GV/NPeZWAv56rSmLldC3R/AZzGRnGxQQKnKkoFVhFQhNUwEyJ" crossorigin="anonymous">

A: I works fine, but only if the col elements are smaller then the parent row element.
The alignment will just handle where the elements are placed within the available space. If both heights are equal there is no difference.
Please provide additional css codes if existent for further help.

.row{
  background: #aaa;
  height: 200px;
}
<link href="https://maxcdn.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/4.0.0-alpha.6/css/bootstrap.min.css" rel="stylesheet"/>

Logo

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text:
The Crown Gets Its Pound of Flesh.
Posted on 17:27, May 24th, 2012 by Pablo
I am surprised by the jail sentences handed down to Tame Iti and Te Rangikaiwhiria Kemara in the Urewera 4 case. I had expected substantial fines and at most community service sentences for all of the defendants. The same day the Urewera 4 were sentenced a doctor was fined $1000 for firing a crossbow at a tree 3 meters from a tent of sleeping children at a DOC camp site, so it seemed reasonable to me that people who discharged firearms in the vicinity of no one other than themselves would receive sentences in line with the good doctor's. But, as it turns out, the Judge in the Urewera 4 case had a different line of reasoning, and it is worrisome.
Even though the Urewera 4 were not found guilty on criminal conspiracy charges, the judge who sentenced them, Rodney Hansen, repeatedly referred to them as if they had been. He spoke of an armed militia with leaders and followers, and he mentioned molotov cocktails–the possession and use of which they were not convicted of–as proof of something sinister going on the outskirts of Ruatoki. But the sentences were supposed to be for violations of the Firearms Act alone–six in the case of Iti, Kemara and Emily Bailey and five in the case of Urs Singer. So why did the judge bring in a line of reasoning at sentencing that is more appropriate to a guilty verdict of criminal conspiracy, and why the relatively harsh penalties for violations that, quite frankly, are fairly routine in some sectors of New Zealand society? In fact, the sentences do not distinguish between the types of firearms used by different individuals, so that those who handled a sawn off shotgun were treated the same as those who handled a bolt action .22. Bringing up the subject of molotovs, militias, purported bombing (but not bus-flinging) plans at sentences for Firearms Act violations is irrelevant and prejudicial.
Lew and I have written previously at some length about the discrepancy between this prosecution and the seemingly blind eye the Police and Courts cast on very similar bush antics by right-wing extremists who make no secret of their hatred for assorted ethnic and religious groups and who have proven histories of violence against those they hate. I shall therefore not repeat what we have said. But what I can say is that these sentences confirm to me that this Crown prosecution was about punishment and deterrence, not justice. One way or another the Crown was going to extract its pound of flesh from at least some of the original defendants, a process that not only involved lengthy delays in providing the defendants with their day in court (by over four years) and the admission of illegally obtained evidence, Â but which also is designed to serve as a warning to others who might be of similar ideological persuasion and direct action mindset. As I have said before, the process was the punishment for the original 18, and these sentences are the final act in that process. It has not been fair, it has not been just, and other than assuage the primordial fears of conservative Pakeha such as Louis Crimp, the National Front and the closet Klansmen that inhabit the right-wing blogosphere, it does nothing to advance respect for the law and the concept of equal treatment for all.
Given that the sentences for Iti and Kemara appear to be disproportionate to the crimes committed, and that the judge's reasoning was at least in part based upon tangentials that should not have been admitted at the sentencing phase, I would hope that they will be appealed and eventually reversed. Otherwise the conclusion to Operation 8 looks like another case of Pakeha utu on people who dare speak truth to power in unconventional, theatrical and ultimately silly ways.
Tags: Democracy, Justice, Operation 8, Tino Rangatiratanga, Tuhoe, Urewera 4
Posted in Crime, cultural difference, Democracy, History, Politics, Take Māori | Print
42 Responses to "The Crown Gets Its Pound of Flesh."
Thomas Beagle on May 24th, 2012 at 18:39
Am I correct in thinking that there would have been no breach of law if just one of them had a firearms license and had been in direct supervision of the others
Psycho Milt on May 24th, 2012 at 19:01
Tuhoe getting pointlessly fucked over by the authorities has a long history in NZ, so I guess the judge just has a fondness for tradition.
This, though: Even though the Urewera 4 were not found guilty on criminal conspiracy charges, the judge who sentenced them, Rodney Hansen, repeatedly referred to them as if they had been.
That's gotta be grounds for appeal of the sentence right there.
Maia on May 24th, 2012 at 19:15
Thomas Beagle – you're not. One of them did have a firearms licence (more than one actually – but only one who was still facing trial).
alex on May 24th, 2012 at 20:12
@Milt – Thats exactly what I thought, it was like the judge was sentencing them based on what they were charged with, rather than what they were convicted of. Truly odd decision to send them to prison on these grounds, and once again the Urewera case will be wasting taxpayer dollars.
Sue Esterman on May 24th, 2012 at 21:28
So wrong, it seems the appeals must succeed and this travesty of justice overturned. So why rule this way? beggars belief.
Rich on May 24th, 2012 at 21:32
(Except that Molotov's *are* in the Arms Act, or regulatiomns made under: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/1984/0122/latest/DLM95646.html?search=ad_act%40regulation__arms____25_ac%40bn%40rc%40dn%40apub%40aloc%40apri%40apro%40aimp%40bgov%40bloc%40bpri%40bmem%40rpub%40rimp_ac%40rc%40acur%40anif%40bcur%40rinf%40rnif_h_aw&p=1)
I suppose one could argue that the regulation was 'ultra vires' (or whatever the correct concept is) because a bottle of petrol isn't necessarily a weapon unless used as such.
Also, I still don't understand a concept of lawful purpose? Isn't it a lawful purpose for shooting a gun off simply that one enjoys it? Or does that bit only apply to white people?
Lew on May 24th, 2012 at 21:33
Thomas, not quite. Some of the weapons were restricted, requiring special licenses that Kemara (the licensed user) did not have. Direct supervision is also pretty direct — not defined in the Arms Act, but in practice by each regional Arms Officer (a senior member of the Police), and in the most restrictive implementation it requires that there be no more than one complete (ie, bolt-in) firearm per licensed user at any one time. So you can take your mate shooting, but it's one gun between you. Kemara was not in direct supervision of the others at all times that they were in possession of weapons (I believe they found rifles where Bailey, Signer and Iti were living).
But, yeah — this is an odd sentence; one that is pretty extravagant given the relatively minor charges of which they were convicted, given that nobody was actually (or even nearly) harmed. Adding to what Pablo writes above, and previously, and as I argued in a previous post on this topic, the sentence proves to those to whom it can be proved that the state is as unjust and oppressive as Iti and other members of his wider circle have been arguing. In spite of what Pākehā with no knowledge of such matters might tell you, he does have incredible mana, and is an intelligent and astute player of social and political games. He is a leader of men, and will be a leader of men in prison, where he will have a willing cohort of young, disenfranchised and alienated Māori men to lead — all of whom are likely to be much more of a menace to society than the Urewera 4 ever were. Let us hope he uses his powers for good.
And yet it is simultaneously a sentence that makes a mockery of the suggestion that these four were an actual bona fide guerrilla force. Nobody who genuinely thinks the Urewera 4 were a revolutionary threat to the public welfare, peace and tranquility of New Zealand, much less its sovereign power, can be satisfied with a mere 2.5 years, of which they will serve about half if they are very unfortunate. Genuine believers in that narrative would insist on a much harsher sentence. They are not. Even the Police have claimed this laughable term as a victory. I think that tells you how strong they really thought their case was.
So it looks like the Justice Hansen has taken Colonel Trotter's advice to heart, and has taken the Crown's Mulligan from the bench (since the Crown failed to perform in front of it). But he has been careful not to extract too much urine, and so the sentence falls between two stools.
The appeals are no doubt being written as we speak, and the Urewera 4 are in a no-lose situation.
Pablo on May 24th, 2012 at 21:41
Rich:
I could be wrong but my understanding is that they were not charged under that specific clause. perhaps because no molotovs were actually found and confiscated by the Police (the evidence of the use of such was presented as charred tree trunks and oven bits plus broken glass along with video of people carrying bottles).
Keir on May 24th, 2012 at 23:57
If you read the judgement itself, at para 43 Hansen discusses this problem. He says that he doesn't rely on count 1, but rather on the failure of the legitimacy defence on the firearms charges. Which I find slightly awkward, but does insulate the decision somewhat.
NeilM on May 25th, 2012 at 08:02
he does have incredible mana, and is an intelligent and astute player of social and political games.
do you think that lying to the judge about training to be security gaurds was part of a well thought out plan?
Keir: That is beyond awkward. It is positively Orwellian. The proof came when he said that the defendants "destroyed the trust between Tuhoe and the Police." WTF?! Alex put it right in his comment above: he sentenced them based on the charges not on the convictions. As for Peter Marshall's comments, he pretty much proved my point by saying, repeatedly, that this should serve as a lesson to others.
Lew: I was thinking that Iti would be received very well in jail and that he would serve as a role model for some of those locked up with him. Having someone jailed for his politics rather than any serious crime could be a wake up call for some of those inside (even if it reaffirms that they all were done in by The Man), and will give Iti a captive (no pun intended) forum in which to proselytize. It could also radicalize him beyond theatrics and add an ideological content to the views of those to whom he is preaching. One thing is most likely: although he did not seem to have much in the way of gun or combat skills judging from the video evidence, he certainly will gain some while inside.
Tiger Mountain on May 25th, 2012 at 10:40
Totally agreeing with a post on KP is a rare thing, but must be done on this occasion. There are indeed two political prisoners now in Mt Eden imo.
The state forces (for it was not just the bluebellies, but also the various 'spook squads') that formed up on the "Cullen Line" of the original raid. Later denial of any knowledge of that history in court shows little has changed in the post colonial dynamic.
helenalex on May 25th, 2012 at 12:04
From a purely pragmatic point of view, this was a dumb, dumb, move by the Crown. Now Iti's previously fairly silly claim to be like Nelson Mandela has a bit of substance to it. The sentence is long enough for a plausible claim to matyrdom, but short enough to maintain a lot of support on the outside. I expect him to have a large following and a lot of mana when he gets out.
Hugh on May 25th, 2012 at 12:11
" He is a leader of men, and will be a leader of men in prison, where he will have a willing cohort of young, disenfranchised and alienated Māori men to lead — all of whom are likely to be much more of a menace to society than the Urewera 4 ever were."
From what you've just told me this is probably a good thing – Iti will only lead these young men away from violence and criminality and towards community engagement.
Hugh, I hope so. If that ends up being the case, it leads inevitably to the conclusion conclusion that his previous outreach and community-building activities should have been supported, rather than repressed.
Lew:
That is why I thought that a few hundred hours of community service would be the best sentence, since they are activists after all and could not well renege on their obligation. Plus they could do a lot of good in a peaceful way. That the judge did not even consider such a thing is indicative of his mindset.
I am also reminded of some people that I knew in a past life who, as members of militant parties, happily got arrested and jailed for acts of civil disobedience/disorder so that they could exhort and recruit in prison. After all, lumpenproletarians with an ideology are the foot soldiers in the revolutionary movement. Even if not revolutionary, an ex-prisoner re-educated in a political way can be, as Hugh says, a force for positive change.
Pablo, a great point — an opportunity for the Crown to force the Urewera 4 to prove their claims to being decent, upstanding citizens who wanted nothing but to help their fellow man, under the greatest possible (official and public) scrutiny, gone begging.
But now it'll happen anyway — though perhaps not in a way the Crown would prefer. Bailey and Signer were in attendance at the budget protests in Auckland almost immediately upon leaving court, and no doubt they will find ways to continue their activism while serving their sentences.
Sanctuary on May 25th, 2012 at 15:47
"…Nobody who genuinely thinks the Urewera 4 were a revolutionary threat to the public welfare, peace and tranquility of New Zealand, much less its sovereign power, can be satisfied with a mere 2.5 years, of which they will serve about half if they are very unfortunate…"
Really? Edward Oxford only got three years. Such a short sentence doesn't imply no threat at all. It does however accurately summarise the incompetence of the conspiracy.
Oxford was declared insane and spent three years in an insane asylum before being exiled to a penal colony on the other side of the world for the rest of his life. So I stand by my assessment.
Robert Winter on May 25th, 2012 at 16:40
"…who dare speak truth to power in unconventional, theatrical and ultimately silly ways."
Is playing at armed insurrection not something that we would expect the state to respond to? And should we not make it clear whether we support such displays? Many of us do not see much "truth" in silliness or adventurism of this sort(by any political tradition).
The operative term is "playing." As Iti's lawyer pointed out on RNZ, what these people were doing was a less accomplished version of the team-building exercises that some corporates got to do by renting the NZSAS for a day. Or, for that matter, a paintball exercise or any other form of para-military role play. To say nothing of the fact that the evidence presented showed something far less than serious combat/terrorism training.
I have written extensively on this here and in other forums so am not going to reprise all that I think is wrong with the case. But it amazes me that you and others choose to ignore the judge's egregious misuse of sentencing guidelines to punish far beyond what was necessary. Or that you choose to ignore the extremely dubious way the Crown built its case (using illegal evidence) and engaged in unnecessary procedural delays in order to punish while the process was ongoing.
Had the Urewera 18/17/16/5/4 been convicted of criminal conspiracy and evidence conclusively shown that they were plotting and planning one concrete act of violence–just one–then I would agree that they needed to be dealt with more harshly. Armed violence against a democratic state, no matter how flawed that democracy may be, is not on.
But they were not and the sentences, given the options such as those I mention above, are simply disproportionate to the offenses committed.
Pascal's bookie on May 25th, 2012 at 17:00
playing at armed insurrection
That's the thing though Robert.
Either they were playing, or they weren't.
A lot of people saying that the state was right to take them seriously, also downplay what they were up to by saying they weren't a serious threat.
Can't have it both ways. If they were just playing silly buggers, if they were not a real threat, then the state shouldn't have acted like they were a real threat.
@pablo: my own views on the process can be found on my site. I have been as critical of that process as anyone (so don't assume a view on the process). On "egregious", we shall see, properly, in the appeal, yet my own legal sources are more sanguine about the accuracy of the judge's view in summing up and sentencing than you.
@Pascal's Bookie: the state doesn't make such fine distinctions. I believe that, had they not stuffed up in so many ways, the state would have taken this case to another level, in which 2.5 years would have seemed small beer. Because they stuffed up, and ended up with the firearms charges, they have used that legislation to, in their terms. best effect. That was the info. that was current in W'ton early in the piece, and I have no reason to doubt it.
IHStewart on May 25th, 2012 at 18:09
" The same day the Urewera 4 were sentenced a doctor was fined $1000 for firing a crossbow at a tree 3 meters from a tent of sleeping children at a DOC camp site,.."
That is probably the most penetrating observation I have read on this whole debacle.
the state doesn't make such fine distinctions
What? The state has spent most of the last five years making fine distinctions, or as we might more properly refer to it, splitting hairs, in re this case.
For what its worth, I think that political activism that puts at risk the welfare and interests of others should be accorded licence to the degree that it has a well defined goal and is done with honesty and integrity.
A political group with weapons for me comes with such a risk. Lying in court is not evidence of honesty or integrity.
Sentencing the 'Urewera four' – an affront to our sense of justice? « Frankly Speaking… on May 26th, 2012 at 13:31
[…] Kiwipolitico:Â The Crown Gets Its Pound of Flesh […]
Sentencing the 'Urewera four' – an affront to our sense of justice? (Part Toru) « Frankly Speaking… on May 26th, 2012 at 16:44
Sentencing the 'Urewera four' – an affront to our sense of justice? (Part Wha) « Frankly Speaking… on May 27th, 2012 at 23:46
Frank Macskasy on May 28th, 2012 at 13:47
"is playing at armed insurrection not something that we would expect the state to respond to?"
That depends on how fearful one is of a minority group who has some justified grievances against the colonising majority and the State apparatus they built to enforce their position of power.
If you're one of the Majority, then no doubt you'll always be looking over your shoulder at what dispossessed minorities are up to.
Funny how we don't arrest people playing 'war games' out in the bush, armed with paintball guns and dressed in camou? Why is that? After all, it's no biggie to move from paintball guns to real semi-automatics.
You're right, Robert, they were "playing". I think that's a fairly sensible conclusion to come to.
The Majority and the State don't understand that "play" – paranoia tends to overcome commonsense and arrive at desperate decisions such as Judge Hansen's,
"" A private militia was being established. That is a frightening prospect to our society… What possible other explanation could there be for what the participants were demonstrably doing? ""
Why 'desperate', you ask? Because they weren't being sentenced on any issue relating to terrorism, criminal gangs, etc. Their sentencing related solely to firearms. Judge Hansen added 1 + 1 and got "umptyleven" from what I can see.
This is why many – including fair-minded, rational pakeha – dismiss the paranoia; the rhetoric; and see this for what it is. An over-reaction by some very paranoid people.
Phil Sage on May 28th, 2012 at 21:40
http://www.stephenfranks.co.nz/?p=4383
Phil, please don't just post unaccompanied links. Make an argument, however tenuous, unoriginal, self-serving or predictably authoritarian it might be.
The argument is well made at that link. Incompetence does not make the wannbe terrorists not guilty. much of the thrust of the argument here is based on the obvious facts they were incompetent and therefore they should be let off lightly.
It is a basic facet of English common law principles of sentencing that the length of the sentence can be determined by reference to facts that were not included in the evidence required to convict, such as prior convictions and victim impact statements.
It is blatantly obvious and completely in accordance with long accepted legal principles that the judge should have taken into account all information (not just evidence accepted in court) as to the length of sentence.
To compare the use of illegal weapons with neo nazis using paintball is to wilfully miss an obvious point.
The length of the sentence was EVERYTHING to do with justice.
Exclamation Mark on May 29th, 2012 at 06:31
"Funny how we don't arrest people playing 'war games' out in the bush, armed with paintball guns and dressed in camou? Why is that? After all, it's no biggie to move from paintball guns to real semi-automatics."
What nonsense Frank. Are you seriously suggesting that the dozens of groups around the country playing paintball on any given Saturday morning (mostly stag parties in my experience) would switch to real guns with live ammunition like it was no big thing?
It would be an opportune time for the Crown to give over to Tuhoe the management and custodianship of Te Urewera National Park.
Aside from it being the right thing to do it would provide the opportunity for some real leadership to come through as it would require genuine skills to do well.
Phil, see, that wasn't so hard. Yes, I know the argument is made at the other end of the link — I read Stephen Franks too, for my sins — but the point of a comment thread is to make it here, even in brief.
I disagree with Stephen's — and your — assessment, on slightly different grounds than I disagree with Chris', though the arguments are similar. With the exception of Justice Hansen's sentence, I agree the Urewera 4 were treated decently by the courts — though I don't think they received treatment that was any more fair than anyone else might expect in an open society. But they certainly were not treated justly by the Crown more generally. And none of this negates any of the criticism of Crown conduct at the strategic level — how their conduct was self-defeating, how they have fed the Urewera 4's growing, and largely unearned, notoriety. Or how the Crown squandered a series of teachable moments on how build, not destroy trust with tangata whenua and activists, and how to deal with low-level dissent, as I said before it all came to trial, by exercising "tolerant indulgence within firm boundaries". Even if you like the sentence, those criticisms all hold.
NeilM, I agree — but am most surprised to see you saying so, given what I have understood of your views of the case to this point.
Just to add:
It is predictably disappointing that those occupying the poles of this argument — those who think the Urewera 4 were our very own Rebel Alliance, whether they think that a good or a bad thing — have this in common: both are required to exaggerate and propagandise the conduct, intent and capability of the group in order to make their ideologically-based arguments. Pablo wrote about this earlier, and others are still writing about it with unfortunately larger helpings of credulity. Tāme Iti was and is no Guevara, nor Mandela, nor Smith, nor Kurtz, nor Yoda. Anyone who thinks he was is a fool.
Lew – You and Pablo appear to think that because the terrorism charges were dropped, the evidence relating to them originally being brought does not exist.
On the basis of the public evidence I have read and the example of the likes of Molenaar I wholeheartedly support the police going in heavily armed and taking it all very seriously.
At that point the police were not to know they were bumbling loudmouthed fools and had every reason to believe that anything but overwhelming force might turn violent and dangerous.
Pablo – "Bringing up the subject of molotovs, militias, purported bombing (but not bus-flinging) plans at sentences for Firearms Act violations is irrelevant and prejudicial."
Lew – "But, yeah — this is an odd sentence; one that is pretty extravagant given the relatively minor charges of which they were convicted, given that nobody was actually (or even nearly) harmed. "
Flat wrong according to our principles of common law sentencing. The judge should take into account non evidential information.
Having come across Iti up close he is obviously hugely charismatic to urban metrosexuals.
And tarnishing the likes of Trotter, Franks and myself as closet klansman because we disagree with your misinterpretation of law and justice simply indicates the weakness of your arguments.
That said I completely agree the police and prosecutors made a number of egregious mistakes. Shit happens, they were probably not sure what they were dealing with.
But people doing para-military training using illegal weapons and being recorded making threats against the powers that be is not normal acceptable behaviour in a civilised democracy. They received justice.
Phil, I won's speak for Pablo, but for mine: not that it doesn't exist; that it hasn't been adequately tested, defended or contextualised to meet the standards we expect of evidence. I've read the leaked affidavit; assuming you have too, clearly we make very different things of it.
You say that based on what you think the police knew, they weren't to know that they were bumbling fools — and yet that's the only thing that's even remotely clear from the very limited evidence we do have. You think the rest of the evidence reveals a lean, mean state-smashing machine? Be serious.
Weird comment about "urban metrosexuals". Who do you think you're describing?
Lew – you are still unable to differentiate between evidence acceptable at a trial and information/evidence that should be taken into account at sentencing. Sentencing rightly has a much wider scope.
You are using hindsight to berate the police for decisions they made in the fog of operations. I am gobsmacked that you seem to think the state should wait until the citizenry or politicians are actually attacked before they should act. 911 and 7/7 are the context.
As for the metrosexual comment, I came across Iti at a prestigious art gallery award ceremony where he was much feted by the powers that be and the cool crowd. I thought him then a harmless intelligent charismatic showman, if people were taken in by him that was their lookout.
But when he turned into an overweight middle aged man running around in the bush firing weapons and talking revolution that takes it to an entirely different place. as Franks makes the point much better, being incompetent does not make them innocent.
Phil:
I have written too much on this subject dating back to a few days after the arrests (there is a trilogy of essays at Scoop from October and November 2007 should you care to look) to revisit the whole saga. Suffice it to say that I think that the Police and Crown tried to pin a terrorist conspiracy case on 18 people for political as much or more so than for substantive reasons of imminent threat (and that this was known to senior govt officials at the time), got knocked back on several levels under legal scrutiny, and wound up seeing four defendants convicted of firearms charges that are, quite frankly, mundane in the scheme of NZ firearms violations.
Iti's (and I believe Kemara's) priors of firearms charges certainly called for something stiffer than a fine, but the judge went beyond his proper mandate in levying the sentences against them. In justifying his decision he engaged in biased speculation about their intentions rather than a dispassionate summary of facts (and the fact that the defense told fanciful stories about what they were doing in the bush certainly gave him leeway when doing so). Yet, when one considers that various recent illegal hunting shooting incidents causing death have resulted in sentences equivalent or less than those handed down to Iti and Kemara, it becomes apparent that this was about selectively teaching a lesson to dissidents rather than meting out proportional justice.
This does not excuse the behavior of the original defendants, whatever their mix of motives (one, for example, spoke to comrades about heading to Gaza to fight Israelis, another was a mentally unhinged gang wanna-be and others were clearly intoxicated when making bellicose statements). Whatever they were up to, as I have repeatedly said, was not a good look. However, making the group out to be a militia in training is over the top. As I said in the trilogy–where was the plot, where was the planning, where was the coordinated preparations for any one specific or concrete act of violence against anyone? While the Urewera 18 certainly warranted the Police's interest, the raids and the entire Crown case has been, as I said in a previous post, based on exaggeration and hyperbolic conjecture that grossly distorts the threat posed by their activities.
Several hundred hours of non-elective community service and stiff fines would have sent the proper message to all concerned. Instead, what I am left with is the impression of "justice" selectively applied for ideological reasons that have nothing to do with the actual threat posed to NZ society by these folk.
As for my denigrating you and others by name because we disagree on the matter–I did no such thing. My remarks about closet klansmen are directed at those who populate the comment threads of well-known NZ rightwing blogs that I am sure you are very familiar with. For such people the vicarious thirst for revenge, often couched in terms of racial dislike, outweigh any balanced assessment of the facts as presented to the jury. Although you are better than that, I fear that you have allowed ideological enmity to cloud your better judgement on this case.
I don't think Hansen erred in considering the circumstances of the firearms offending. I actually think the sentencing notes are pretty solid. I don't agree with the sentences, but I think Hansen followed the law.
(Interestingly see the case of R v Te Kaha, [1999] DCR 48 for an example of a judge sentencing leniently in a case with interesting parallels.)


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