text:
REQUIEM (1998) (with Helmut Oehring)
for 3 countertenors, 12 instruments and tapes,
(FP: Paris/Donaueschingen/Brüssel 1998) duration: 55'
after the 9 psalms O Ye Tongues from 'The Death Notebook' by Anne Sexton
commissioned by Donaueschinger Musiktage in coproduction with Festival
d' Automne à Paris, Kaaitheater, Brussels, Philharmonic Society of Brussels, Ictus
World Premiere: 13/10/1998 Opera National, Paris, Festival d'Automne/
Donaueschingen/ Brüssel
David Newman / Arno Raunig / Jean Nirouet / Ictus Ensemble / Georges-Elie Octors
three counter-tenors, basset hn.dbcl-3tpt.2trbn-perc(2)-prepared pft(=sampler,harmonium)- gtr(=elec.gtr)-elec.bass- gtr-vln.vla.vlc-live electronics
recommended cd: Donaueschinger Musiktage 1998, col legno WWE 4CD 20050
Press-quote:
Requiem in tandem (February 1999)
A recent example of the intriguing co-composer collaboration between Helmut Oehring and Iris ter Schiphorst, Requiem for three countertenors, ensemble and electronics, was unveiled at the Festival d'Automne in Paris on 13 October. The premiere was given by the Ictus Ensemble conducted by George-Elie Octors, and further performances took place at the Donaueschingen Festival and in Brussels. The new work takes as its starting point Mozart's Requiem, which provides both a structural frame and an iconic reference point at the interface between music and the spiritual realm. From here the two composers explore in their individual terms the meaning of death and the transitory nature of human existence, with a fascinating dual musical input reflecting the different perspectives of the speechless world experienced by Oehring and the speech-rich world of Schiphorst.
Their joint creative activities were inaugurated in 1996 when Oehring asked to use melodic material by Schiphorst in his dance-opera The D'Amato System, premiered at the Munich Biennale. They then experimented with wholesale co-composition in the highly successful Polaroids, which was given its first performance by Ensemble Modern the same year. This is a work in which compositional and personal issues are inextricably entwined: the solo part for a deaf sign artist is a poignant reflection of Oehring's childhood as the hearing son of deaf-and-dumb parents, and this is counterpointed with the part for male soprano created by Schiphorst, representing the speaking world and society at large.
Texts by the American writer Anne Sexton, one of the most admired of the 'confessional poets', have provided inspiration for a number of recent works by Oehring and Schiphorst, including the new Requiem. Sexton's poetry was first transformed from the textual into the instrumental realm in Sexton A, a solo work commissioned by violist Tabea Zimmermann in which Oehring employs melodic material by Schiphorst. The fullest influence of Sexton to date is heard in LIVE (aus: Androgyn), named after one of her poems. Premiered to great acclaim at Witten in 1997, it is one of the most distinctive examples of Oehring and Schiphorst's collaborative work, employing fractured textual treatment and violent contrasts of mood and manner akin to cinematic cuts. A dark and surreal world is conjured up through extended instrumental and vocal techniques, the percussive use of prepared piano, and the electronic transformation of the sound.


ASTON VILLA are set to land Lewis Grabban today.
That's according to Telegraph journalist John Percy.
The Bournemouth outcast has been heavily linked with a move away from the Cherries this month.
Grabban, 30, returned to Bournemouth at the start of the transfer window after a loan spell at Sunderland, with Eddie Howe keen to sell the striker in a permanent deal.
However, Percy says Grabban will join Villa today in a loan deal, with the hitman undergoing his medical right now.
Cardiff were also in for the Bournemouth ace but Villa have won the race for the Championship goal machine.
ASTON VILLA have signed Axel Tuanzebe on loan from Manchester United for the rest of the season.
Grabban netted 12 times during his loan spell at Sunderland in the first half of this campaign.
Villa are desperate to land a striker, with star man Jonathan Kodjia out for the rest of the season.
The Villa Park talisman has a long-term ankle injury.
Scott Hogan recently found form under Steve Bruce, with Keinan Davis the only other option for the Villans.


text:
Michael Sean Winters: Fanboy
November 14, 2017 November 14, 2017 ~ onemadmomblog ~ 3 Comments
https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/distinctly-catholic/you-have-see-riveting-video-cardinal-cupich
You have to see this riveting video of Cardinal Cupich
He talks of scandal, adult spirituality and libertarianism
by Michael Sean Winters Opinion
Last week, Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago participated in a conversation with journalist E.J. Dionne at the University of Chicago's Institute for Politics. The entire exchange was riveting, and I will deal with some of the things Cupich said presently. You can see the video here.
Well, if you consider "riveting" to mean "you can't help but look when there's a traffic accident", I might agree. However, this is just more of the same old thing from Cardinal (I still can't believe I have to use that title) Cupich.
But, if you go to minute 24, you see the most important thing that Cupich said. Dionne began by asking about the controversy surrounding Fr. Tom Weinandy's letter to Pope Francis, in which the former director of the bishops' doctrinal committee suggested that the faithful were scandalized by Pope Francis. Cupich replied: "I don't think that people are scandalized by the pope. I think they are being told to be scandalized. I think there is a difference." To use a Catholic word: Bingo!
Yeah, that's it. You people who are scandalized – you're all simply brainwashed. You engage in group think and you don't have a thought of your own in your head. You're being told by whoever that you must be scandalized.
Seriously? Does this really work with his readers? I'm reasonably sure that most of the people who are frustrated at this point are still "defend the Pope first" type of people. In fact, the majority of the ones I see are ones who still put out the papal tweet of the day. There might be a gleeful batch of "everyone's wrong all the time" people out there, but most are just like me. We want to be the "Rah-rah Pope!" types but are having trouble mustering the enthusiasm to do so and wish he would reverse on his stance on taking interview questions ahead of time. The majority of us aren't calling him the anti-Christ but instead find ourselves taking up the position of St. Vincent of Lerins, as Dan Hitchens points out here. (An uplifting read for those who are depressed over the state of the Church today.) We're the types who pay enough attention and do enough research to actually get upset when we see people twisting Church teaching (Ahem! Michael…), but yeah, we're the ones who blindly obey when we are told to be scandalized. Do I sound like someone who says "Yes, master!" in a zombie-like fashion? Gag.
I have complained about the thin agenda for this week's U.S. bishops' conference meeting. Here is something they need to discuss: How is it that people, who are in some sense on the bishops' payroll or working at organizations with clear links to the church, are leading such a noisy opposition to Pope Francis and seem perfectly willing to break down the unity of the church in voicing that opposition?
I might point out that you are on the National catholic Reporter's dole. What, again, have you been doing for years over there? Just because "United in dissent!" is your motto doesn't mean that you are uniting the Church in any fashion. Seriously (or, rather, more seriously) your publication declares itself right on the home page as "The independent news source." Unity hasn't exactly been NcR's goal, unless unity means uniting people in your dissenting way of thought.
So, just for fun I went to NcR and searched for Pope Benedict. What was interesting to note is that John Allen, Jr., wrote about 95% of the articles on Pope Benedict. In short, it seemed the goal of NcR writers at the time to hide in their blanket forts and pretend Benedict XVI wasn't even elected. Let's see what some of the other "uniters" had to say:
https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/peace-pulpit/sept-17-2006-twenty-fourth-sunday-ordinary-time : But there's another short passage that Jesus proclaimed, that it seems to me if Pope Benedict had been thinking about this, he would have been much more careful in what he said.
https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/where-i-stand/franz-where-are-you-when-we-need-you : The world has been debating for over a week now whether Pope Benedict XVI simply forgot that he was a universal pastor and international politician as well as past professor or simply didn't care to attend to all three roles at one time. Whatever the case, in one university speech all three facets of this current papacy came into play.
In this speech, universal pastoral sensitivity, as well as the political responsibilities that come with the papacy, seem to many to have been abandoned. In their place, his long-time identity as professor — meaning someone who has the luxury, indeed, the responsibility to pursue abstract ideas free of the social consequences of their implications — had free rein.
https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/peace-pulpit/fourteenth-sunday-ordinary-time-1
And I think of another quite extraordinary example too. One that I think is really noteworthy. It's something that Pope Benedict is about to do. In October of this year, he is going to beatify an Austrian peasant, Franz Jägerstätter. Probably most of us never heard of him. But Franz grew up not very far from where Joseph Ratzinger grew up. Joseph Ratzinger went into the Nazi army, became a soldier. Franz Jägerstätter refused to serve in the army, refused to kill. And of course he paid a price for it. He was beheaded on Aug. 9, 1943. But now he's going to be proclaimed before the world as one who faithfully followed Jesus.
And it's such a contrast and I think there's great courage on the part of Pope Benedict. Because it's so easy to see the difference. Joseph Ratzinger now our Holy Father followed Hitler's orders went into the army, prepared to kill. Franz Jägerstätter refused and now is proclaimed a saint, one for us to imitate and to follow. (I'm throwing this one in because it's supposed to show some sort of great divide between these two men in their actions against Hitler when there was more similarities than differences. Maybe Bp. Gumbleton doesn't know how to Google but it's weird because he fancies himself the expert on Blessed Franz Jägerstätter.
https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/peace-pulpit/third-sunday-lent : "Even recently, Pope Benedict rewrote the prayer for Good Friday in which, in those long petitions that we use, we pray for the Jewish people, God's chosen people. It was revised after the Vatican Council because the prayer before that was very insulting to Jewish believers. But now the Pope has revised it again and now it's offensive.
https://www.ncronline.org/news/us-bishops-great-inertia : Whole thing. Too much to copy.
In short, Michael, you live in a big ol' glass house. Stop playing with rocks.
The bishops know that EWTN and the National Catholic Register both regularly highlight any and all news stories about resistance to the pope. It seems that, some weeks, if Cardinal Raymond Burke sneezes, Edward Pentin has to write a story about it — and always the same story: It was a truly orthodox sneeze, conformed to the unchangeable and irreformable intrinsic nature of a sneeze, a sneeze worthy of St. John Paul II. Yet there is Bishop Robert Barron doing ads for the Register and saying it presents "the Catholic perspective" — not "a Catholic perspective" but the Catholic perspective. Does the good bishop read it?
Well that deserves a few "Pinocchios." Please, people, check out National Catholic Register yourself. Don't let yourselves be brainwashed into believing the misrepresentation posted by Winters. (See what I did there? To use a Catholic word: Bingo!) Go ahead, I dare you! I double-dare you! It's the last thing Winters wants.
First of all, Michael, are you really going to complain that the Register wants to report THE Catholic perspective as opposed to your "independent" Catholic perspective? I wouldn't think you would want to draw attention to this little disparity.
Next, I just scanned the front page of articles by Register staffers (see center column), and guess what? One article on the Pope praying for earthquake victims, and ZERO articles on Cardinal Burke. Yes, I understand that's today and tomorrow could change, but I'm reasonably sure Cardinal Burke sneezed and I'm a tad bit disappointed no Pentin! You got my hopes up,Michael!
By the way, I believe it's your publication that has 3 different articles today on your perceived resistance. Oops.
In years past, the bishops would look into "problems" if LifeSiteNews or the American Life League accused someone, somewhere, of not upholding their interpretation of a Catholic's civic obligations. Remember the review of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development? Why was that necessary? Remember the kerfuffle over Catholic Relief Services? And the perpetual campaign against Catholic Charities? Will the bishops now concede that groups like LifeSiteNews and the American Life League and the Lepanto Institute can — and should — be ignored? That perhaps it might even behoove the bishops to make clear that these organizations do not speak for the Catholic Church.
OK, for those of you who don't know, Catholic Relief Services passes out birth control. Gee! No reason to comment there. Google, people.! I'm perfectly fine with you checking the veracity of LifeSiteNews, American Life League, Catholic Whoever, but if there's a problem with the story, how about you report what the problem is, Michael, rather than merely suggesting they are "not upholding their interpretation of a Catholic's civic obligations." I think we're actually obliged, as Catholics, not to cooperate with evil. Don't you? Oh, wait, your group actually DOES want to cooperate with evil: https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/grace-margins/laudato-si-should-have-lifted-ban-contraception (Please note, NcR has no trouble being critical if it doesn't jive with their thoughts.)
Catholic Campaign for Human Development and Catholic Charities? They have similar skeletons. Mr. Winters also forgot to mention the Bellarmine Foundation, which has done extensive work undermining the Church. Here's a link to help him with his list of organizations he feels should be investigated just on his say-so. https://bellarmineforum.org/2015/09/12/why-not-give-to-the-catholic-campaign-for-human-development/
Again, Mr. Winters, how about you support your accusations with some facts on CCHD, Catholic Charities and Catholic Relief Services to rebut these "evil organizations" reporting on them. What? You can't? Please note this, people. Mr. Winters' accusations are the epitome of the saying, "Big hat, no cattle." You're adults, verify yourselves.
Another thing Cupich said in the discussion is worth repeating. When discussing why some people are upset about Francis, Cupich said: "He's calling people to have an adult spirituality, rather than being infantilized in their spirituality." He noted that people who like telling other people what to do have trouble with the sense of responsibility to which Francis is calling us all.
Oh, yeah. That would upset people like Cardinal Burke to no end. No, seriously, he doesn't believe in adult spirituality?!? (insert rolling eyes) Please. And what is with "people who like telling other people what to do?" In my world, we call that parenting, and it's all about responsibility. What Cardinal Cupich is really trying to say here is, "Those big old meanies who try to teach you what is right and what is wrong, don't listen to them! I'm the only one you should listen to because, well, me!"
The codification of ecclesial practice and norms was a leitmotif of the pontificate of St. Pope John Paul II: He authorized the catechism, he updated the universal code of canon law, he issued a compendium of the church's social doctrine. There is always a need for such codification: No society exists without laws and rules. But, that codification is there to serve the church's essential mission of proclaiming Jesus Christ, our risen savior; it is not there for its own sake. As St. Paul wrote to Timothy, "the Word of God is not imprisoned."
Babbling. Translation: Just don't worry about all those rules. They're so judgey.
As Pope Francis likes to say, "The Word still wants to take on flesh." Rules and codes can imprison the Spirit if they replace the kerygma as the central focus of ecclesial life. The Lord said to Nicodemus, "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." That is not a vision of certainty or even clarity, and some people crave certainty and clarity.
As far as what "Pope Francis likes to say", I'll have to take your word for the quote because I can't find it anywhere but this article. A link would have been nice. Anyone? Regardless, it almost seems like we're just going to throw a whole bunch of random thought, add a bible story and see if the confusion sticks.
One of the most constant refrains among the complaints against Pope Francis is that he sows confusion. Only if you have placed law or ideology at the heart of ecclesial life is his approach to governing the church confusing. He is calling to maturity. He calls for discernment, not libertinism, and discernment is always done with and within the church.
Huh? Did he really use the word libertinism there? Yes, I think it was it was a typo based on the title of the article but kind of funny. Seems like that's what the likes of Cupich, McElroy, and Martin are pushing for. For the record, I don't think I've ever seen anyone from "my side of the fence" put down discernment, and I'd put money on the fact that Michael Sean Winters probably couldn't find anything to back this up. Of course, what does Mr. Winters and club want us to discern? Whether we can thwart the teachings of the Church and still be worthy of Heaven? Good luck with that.
As Jesuit Fr. Jim Martin pointed out in responding to the Weinandy's strange account of how he came to the conclusion that Jesus wanted him to write to the pope: "If one's idea of discernment is seeking signs like this, then why would one trust, say, a divorced and remarried Catholic to consult his or her conscience about whether it is permissible to receive Communion? It is no wonder that discernment seems so arbitrary to some people. And so frightening."
Let's see. Father Weinandy asking for a sign from God whether or not he should write a letter is the same as discerning whether or not someone living in sin should double-down on a mortal sin? Yeah, that's totally comparable. For the life of me I cannot see why people act like Fr. Weinandy is mentally ill for asking for a sign. How many saints have done the same? Are they always given? No, but some have been quite clearly given the signs they've asked for, which is a special gift. I do think it funny, though, that the NcR crowd frowns on Fr. Weinandy's "discernment" when we are told that Pope Francis wants us to discern. Make up your mind. Oh, I get it! We're just supposed to discern in a manner that brings us to the same conclusion as Cardinal Cupich, Bishop McElroy, Fr. Martin, and, I guess, Michael Sean Winters. Got it. That kind of discernment is just peachy. No scoffing if you come to their conclusion.
By the way, I've got to laugh at the severe over use of discernment. There's not one in the bunch that can say "judgement", which is what discernment actually means. The "j" word, however, has been dumped on by this crowd so many times they've got to dance around it.
Cardinal Cupich's conversation with Dionne contained other gems, such as his criticism of libertarianism. Dionne joked that the press had their headline: Cupich criticizes libertarianism at University of Chicago! His comments about abortion were very strong, which is always a bit of a risk in a secular venue. I encourage everyone to watch this video. Cupich is, par excellence, a bishop for the era of Francis: engaged, sympathetic, compelling. If only the rest of the body of bishops would follow his lead.
Drooling much? I mean, the keyboard is probably pretty soggy at this point. Somebody's getting a "Cardinal Cupich Fanboy" shirt for Christmas. Well, as usual, Mr. Winters doesn't fail to disappoint when it comes to linking to quotes, Church teaching, and facts, but hey, he hit the jackpot in conjecture, say something until it's true and slander. Same old, same old.
#CatholicCyberMilitia
I, Me & the Papacy
October 25, 2017 October 25, 2017 ~ onemadmomblog ~ 12 Comments
I've been doing a lot of reading trying to get back to the blogosphere after a nice vacation. I don't often have a chance to plow through everything listed on Catholic headline sites. I usually just pick what jumps out at me, so after subjecting myself to just about every story in today's headlines, I'm a little depressed. Looks bleak these days for the Faith, despite knowing the end of the story.
So much jumped out at me it's hard to know what to tackle first. Maybe the vacation was just a little too long! This, however, is the article that kept gnawing at me.
Those who read me know that I usually don't comment much on Pope Francis. My main reason for not doing so is that I just don't believe in spitting into the wind. I've got a wide variety of friends – both in my personal life and in the blogosphere – who hold every opinion on him, everything from questioning his validity to thinking he is the savior. I think I probably hold the opinion of many in the middle: on some days I'm happy, on others I'm befuddled, but this one struck me in the most negative of ways. Why? I just got the sense that it was all about him. "I, me, I, me, I, me…" and that's not really a feeling I want to have about our Pope. I want to feel like the Pope is the guardian of the Church and not treating it as his personal sandbox and these comments don't help. To be fair, the question was on his interviews, but I don't think I've ever seen that many I's and Me's coming from the person who is supposed to represent the Church, not himself. From the very first quote:
I know this can make me vulnerable, but it is a risk I want to take,
I wanted to yell, "This isn't about you, it's about souls! People with evil intentions are using your interviews to prey on those souls!" To be fair, the quotes they expound on are often totally out of context, misquotes, etc. However, fool me once shame on you, fool me repeatedly and I might actually be the fool or so "rigid" in my ways that I can't see that my ways might be a problem and require another tactic.
I might as well just go over all the quotes. Next:
"The Lord 'interviews' the disciples who are walking discouraged," he said. "For me, the interview is part of this conversation the church is having with men and women today."
OK, but does anyone remember what happened after the "interview"? There was a complete and utter smackdown for not getting it.
25 Then he said to them, Too slow of wit, too dull of heart, to believe all those sayings of the prophets! 26 Was it not to be expected that the Christ should undergo these sufferings, and enter so into his glory? 27 Then, going back to Moses and the whole line of the prophets, he began to interpret the words used of himself by all the scriptures.
He didn't say, "Oh, you missed everything that you've been taught but that's just fine." Where is the response Christ gave, the clear delineation of where they ditched all that had been taught? That's what we hope comes out of the dialogue, but it never quite seems to happen. We want Pope Francis to be a true father and then break bread with the children. As a parent, that's what I want to see from my pope for my children. Sure, meet them on the Road to Emmaus when they are struggling and confused, but then give them the Truth and remind them what Christ did for them and what He left for them – the Church and her Sacraments.
"The interviews and Q&A sessions "always have a pastoral value," Pope Francis said, and are an important part of his ministry, just like inviting a small group of people to his early morning Mass each day."
I'd quibble here. They COULD have pastoral value. I don't think it means they always do, especially when the responses are not clear. I mean, the Holy Father picked the Road to Emmaus story. After Christ's "interview," he reiterated EVERYTHING they had been taught about the Christ from "Moses and the whole line of prophets."
The chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, where he lives, "is, let's say, my parish. I need that communication with people."
I don't think ANYONE has a problem with him communicating with people. The problem people find is his lack of clarity. That's kind of what the whole dubia thing was about. The four cardinals REALLY had communication with their flock, their priests, other cardinals, bishops, etc. They deserved the "dialogue" that the Holy Father speaks of, because they represent a HUGE number of Catholics, despite the Spadaro spin.
"There, too, on those trips, I like to look people in the eye and respond to their questions sincerely," he wrote. "I know that I have to be prudent, and I hope I am. I always pray to the Holy Spirit before I start listening to the questions and responding."
Cannot fault the method at all, but the problem is it's been a problem more than a few times now. It seems like when it's gone awry so many times, it might not be prudential to do it again and again. That said, who knows if the chaos that results ever gets back to him. You'd think yes since it's the topic of the interview, but who the heck really knows anymore.
This one really got me:
His favorite interviews, he said, are with small, neighborhood newspapers and magazines. "There I feel even more at ease," the pope said. "In fact, in those cases I really am listening to the questions and concerns of common people. I try to respond spontaneously, in a conversation I hope is understandable, and not with rigid formulas."
Oh, how I wish that were true all the way around. A couple comments on that. First, he should ALWAYS be on guard. Next, the press represents the common people?! And then we're back to "rigid." Was Christ being "rigid" when he laid out every word spoken about him by the prophets? I just wish he understood that clarity is good, clarity is not rigidity.
"For me," he said, "interviews are a dialogue, not a lesson."
Anything jump into anyone's mind? How many times did the disciples call Christ "teacher?" I don't remember him being called "dialoguer." Honestly, I want him to be the ultimate pope. I want him do things like pay his own hotel bill and call "gender theory" a nuclear weapon, but these quotes didn't bring me there.
Even when the questions are submitted in advance, the pope said he does not prepare his answers. Watching the person ask the question and responding directly is important.
OK, you've got the questions in advance. They're not going to change, but one can't prepare a well thought out response that might be less easily twisted and still listen and respond directly to the question???
Yes, I am afraid of being misinterpreted," he said. "But, I repeat, I want to run this pastoral risk.
Why would anyone want to run the risk of being misinterpreted and run the risk of souls being led astray??? Look, I'm only human but I just don't get it. If my child comes to me with a weighty question, you'd bet I'd take the question in advance if I could get my hands on it! If I had the opportunity, I wouldn't go with, "I'm trying to be a genuine, authentic parent and have a genuine, authentic dialogue with my child, so I'm going to pass on the opportunity to be prepared and take a parental roll of the dice!" That's really what we're talking about here. I'm not going to play craps when a soul is at stake. Would I be "rigid" or loving with my want of clarity for the soul of a child I carried and raised? My kids would probably go with rigid. Ha! That said, my children, just like the rest of us, don't always want the truth, right? We want the nice cushy road. I don't understand why the truth can't be given with the love surrounding it like a halo. Like so many, I just don't get the logic of Pope Francis some days.
The article on papal interviews wasn't the only story that caught my eye. In fact, this story hit the very same day.
Now, Pope John Paul II visited a prison (and the guy who shot him), and Pope Benedict XVI visited a prison, but Pope Francis decided to invite 20 prisoners out of prison to lunch. Guess what? Two prisoners of unknown and possibly dangerous convictions escaped. I cannot help but see this incident as symbolic of what's going on in the Church today. The Holy Father wants to extend what he thinks are new and improved overtures of kindness to some who are sure to feel "marginalized" (the Jesuits' favorite word!), and some of the more nefarious "inmates" in the Church decide to run wild (ahem, Fr. Martin!). Now, do I think these overtures are anything but genuine and done out of love? My guess is that they are. (I'm sure some of you are about to throw "naïve" and "pollyana" at me. Get your own blog!) That's really not the point. That said, I can very well say that prisoners escaping is not a good outcome. People with evil ideas will do what they are going to do, but it doesn't mean we have to make it any easier on them to do so. My feeling is "no."
When I was wondering what other papal interviews looked like, I came across this interview of Pope Benedict. When he says "I" and "Me" he's putting himself in the role of the faithful, not the Pope. I'm throwing it in because it was great and touches on what we need from the Church and some of the topics of this week like Luther.
Just to be clear, I'm not saying the pope is a heretic (not in my job description). I'm not saying he's got evil intentions (out of my purview). I'm not speaking to anything doctrinal or canonical the Pope may or may not have done (well, well above my pay grade). I am speaking to this article and the Holy Father's remarks expressed in it, and they concern me and I'm betting it concerns some of you. I'm just here to say I feel your pain and you totally have reason to feel like you look like a confused German shepherd these days. This too shall pass.
For those feeling a bit, let's be honest, annoyed, cheer up! We're either in end times as some have said, or we've got miles to go. Either way, pray for the Church and pray for the world. Avail yourself of the sacraments and let's pray that the Holy Father gives some clarity to our own personal "dubias" as well as those already stated. I can't imagine anyone having a problem praying for clarity (well, except for those who ascribe to the "confound and confuse" method) no matter what your feelings on the Holy Father.
Top Things Wrong with America's Top 5
April 12, 2016 ~ onemadmomblog ~ 6 Comments
America Magazine, that is. Fr. James Martin, SJ, (because what other order would put out this level of hooey?) has spoken. Not surprisingly, he has produced an odd little video starring the editors of America. I'm thinking they might not have actually read Amoris Laetitia, but regardless, this video has little to do with the actual document and it's got this really annoying disco soundtrack, to boot. Let go of the 70s, Fr. Martin! You can do it!
Besides the editors of America, I'm guessing more than a few nominal Catholics haven't actually read the document, nor will they. They'll just take the Fr. Martin and ilk paraphrasing of it as the fifth gospel. Wonder why the editors of America actually don't encourage you to read it??? Try "Let's just keep the flock ignorant and tell them what we think it means."
First, we all need to give a big thanks to One Mad Dad who, through his technical wizardry, captured the transcript so we don't have to actually listen to the background music. If you want to watch it, just google the title and Fr. James Martin, SJ and it'll pop right up.
Top 5 – Amoris Laetitia
Fr. Martin kicks off this comedy of errors: Pope Francis' groundbreaking new document, Amoris Laetitia, "The Joy of Love," asks the Church to meet people where they are, consider the complexities of people's lives and respect people's consciences when it comes to moral decisions. The apostolic exhortation is mainly a document that reflects on and encourages families, but it is also the Pope's reminder that the Church should avoid simply judging people and imposing rules on them without considering their struggles. His goal is to help families, in fact, everyone, experience God's love. All this may require what the Pope calls "new pastoral methods." So, let's look at the top five takeaways from Amoris Laetitia.
First thing, please don't use these "5 takeaways" as the document. That would be plain silly. If you want to start by taking these sheeples' comments and using "ctrl f" to search the document, you won't find any of the "takeaways" accurately quoted in the document. Can you say "spin," Fr. Martin? It should be relatively easy, since you are the master of it. Let's just go over some of the ridiculous.
Right off the bat, Fr. Martin uses that catchy phrase proponents of moral relativism love: "Meet people where they are." Quite frankly, this has always been just a fluffy way to state the obvious. Where else do you meet people? Of course, they're not going for the "greet" version of meet. They're talking more about "coming down to their level." What Fr. Martin doesn't say is that he pretty much wants the Church to stay down at that level. This annoys me to the hilt, because I am a mother and a teacher and have been encouraging people to "grow up" instead of staying at some stunted plateau. Does anyone really think the Holy Father wants us to remain spiritually stunted? Well, I suppose those who think sin is determined merely by what we think it is are hoping that's what he wants. However, if you take the document in its entirety, how could anyone in good conscience say that? Internal forum, maybe?
Really, the phrase "internal forum" needs to be discussed before moving on. The dissenters from Church teaching would have you believe this means you can have a discussion with yourself and decide if you think your sin is really a sin. "So what do you think, self? Do you really think that God thinks sleeping with someone outside of marriage is a sin? Nope? OK, we're good. Bring on Communion!" Seriously, people actually believe this, and the Fr. Martins of the world aren't going to do a darn thing to dispel that error. Let's just look at what it really means, because that ain't it.
It's all about marriage and the family in Amoris Laetitia, so let's go with these explanations: http://itsjustdave1988.blogspot.com/2005/05/internal-forum-solution-instead-of.html
https://canonlawblog.wordpress.com/2015/11/20/toward-informed-discussion-of-the-internal-forum/
Thanks, gentlemen! You notice that they actually back up their definitions with Canon Law and previous popes? Fr. Martin can't actually do that, because it would undermine his argument.
Next, Fr. Martin says the Holy Father asks us to "respect peoples' consciences when it comes to moral decisions." Not so much. We should take them into consideration, and more often than not, there's the directive for pastors to help rightly form consciences. Fr. Martin consistently ignores the latter and distorts the former as "we must respect peoples' actions based on their consciences." Would Fr. Martin say that about a murderer?!?!? My guess is not so much. He doesn't want you to think about applying this theory across the board. He only wants you to apply it to his pet sins.
Not to be outdone by Father Martin, Associate Editor Olga Segura continues:
The Church needs to understand families and individuals in all their complexity. The Church needs to meet people where they are, so pastors should avoid judgments that don't take into account the complexity of various situations. In other words, one size does not fit all and black-and-white thinking is not helpful. People are encouraged to live by the Gospel, but they should also be welcomed into a Church that appreciates their struggles and treats them with mercy. Overall, Pope Francis calls for an approach of accompaniment.
Actions can be judged regardless of the situation, Olga. What cannot be judged is the culpability of a person. That's what Amoris Laetitia says starting on paragraph 303. It doesn't say that "irregular situations" are good. Irregular situations are never good, but the culpability in the situation may mitigate the person committing the act. This is and has always been Church teaching. So, when Olga says, "In other words [OMM: you know there's going to be trouble with this] one size does not fit all and black and white thinking isn't helpful," she is flat out wrong. The "rules" DO fit us all. The only thing that isn't a one size fits all is our culpability based on how one's conscience is formed. Is it formed well? Is it poorly formed? And what's the pastoral remedy put forth by the Pope for all of this? HELPING PEOPLE TO RIGHTLY FORM THEIR CONSCIENCES!
Olga goes onto say that people should live by the gospel, "but they should be welcomed into a church that appreciates their struggles and treats them with mercy." Wouldn't we all say "Duh!" to that? Sadly, that's really not where the America crowd is headed. Their idea of mercy is to rubberstamp all sorts of immoral behavior. The Pope urges the Church to accompany sinners NOT THE SIN.
Executive Editor Tim Reidy adds:
The role of conscience is paramount in decision-making. Individual conscience needs to be better incorporated into the Church's practice. In other words, the traditional belief that conscience is the final arbiter of the moral life needs to be recovered. The Church is supposed to form consciences, not to replace them, says the Pope. And while it is true a person's conscience needs to be formed by Church teaching, our conscience does much more than just follow rules. Conscience also recognizes with a certain moral security what God asks of us.
Um, hello? When did it get lost and who lost it? I'm reasonably sure that was Tim, not me. The problem with his statement is that he doesn't now nor did he ever understand this traditional belief. I'm thinking he missed this:
http://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/RATZCONS.HTM
Authority in this case, the Magisterium, may well speak of matters moral, but only in the sense of presenting conscience with material for its own deliberation. Conscience would retain, however, the final word. Some authors reduce conscience in this its aspect of final arbiter to the formula: conscience is infallible.
Nonetheless, at this point, a contradiction can arise. It is of course undisputed that one must follow a certain conscience or at least not act against it. But whether the judgment of conscience or what one takes to be such, is always right, indeed whether it is infallible, is another question. For if this were the case, it would mean that there is no truth—at least not in moral and religious matters, which is to say, in the areas which constitute the very pillars of our existence. For judgments of conscience can contradict each other. Thus there could be at best the subject's own truth, which would be reduced to the subject's sincerity. No door or window would lead from the subject into the broader world of being and human solidarity. Whoever thinks this through will come to the realization that no real freedom exists then and that the supposed pronouncements of conscience are but the reflection of social circumstances. This should necessarily lead to the conclusion that placing freedom in opposition to authority overlooks something. There must be something deeper, if freedom and, therefore, human existence are to have meaning.
Managing Editor Kerry Weber:
Divorced and remarried Catholics should be more fully integrated into the Church. Divorced and remarried people are not excommunicated. Rather, they are members of our Church. We can help them feel more welcome in the Church in a few pastoral ways, says the Pope: by looking at the specifics of their situation, by having priests counsel them privately in what's called an "internal forum," and by respecting that the final decision about their level of participation in the Church is ultimately left to their conscience.
Oh, honey, does what you said sound like this?
http://w2.vatican.va/content/dam/francesco/pdf/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20160319_amoris-laetitia_en.pdf 299.
I am in agreement with the many Synod Fathers who observed that "the baptized who are divorced and civilly remarried need to be more fully integrated into Christian communities in the variety of ways possible, while avoiding any occasion of scandal. The logic of integration is the key to their pastoral care, a care which would allow them not only to realize that they belong to the Church as the body of Christ, but also to know that they can have a joyful and fruitful experience in it. They are baptized; they are brothers and sisters; the Holy Spirit pours into their hearts gifts and talents for the good of all. Their participation can be expressed in different ecclesial services, which necessarily requires discerning which of the various forms of exclusion currently practised in the liturgical, pastoral, educational and institutional framework, can be surmounted. Such persons need to feel not as excommunicated members of the Church, but instead as living members, able to live and grow in the Church and experience her as a mother who welcomes them always, who takes care of them with affection and encourages them along the path of life and the Gospel. This integration is also needed in the care and Christian upbringing of their children, who ought to be considered most important".
Again, "internal forum" doesn't mean what you propose it means.
Associate Editor Ashley McKinless:
We should no longer talk about people "living in sin." In a sentence, [OMM: a drastically altered sentence with some fancy omissions] reflecting a new approach, the Pope says, "It can no longer simply be said that those living in 'irregular situations' are living in a state of mortal sin." Other members of non-traditional families, like single mothers, need to be offered understanding, comfort, and acceptance. When it comes to these people, the Church needs to stop applying moral laws as if, in the Pope's vivid words, "they were stones to throw at a person's life."
Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Young lady, by altering just a few words, you not only misquoted the pope, you completely changed the meaning of the statement the Pope made. Let's look at what he ACTUALLY said (emphasis will show what this babe did):
301. For an adequate understanding of the possibility and need of special discernment in certain "irregular" situations, one thing must always be taken into account, lest anyone think that the demands of the Gospel are in any way being compromised. The Church possesses a solid body of reflection concerning mitigating factors and situations. Hence it is can no longer simply be said that all those in any "irregular" situation are living in a state of mortal sin and are deprived of sanctifying grace.
305. For this reason, a pastor cannot feel that it is enough simply to apply moral laws to those living in "irregular" situations, as if they were stones to throw at people's lives.
Are America followers really that gullible? Nowhere did it say the Church cannot apply moral laws, yet that is what the America staff would like you to believe. It says it's not enough to simply apply the laws. Again – DUH! Honestly, I'm not sure what the Pope dealt with in his country, but I can't remember the last time I heard of a priest saying, "You are sinning. Go away!"
And, really, single moms?!?! What the heck was that? What Ashley and the other editors really wanted to say was homosexual couples, but they knew that analogy would never fly, so they threw out the most sympathetic red-herring they could find.
Editor-in-Chief Matt Malone, SJ:
Traditional teachings on marriage are affirmed, but the Church should not burden people with unrealistic expectations.
Errrrrk! Stop right there. Can anyone show me where that is in Amoris Laetitia? I didn't remember reading it. Went back and did a search and cannot find it anywhere. Last time I checked, all things were possible with God, not unrealistic. Does America really think the Church is asking us to do an impossible thing?
Father Malone continued:
As the Church has always taught, marriage is between one man and one woman, marriage is indissoluble, and same-sex marriage is not considered. At the same time, the Church has often put upon people what Francis calls an artificial theological ideal of marriage that is removed from people's everyday lives. At times, these ideals have been a tremendous burden. And to that end, priests need to be better-trained to understand the complexities of people's married lives.
And the actual statement?
36. We also need to be humble and realistic, acknowledging that at times the way we present our Christian beliefs and treat other people has helped contribute to today's problematic situation. We need a healthy dose of self-criticism. Then too, we often present marriage in such a way that its unitive meaning, its call to grow in love and its ideal of mutual assistance are overshadowed by an almost exclusive insistence on the duty of procreation. Nor have we always provided solid guidance to young married couples, understanding their timetables, their way of thinking and their concrete concerns. At times we have also proposed a far too abstract and almost artificial theological ideal of marriage, far removed from the concrete situations and practical possibilities of real families. This excessive idealization, especially when we have failed to inspire trust in God's grace, has not helped to make marriage more desirable and attractive, but quite the opposite.
Again, ask yourselves why there are so reticent to accurately quote Amoris Laetitia. Also note that the Pope's writing has nothing to do with same-sex marriage, and the attempt to tie it to that is nothing more than dishonest. Nice try, America editors! Nice try!
Want to see what it actually says about same-sex marriage and same-sex "union"?
No one can think that the weakening of the family as that natural society founded on marriage will prove beneficial to society as a whole. The contrary is true: it poses a threat to the mature growth of individuals, the cultivation of community values and the moral progress of cities and countries. There is a failure to realize that only the exclusive and indissoluble union between a man and a woman has a plenary role to play in society as a stable commitment that bears fruit in new life. We need to acknowledge the great variety of family situations that can offer a certain stability, but de facto or same-sex unions, for example, may not simply be equated with marriage. No union that is temporary or closed to the transmission of life can ensure the future of society. But nowadays who is making an effort to strengthen marriages, to help married couples overcome their problems, to assist them in the work of raising children and, in general, to encourage the stability of the marriage bond?
"…de facto or same-sex unions …may not simply be equated with marriage." Wait, didn't you try to do exactly that, Fr. Malone? You just slid it right in there. In fact, Father, same-sex unions are not only "not considered," as you say, they are not considered marriage. Period. End of story. The Holy Father does not equate it with marriage.
Aaaaand Fr. Martin brings it all home for those not likely to read the document:
Overall, Amoris Laetitia asks the Church to help families of every sort and people in every state of life. They need to know that, even in their imperfections, they can be homes for God's love, as well as places where people will experience that love. The new apostolic exhortation offers a vision of a pastoral and merciful Church that welcomes and encourages families and all people to experience the joy of love.
You know what, Father Martin? You're doing what you always do. You make these statements, but you never suggest how. We can only find joy of love in TRUTH. Yes, there is reality in our imperfections, but there shouldn't be satisfaction in them. This doesn't lead us to the truth.
Moms are always going to go back to the analogy of what happens when you touch a hot stove. If you touch it, it's going to burn you. In your reality, editorial staff of America, it's only going to burn you if you think it's hot. This isn't the Truth. It's going to burn you no matter how you perceive it. Now, do we need to teach our children this by letting them get burned? Do we tell them they should just never attempt cooking and to stay out of the kitchen? Not if we are a loving parent. We explain it over and over again, if necessary. That is the loving course of action. Just letting our fellow Catholics "touch the hot stove" to form their conscience isn't the loving way to go. It could end up as a minor injury or it could end up as a permanent, painful scar. We must explain the reality of what will happen over and over again. Is a parent judgmental to give that "homily" time and again? Nope. They are protective. That's how our pastors should be. They should teach us over and over again until we understand, no matter how uncomfortable it makes us. They should help us rightly form our consciences so we can understand the truth that brings us true joy.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Healthy Life is Australia's house of 'feel good'. Jace, I encourage folks to talk to their doctors about causes aside from Morgellons. If they do not think there's any chance that something aside from Morgellons is inflicting their signs, then they will not talk to their docs. Visit for medical information and health news headlines posted all through the day, on daily basis. No offense to you in any respect here Tallcotton, but I have experienced the symptoms of Morgellons for manner too lengthy. My mind is free of mind altering drugs. I wish I could take them, but I can not on account of this disease.
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I've been ready to talk to the media for a very very long time. I have emailed the media here in Melbourne for 2 years, nobody seems fascinated. But as I stated in some posts final night time I do have a reputation, cellphone number of the producer at the ABC radio who is aware of about me, MRF and the illness. Health may be outlined as bodily, psychological, and social wellbeing, and as a useful resource for dwelling a full life. Find out about new analysis to grasp environmental influences on baby health. Anybody excited by taking on from me and discussing Elliot's Illness on this website??? It was one of many first things I mentioned when researching my very own symptoms. Oh yes I mentioned it with my shrink and doctor on the time.
A research-pushed, flexible degree for the following era of public health leaders. Morgellons is actual, too actual. I consider Morgellons to be a sign of the instances. Lyme is definitely involved. I feel the lyme bacteria has made its way to the pores and skin and sure collembola can be concerned. Collembola love the joints, I used to get them popping out of my knee caps in summer season when making use of oil to my pores and skin. A serious programme of investment in health infrastructure will likely be guided by a recognition that that one of the best health outcomes can be achieved by reorienting our health companies in direction of major and neighborhood care where people's health needs can for the most part be met locally, with high quality acute and emergency care offered within the appropriate acute hospital settings.
Morgellons is nothing new. Comparable ailments, plagues and demonic possessions have sprung up and spread through the populace because the begin of human historical past. If it follows the path of historical past, Morgellons will fade away (like Epstein-Barr flavored CFS), and be replaced by one thing new. You possibly can't cease it, but we are able to at the least be aware that this stuff happen, and we are able to try to mitigate their sick results by providing some perspective. As you possibly can see I have had a little bit of remedy right this moment with crying and yelling, and yes preventing for my life. This is what harmless, law abiding residents, tax payers do, So for those who assume I've carried out one thing wrong come ask me. Should you suppose my household or friends have finished one thing wrong ASK ME.


Evan Brown is an active sound and amplification designer in the pageantry arts, residing in Pittsburgh, PA. Evan is currently a Sound Designer and/or audio systems consultant for many groups across the US, currently including Phantom Regiment, The Cadets, Matrix Performing Arts, Fusion Core, and many others. He is also the staff sound designer for Ferguson Design Solutions, a company providing arrangements, original compositions, consulting and design resources for marching bands, drum corps and indoor percussion ensembles in all major arenas of the pageantry arts. He has previously held similar positions with Dartmouth HS, Oregon Crusaders, Cap City Percussion, OCindoor, The Glassmen, and many others. Additionally, he is also currently the Percussion Coordinator and Assistant Band Director at North Allegheny High School in Wexford, PA.
Evan holds a Bachelor of the Arts Degree in Music from Slippery Rock University, where he performed and participated in a wide variety of ensembles, focusing most specifically on drum set, studying under Dr. David Glover. During the day, Evan is the EDU Market Manager for Presonus Audio Electronics.


text:
Minimal Landscapes
Presenting work by nearly 100 of the latest voices in contemporary art, The Other Art Fair returns to Brooklyn for the Spring 2019 edition. Presented by Saatchi Art, it is an exciting platform for new talent and independent practitioners – championing the next generation across painting, photography, sculpture, printmaking and more. Located in the creative create of New York, the event offers an immersive environment for viewers to revel in today's diverse and responsive artwork.
Shown above are works by Poland-born, London-based artist Marek Emczek Olszewski, featured at The Other Art Fair. Channeling an interest in light and shadow play, the photographer creates minimal works that translate buildings into basic forms. Removing structures from their original context, each image reflects on the communicative possibility of tone and silhouette. Bright blue skies contrast with bold blocks of white, red, green and yellow, offering optimistic and satisfying compositions.
Massachusetts-based fine art photographer Diana Cheren Nygren takes a similar approach. Shown above is an image from the series Flat City. Reducing the metropolis to an abstracted formation of lines, colours and shapes, the collection focuses in on geometry found within the urban landscape. Repeated patterns of rectangular windows, intersecting diagonals and unexpected shadows highlight architectural density. "My pictures of the urban environment generally show it as a backdrop, a detail, or an abstraction, rather than a living, moving being," the artist notes. "They are portraits of cities and locations, remarkable for their distinct character."
See the works at The Other Art Fair, Brooklyn. The event runs 2-5 May at Greenpoint's Brooklyn Expo Center. Find out more here.
1. Marek Emczek Olszewski, Sequence.
2. Images by Diana Cheren Nygren, from Boston: Flat City, 2017-
3. Marek Emczek Olszewski, Scalpel and Los Tres.
The Other Art Fair Bristol
One of the UK's best-loved fair to meet and buy art direct from fresh talent and undiscovered artists, The Other Art Fair (TOAF), returns to Bristol's waterside Arnolfini this weekend. From 22-24 July.
The Other Art Fair, London
The Other Art Fair celebrates its 10th edition with a special presentation by guest artist Tracey Emin. Opening on 15 October, the fair will showcase work by 130 emerging international artists.
Conceptual Ideas
The Other Art Fair returns to London with bold colours and bright ideas. Emerging conceptual artists explore the landscape and climate action.


Happy to return to the Push to Publish conference after a 3 year absence. If you've never heard of Push to Publish and you're a Philadelphia-area writer, remind me to follow you around with one of the Game of Thrones Shame Bells next time I see you. Push to Publish is a single day conference (with some add-ons) run by the incredible folks at Philadelphia Stories. Lena Van does it much better justice then I can over at the PWC blog.
The conference manages to squeeze a whole lot of learning into a very short period time, and it's difficult to try to pick just five favorites from such a jam-packed event, but I'll give it a try after the break.
The Ladies. Ah man, I'm getting myself in trouble here, aren't I? I'm really not trying to sound like a leering, open-shirted, gaudy gold chain-wearing, I-bet-if-I-reflect-this pinky-ring-just-right-she'll-be-into-me sort of douche.
…but the truth is (and with all due respect to the talented and knowledgeable gentlemen at the conference) the gender of the feminine-sort really ruled the roost this year. And it all starts with Philadelphia Stories Co-founders (and two of my oldest write-life friends) Carla Spataro and Christine Weiser, who were everywhere making sure everything – including an expanded agent and editor pitch session – moved according to plan (or at least as close to plan as possible!). I also had the chance to converse with agent Sarah Yake, from the Frances Collin agency, took some classes with super-smart Anna Kashina and my literary lady-crush, Kelly Simmons, and I finally met The Grandmothers, Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic, who wrote Stuff Every Grandmother Should Know, the sister….or I guess spouse….book to my own.
We also veered onto the topic of queries and query letters (my personal nightmare). Kelly is an expert of the query, and offered some great insight on how to begin and how to connect in a single page.
Kelly is outstanding in any field!
Draw a map. It doesn't have to be extensive, and can be done with no artistry whatsoever, but should have cover key elements. Those elements include geography (hills, mountains, rivers), your major cities or country names, and define some of the relationships of your world (for example, the ramifications of a town along a river).
Define Social Hierarchy. What kind of government do you have. Who are the "haves" and "have-nots." And what is the level of tech, is this a medieval world, a future one, an alternate reality?
Define key cultural elements. What does the housing look like? what tools and weapons do they use? What are the economics of your world.
Deities and Beliefs. What do they worship? What are their superstitions? Most folks believe in something, even agnostics, and those beliefs can define your society.
Consider Language. You don't need to go full Tolkein and create entire languages yourself, but what are the common phrases and aphorisms that might define your world. Is there certain slang words that are used? Most importantly, what are the curse words and swears?
Anna also gave us a quick assignment and asked us to provide answers to the following questions.
Your character opens her eyes, what are the first three things she sees?
The interconnected roots of the ceiling, a centipede winding it's way around those roots, dusty daylight streaming in from the doorway.
After stepping outside she smells smoke from the battle outside the walls, smells seasoning from the sees cooking fires, huddles of grim-faced soldiers who turn towards her expectedly when she appears, hears someone crying from somewhere in the distance, and sees the other houses grown into the trees of this village.
She eats one of the bracket fungi that is the main food source for this vegetarian society.
Anna complimented the detail, but reminded us that sometimes less is more and that sometimes you need to spoon-feed your readers. She also commented that my character would not necessarily noticed the houses, simply because they would be part of her every-day life. Rather, if I wanted to show the houses, there should be something different from her perspective, perhaps one burning or destroyed, that would call it out to her.
Anna also shared a wonderful and creative marketing idea: recipe cards for food eaten in her world.
Personal Inspiration. Keynote Speaker Dan Chaon gave an excellent speech to kick off the conference. His heartfelt introduction of the Marguerite McGlinn Fiction contest winner Lauren Green drove home the point that we writers are truly chameleons. The general theme of his talk was how we take bits of the world around us – observations, inner voices, memories – and turn them into art through some arcane alchemy. He shared how a scene is his first novel, You Remind me of Me, (one in which a grandfather convinces his grandson that a train parked out back includes a left behind circus elephant) is based on a real event in his life, and how those events we hold onto, become so polished and worn, they become fiction, but a fiction more real than the truth. It got me thinking of Big Fish, and my father, whose stories were epic pearls built around the finest grains of truth, and who is probably most responsible for me becoming a writer.
More Query Advice. The closing panel of agents was informative as always. They talked about a number of topics, including things to avoid when querying, most notably, get their name right (duh), and don't do the mass mail, 'bcc' thing. What they do recommend is to be yourself, to give a compelling reason why they should read your work, and to not be afraid to mention you met them at a conference. They also recommended an excellent flow chart put together by David R. Slayton that walks you through exactly when your query letter is ready for submission. Definitely worth checking out, and read some more of his posts while you're there. It's quite good!


~ A Disrepectful Guy being respectful... to the disk.
4 Is that the end?
7 Really Really Really Really Really?
8 Really Really Really Really Really Really?
Hang on, I just got eaten and now I am writing this? What happened? *looks around and sees the grue that just ate him again* It would appear that I'm in a grue, what a grue-some predicament! I'm sorry, it was bad.
There we go, much better, now where was I? Ah! That's it, today's weather report.
You can expect most of the usual crappy rain - woah, I knew rain came from God taking a slash, but crappy rain? Uh-oh... Oh, and there's a few tornadoes around Leeds and Manchester (YAY!), and a slight chance of the armageddon. But don't hold your breath, (gasp) because you need to breathe.
Common-tater: It's really tense here, it could go either way, but it's lolcheese's turn now. It looks like he's gonna move the queen. Sweat is running down Kasperov's face. Lolcheese placed the queen, AND OH MY GOD! IT'S A CHECKMATE! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! IT'S AN ACTUAL CHECKMATE! A COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED RESULT! THE CROWD HAS GONE ABSOLUTELY WILD!
Crowd (A few old grannies and a nerd or two): Yay!
Really Really Really Really Really?
Really really really really really really.
Really Really Really Really Really Really?
NOW GO BACK TO YOUR CARDBOARD BOX.
Don't give me a magnet!!!
The hard disk's legacy is famous for its legacy.
The hard disk has a legacy.
It is commonly conjectured that the hard disk has a legacy.
This page was last edited on 30 Ergust 2013, at 03:31.


What is a Microlife Peak Flow & FEV1 Meter?
The Microlike peak flow & FEV1 meter is a small, easy-to-use instrument that enables you or your child to measure lung function at home, at work, at school — wherever you go. The peak flow meter measures how fast a person can blow out air after a maximum inhalation. It helps reveal how well you or your child's lungs are working. The Microlife measures PEF. This is the peak expiratory flow rate. In addition, the Microlife also measures FEV1. This is the Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second you exhale. Many peak flow meters measure PEF, but not FEV1. The Microlife peak flow & FEV1 meter measures both.
Why Use a Microlife Peak Flow & FEV1 Meter?
People with asthma may not always feel the early changes taking place in their airways because these changes often occur gradually. In addition to watching for daytime symptoms, nighttime symptoms and activity level a Microlife meter can help you monitor asthma control. A peak flow meter can be especially useful if you or your child have moderate to severe asthma or have trouble identifying asthma symptoms.
A daily (or regular) record of peak flow numbers can provide you with a valuable early warning sign. Sometimes peak flow numbers will decrease hours, or even a day or two before other asthma symptoms become evident. When you monitor peak flow numbers on a daily (or regular) basis, you can identify this drop and take steps to prevent an asthma episode. The peak flow numbers, along with watching for asthma symptoms and activity can be used to make decisions about level of asthma control and treatment.
People with asthma can benefit from an objective means of assessing asthma symptoms. The Microlife meter is an inexpensive, practical way to measure lung function at home.
Peak flow and FEV1 numbers are effort dependent. This means you or your child needs to put forth a good effort to have reliable, consistent results.
TheMicrolife meter does not come with the batteries in the device. You must put the batteries in the device before you use it. The battery cover is on the side of the device.
The arrow shows where the battery cover is. Open the battery cover from the back.
Insert the 2 batteries. Place the negative and positive side in the correct position.
The arrow shows where the data compartment is. Open the data compartment from the back.
Press the small time switch next to the clock symbol with a pen or paper clip end, 2002 will blink. Release the switch.
Now you can press the keys on the front of the peak flow meter <> to decrease of increase the year.
Press the time switch again to confirm the year setting.
Repeat this process with the month, day, hour and minutes.
Press the time switch again to confirm all settings. The monitor will switch to ready.
You are ready to use the peak flow meter.
The arrow shows where the ON/OFF button is. Press on ON/OFF button to turn the monitor on.
The display will show the most recent test results. The device is ready when there are two short beeps and >>>show on the monitor.
Stand up (or sit up straight). Hold the Microlife meter with both hands holding the blue side areas.
A long beep confirms that the result is recorded. Look at the display. Your test results will appear in the display right away. The test results will change from PEF to FEV1. If your zones have been set, an arrow will point to the zone you are blowing in, green, yellow or red.
Repeat steps 3 through 8 two more times. The Microlife will select and save the highest of the three good results from the time the device is turned on and off.
Press the ON/OFF button again to turn the device off.
The Microlife meter holds up to 240 test results in the memory. To view the stored tests, press the memory scroll buttons. By pressing <, you can see the latest value stored in the memory. Pressing this button once at a time shows all stored date. The > button works in the opposite direction.
Using a Microlife software package to download and graph the results onto your computer. There is a card in box with the meter with directions to download the software.
The peak flow information should supplement record keeping of asthma symptoms, use of inhaled medications, activity level and nighttime awakenings due to asthma. This allows you, your child and your health care provider to monitor trends that indicate changes in lung function.
How to Determine Your Personal Best?
The highest number you or your child can blow regularly is the "personal best". This is determined by recording peak flow numbers for two to three weeks when asthma is under good control. Use the highest number you or your child can regularly blow. Asthma is often controlled when you or your child does not experience asthma symptoms (including nighttime symptoms) and maintains a normal level of activity. Talk with the health care provider about your or your child's "personal best".
How to Determine Your Zones?
Once your personal best is determined, it may be helpful for you and your health care provider to establish zones. Zones will cue you about how well your breathing is and actions you should take. The zone system can be compared to the colors of a traffic light, green, yellow and red.
Green Zone (often 80%-100% of personal best) signals ALL CLEAR.
Yellow Zone (often 50%-80% of personal best) signals CAUTION.
Red Zone (often 50% or less of personal best) signals a MEDICAL ALERT!
You or your child's health care provider can help determine what the personal best is and what steps to take when the peak flow numbers are in the green, yellow and red zone.
Many peak flow meters have zone indicators. The Microlife has a green, yellow and red indicator on the meter. The peak flow percentages we suggest are guidelines only. Establish peak flow zones with your health care provider. In children, the personal best number and the zone numbers will change as the child grows; these numbers should be reevaluated every six months to one year.
When Do You Use Your Microlife Peak Flow Meter?
How Do You Clean and Disinfect the Microlife Meter?
Once a week disconnect the blue mouthpiece from the measuring tube and put it into continuously boiling water for at least 10 minutes.
Shake of the excess water and dry thoroughly on a towel.
Once dry, put the blue mouthpiece back on the measuring tube.
Disconnect the white measuring tube from the mail unit by moving it in the forward position.
Disconnect the blue mouthpiece from the measuring tube.
Shake off the excess water and dry thoroughly on a towel.
Once dry, put the blue mouthpiece back on the measuring tube. Put the measuring tube back on the main unit. Make sure the measuring unit click onto the main unit.
Wipe the main unit off daily with a clean damp cloth. Do not put the main unit in water.
Remember, in addition to watching for daytime asthma symptoms, nighttime asthma symptoms and activity level a Microlife meter can help you monitor asthma control. This can be especially useful if you or your child have moderate to severe asthma or have trouble identifying asthma symptoms.
Note: This information is provided to you as an educational service of LUNG LINE®. It is not meant to be a substitute for consulting with your own physician.
This information has been approved by Deborah Fending RN, AE-C (October 2015).


Cosy hotel in the city centre, close to the central station and Norra Backa shopping district. You can reach Dala Airport in 10 minutes and Romme Alpin skiing facility in 15 minutes. Relax in our indoor pool, sauna or gym and enjoy excellent food in our restaurant.
Enjoy delicious, well-prepared meals in our excellent restaurant featuring the house speciality, Pan-Seared Filet Mignon. We serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. Unwind in our indoor pool with sauna or work your muscles in our gym. Our hotel's cosy lobby bar with comfortable armchairs and open fire is the perfect place to relax with a drink. We offer bright, well-equipped facilities for conferences and meetings for up to 180 people.
It's easy to reach the city's attractions from our hotel. Have a great time at the Geological Museum, pay a visit to Frostbrunnsdalen Nature Reserve, or splash around in Aqua Nova water park. With winter comes varied skiing for the whole family at the Romme Alpin ski facility – and enjoy the afterski back at our hotel. In summer you can feed the ostriches at Sahlins Struts ostrich farm, located about 6 km from Borlange. If you're in the mood for shopping, stroll down to the Norra Backa shopping district.
Satisfy those hunger pangs in our relaxed restaurant where you can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can sit and relax in our bar with a cup of coffee or another tasty drink.
Scandic Borlänge offers flexible, bright meeting facilities for up to 180 people. There's a wide selection of events for you to enjoy here, with everything from tastings and themed dinners to whitewater kayaking and adventure courses.


Officials in South Africa have made it abundantly clear that they don't want online gambling sites operating in their territory. Last year, yet anther measure to regulate online gambling was rejected. Now, the government is looking at an amendment that would give the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) the right to confiscate winnings from players of online casinos in South Africa.
As of right now, the only legal form of iGaming is sports betting. The region has approved a number of online sportsbooks to accept South African punters. But those who aren't on the list – unauthorized sportsbooks and every internationally operated online casino and poker site in the world – are viewed as annoying little bugs beneath the nation's proverbial shoe that they'd love to squash into oblivion.
But alas, since South Africa doesn't have jurisdiction to go after the operators themselves, nor the means to arrest every citizen who plays at those websites, they are doing the next best thing.
Last week, the DTI proposed a legislative measure, the National Gambling Amendment Bill 2016, designed to shore up any leaks in the country's existing gambling market, including authorizing the confiscation of online gambling winnings.
Public discussion on the matter is welcome from now until November 15.
What Exactly Does The Bill Do?
The amendments tackle a number issues by amending different sections of the National Gambling Act of 2004.
For starters, the DTI wishes to "reposition" the National Gambling Board as the National Gambling Regulator (NGR), eliminating all mention of the "Board" from previous text and assigning overall regulatory authority to the new group.
The bill would authorize an "electronic form of bingo" games, to be overseen by the NGR. Additionally, restrictions pertaining to South African casinos would be tightened, among other things.
New organization, bigger responsibilities, that's going to cost some money, right? And what better way to pay for such an expansion than seizing some illegal online gambling funds.
The most significant change relates to stripping one particular item away from the National Gambling Act – the part where the government must go through the High Court in order to seize illegal online gambling winnings.
The DTI's amendments would eliminate the High Courts from the equation, allowing the government to swoop in and automatically confiscate winnings from players who access online casinos in South Africa. Those funds would be delivered into the coffers of the newly formed National Gambling Regulator.
Furthermore, financial institutions would come under threat of penalty for facilitating any transactions with online casinos who make the list of "unlawful gambling operators". The task of scripting that list would, of course, fall in the lap of the NGR.
All of the nation's efforts to thwart illegal online gambling have been ultimately unsuccessful up to this point, but if the new amendments make their way into the law books, it just might bring a close to this long chapter in South Africa's legislative war on illegal iGaming.


text:
The University of Portsmouth
Computer Network Administration and Management
Location: Main Site
Website: www.port.ac.uk
Degree: Masters
Intl fees: £15900
Has presessional course
The University of Portsmouth evaluation:
Computer sciences and IT evaluation:
Businesses, big and small, are only as secure and efficient as their systems. If you're ready to take your existing technical and problem-solving skills to postgraduate level, then our MSc Computer Network Administration and Management degree course will help you reach your goals.
On this course, you'll learn the principles and practice of systems administration and management – including system and network design, analysis, specification, efficiency and security.
You'll plan and produce an individual project, and we'll provide the expertise and support so you can develop your professional practice. So once you graduate, you'll have all the tools you need for a career in computer network administration.
You can start this course in September or January (full time only in January).
This course is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and meets the UK Engineering Council's Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). So it's a step towards registration as an Incorporated (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng).
What you'll experience
On this course you'll:
Get to use our multi-platform suites and computer labs
Have access to over 250 servers in our £1 million network laboratory, featuring the latest computer networks and communication systems
Get hands-on experience of configuring and optimising secure networks, and build client, server and middleware aspects of internet applications
Study the key themes in the field, like Data Communications and Networking, Cloud Computing and Client Server Network Architecture
Complete a personal project, applying what you've learned to a significant communications system or network planning problem
Learn from academic staff with relevant experience in the field, including research and consultancy
You'll graduate from this course with the skills you need for a career as a senior IT practitioner. Because there's a need for qualified, skilled practitioners in the field, you can apply your knowledge to an in-house accounting and finance system, or in an SME or a corporate-wide data system in an international organisation. You can also choose an academic career and study for a PhD.
What jobs can you do with a Computer Network Administration and Management degree?
Career opportunities include:
network designer
university lecturer or researcher
We'll provide you with as much support as possible in finding employment through close industrial contacts, careers events, recruitment fairs and individual advice.
Work experience and career planning
We'll help you to identify internships, voluntary roles and opportunities that will complement your studies.
When you finish the course, our Careers and Employability service can help you find a job that puts your skills to work in computer network administration.
After you leave the University, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years from our Careers and Employability service as you advance in your career.
A second-class honours degree in a relevant subject, or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications. English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
IELTS: 6.5 (no component score below 6.0)
Notice: This score might not be totally accurate. It is the default IELTS grade for The University of Portsmouth, Data telecommunications and computer networks .
Engineering and Technology, Institution of
full-time / 16 months / 2022/01/17 / University of Portsmouth
There is plenty of help and advice on hand for international students that start from their arrival in Portsmouth. The university operates an orientation week that helps students find their way around the university and explore the services on offer. This also introduces them to the support services including those for academic and wider life and even meeting up with other students. These events are organised by the International Office, based within the Nuffield Centre who also organise events during the year and are point of call for international students. The Students Union offer a wide range of services as well as organising the clubs and societies for students to get involved with outside the classroom. The union was the first in England and Wales to register as a full charity in 2006 but has been in operation since at least 1911, when it published a magazine called The Galleon. It is now based in a building at the northern end of Ravelin Park and includes a student activities centre, a social learning space, a bar and a radio station. The clubs and societies at the university are organised into five different bodies: the Athletic Union, Societies, Student Media, Volunteering and RAG (Raising and Giving). There are some 40 plus sports clubs ranging from football and rugby to lacrosse, pole dancing and octopush, a type of underwater hockey. Societies includes everything from politics and lifestyle groups to a law society as well as the longest running paintball club in the UK.
Courses from The University of Portsmouth:
Subject - Accounting and finance - Banking and finance - Finance - Forensic accounting <Architecture <Art and design - Fashion design - Graphic design - Photography <Biology and life sciences - Biomedical engineering <Business and management studies - Business and human resource management - Entrepeneurship and management - Oil and gas <Civil engineering and construction - Construction and the built environment <Computer sciences and IT - Data telecommunications and computer networks - Economics and finance <Electronic and electrical engineering <Engineering - Mechanical engineering - Engineering management <Environmental science and ecology <Geology <Health sciences - Health Care Management <History <Languages - Translating and Interpreting <Law and legal studies <Linguistics <Literature and creative writing - Marketing <Mathematics <Media studies and publishing - Film and TV studies <Medicine and surgery - Dentistry - Theatre studies <Pharmacy and pharmacology <Physics <Planning and surveying <Politics - Politics and International Relations <Psychology - Forensic Psychology <Social sciences <Sports science <Teacher training and education


text:
Fons Matthias Hickmann est un graphiste et typographe, né à Hamm en Allemagne en 1966.

Biographie
Fons Hickmann a étudié la photographie et la communication visuelle à Düsseldorf, ainsi que la science de l'esthétique et la théorie des médias à Wuppertal. Il dirige le studio berlinois Fons Hickmann m23, qui a remporté de nombreux prix internationaux depuis sa création en 2001. Leurs activités principales consistent dans le développement de systèmes complexes de communication, la création d'identité visuelle, d'affiches, de supports web, ainsi que des projets éditoriaux, livres et magazines.

En 2001, le studio Fons Hickmann m23 gagna un concours renommé en Allemagne pour la création de l'identité visuelle de la Kieler Woche. Les travaux de Fons Hickmann ont été exposés dans toutes les biennales de design internationales. Après avoir enseigné dans les universités de Essen et Dortmund, il est maintenant professeur à l'université des arts de Berlin. Fons Hickmann est membre du Type Directors Club New York, de l'Art Directors Club d'Allemagne, ainsi que de l'Alliance graphique internationale.

Avec plusieurs de ses collègues, il a créé une plate-forme appelée « 11 Designers pour l'Allemagne », dans le but d'éveiller chez le grand public une sensibilité particulière pour le graphisme et de faire empêcher le logo ridicule de la coupe du monde de football en Allemagne.

En 2006, Fons Hickmann présente ses travaux dans le cadre de l'exposition "5xBerlin" au festival international de l'affiche et des arts graphiques de Chaumont.

Publications
Touch Me There, Berlin (2005),
Fons Hickmann & Students, Pékin (2004),
Displace yourself, Vienne (2002)

Bibliographie

5 x Berlin. Designfestival Chaumont. Pyramid Press, Paris 2006,
 Graphic Design for the 21st Century, Cologne (2003), S. 266 – 271
 AREA, Phaidon Press, New York (2003) S. 140 – 143
 Black & White Graphics Ginkgo Press, Corte Madera (2004) S. 08-09, 134-139

Liens externes

 Fons Hickmann m23
 Touch Me There
 Classe de graphisme, Prof. Fons Hickmann, UdK Université d'Arts Berlin
 11 Designers pour l'Allemagne
 5xBerlin, festival de Chaumont

Affichiste allemand
Graphiste allemand
Professeur à l'université des arts de Berlin
Naissance en 1966
Naissance à Hamm

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


During the last decade, the norm for bankers in Europe and America has been fraud. The main vehicle was the creating and selling of mortgage-backed synthetic securities based on computer models that were provably fraudulent, paying off ratings agencies to give them AAA ratings, and selling them to investors, collecting fat fees.
In the giddy middle of the last decade, when there was plenty of money sloshing around thanks to the massive credit bubble, anything was OK. Everybody was screwing investors, but who cares? They could just borrow more money. Regulators and prosecutors didn't care, since they were paying themselves fat salaries anyway.
But now that the credit bubble has burst, and there is less money in the world every day, it's time to pay the piper, as the saying goes. People are still screwing one another, but now it's a lot more vicious, as people scramble with one another to get hold of the remaining pools of money. Once again, it's the bankers who are in the lead, charging 30% interest rates and using the money to pay themselves million dollar bonuses.
The desire for real vengeance is growing. This is a generational change. The Boomers and Gen-Xers who formerly trusted everyone now trust no one. The ones who were screwed now want to screw others. This is the first time that generational change of this type has occurred since the 1930s.
So, on Thursday, Manhattan (New York) District Attorney Cyrus Vance subpoenaed Goldman Sachs, demanding documents relating to the investment bank's activities leading up to the financial crisis, according to the AP.
An investor asked Goldman Sachs to put together a portfolio of subprime residential mortgage backed CDOs that the investor could purchase as an investment.
The investor asked Goldman Sachs to have a neutral third-party select the CDOs that were to go into the portfolio.
Goldman Sachs instead went to a manager (John Paulson) of a hedge fund that was in the business of shorting these CDOs, and who stood to benefit if the portfolio collapsed.
Paulson (according to the allegations) selected the weakest CDOs for the portfolio, because he wanted them to collapse so that he could make money.
The particular Goldman Sachs executive who set up the deal was Fabrice Tourre. The SEC charged Tourre individually with fraud, along with Goldman Sachs.
When the CDOs collapsed, the investor lost a billion dollars, and Paulson made a billion dollars.
This deal was consummated in early 2007, just before the time that the global financial crisis began.
It's now four years later. The U.S. Justice Department has refused to prosecute Goldman Sachs for this deal. You can guess why.
What's interesting about this situation is that the Manhattan District Attorney is pursuing the case. He won't be bound by the political considerations of the U.S. Justice Department.
Securities fraud for not disclosing to clients that Goldman was shorting securities the firm was also touting.
Illegal market manipulation in an effort to artificially depress the prices of securities Goldman wanted to buy.
Obstruction charges against Goldman CEO Lloyd Blankfein for possibly lying to Congress during hearings of the Senate Subcommittee on Investigations, chaired by Democrat Carl Levin in April 2010.
We're now in a generational period similar to the 1930s. At that time, the Senate investigate bank fraud. But since the Republicans and Democrats could never have prosecuted anyone, they brought in a politically independent lawyer, Ferdinand Pecora, to question the bankers.
Let us hope that we're going to see an increasing number of these criminal charges and convictions. If history is going to repeat the 1930s financial crisis, then let's hope history repeats the 1930s in a different way as well, by sending these bankers who committed fraud to jail.
Economists were literally stammering in confusion on TV on Friday morning in reaction to the Labor Dept.'s devastatingly bad jobs report for May. This is MUCH, much worse than even pessimistic mainstream economists predicted, and it comes after a week of equally bad housing and manufacturing data. One anchor asked the economist why the economy was "hitting a brick wall," and she had no idea.
As I've said many times, mainstream economists did not predict and can't explain the tech bubble of the 1990s, the global real estate and credit bubbles of the 2000s, the financial crisis that began in 2007, or where we are today, and they don't have the VAGUEST idea where we'll be next year.
This is a generational issue. Economists are using macroeconomic models from the 1970s and 1980s, when the Great Depression generations were still in charge. You'd have to be a complete moron to use those models today, but that's what mainstream economists do, and that's why they're wrong every time, and why they're completely baffled every time. It's really remarkable to watch this going on.


October 11, 2018: Takedown notice. Sketchfab has received a complaint for some of my horological models featured on the platform. Well, I assume my work was too good to be shown... The notice was submitted by Incopro, who represent IWC.


text:
Q: use of Map doesn't cause NPE Consider this:
public class Model{
    private Map<Vector, Vector> vertices;

    public Model(Vector v){
        vertices.put(v, v);
    }
}

I was expecting an NPE since vertices is uninitialized; at least I was expecting an error as Map is abstract and I'm working with an object.
Can somebody shed a light here?
EDIT:
public class World{
    public static void init(){
        Model cube = new Model(someVector);
    }
}

I have a Main class containing main(); in main() I'm calling World.init();
The code is simplified for readability.
EDIT 1:
public class Model extends Positionable{
    public static Map<String, Model> map = new HashMap<>();
    private Map<Vector3f, Vector3f> vertsAndNormals;
    private Set<Face> faces;

    public Model(String name_, Map<Vector3f, Vector3f> vertsAndNormals_){
        super(); // \!/ passing `this`; may not have been entirely initialized
        vertsAndNormals = new HashMap<>(vertsAndNormals_);
        map.put(name_, this);
        }
    public Model(String name_, Set<Vector3f> vertices_){
        super(); // \!/ passing `this`; may not have been entirely initialized

        for(Vector3f vertex : vertices_)
            vertsAndNormals.put(vertex, new Vector3f(0, 0, 0)); // \!/ why does this NOT cause an NPE?

        map.put(name_, this);
        }
    public Model(String name_){
        this(name_, new HashMap<Vector3f, Vector3f>());
        }
    }

and where I call:
public class World{
    public static Set<Model> modelsInWorld = new HashSet<>();

    public static void init(){
        Model cube = new Model("gugu");
        }
    }

In main():
World.init();

EDIT 2:
public abstract class Positionable{
    public static Set<Positionable> set = new HashSet<>();

    public float x = 0;
    public float y = 0;
    public float z = 0;
    public float xRol = 0;
    public float yPit = 0;
    public float zYaw = 0;

    public Positionable(){
        set.add(this);
        }
}

A: You're not actually calling the constructor that has the line you're concerned about. You call the constructor that takes a String, which forwards to the constructor that takes a String and a Map. The constructor that takes a Set will cause an NPE at runtime.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


News: Scammer impersonated Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel.
In a blog titled 'An Apology To Our Employees', Snapchat has admitted 'with real remorse – and embarrassment' that a phishing scam has leaked employee payroll information.
The phishing scam hit on Friday 26th February, when a scammer impersonated Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel and asked for employee information. Unfortunately, a Snapchat employee fell for the phishing scam and the payroll information of around 700 current and former employees was disclosed to the attacker.
This attack on Snapchat reveals the relative ease and simplicity of a phishing attack – which is one of the reasons why phishing remains one of the top threat vector for cyber assaults.
The attackers chose an easy channel to exploit in order to get into the company – HR – and chose a well-known figure to impersonate. As Wieland Alge, VP & GM EMEA at Barracuda Networks said: "In today's digital age, data breaches that result from targeted email phishing have become increasingly common.
"Typically, these messages appear to come from a trustworthy source, so initially those that have been the target of an attack don't even realise they've fallen victim. Some of the most successful phishing attacks are those that successfully impersonate a person, particularly if that person is well-known to the recipient. While the Snapchat payroll team probably don't have a daily correspondence with Snapchat's CEO, they clearly know who and how important he is – hence why they fell for the scam."
"In this case, the hackers took advantage of one of the easiest channels for business phishing attacks – HR departments. HR and payroll are flooded with emails containing all types of attachments and they are encouraged and even obliged to open them."
Snapchat was quick to state that no servers were breached and the data of its users were totally unaffected. Upon discovery of the scam, Snapchat confirmed that the attack was an isolated incident within four hours and reported it to the FBI. The company has since contacted the affected employees and offered them two years of free identity-theft insurance and monitoring.
"When something like this happens, all you can do is own up to your mistake, take care of the people affected, and learn from what went wrong. To make good on that last point, we will redouble our already rigorous training programs around privacy and security in the coming weeks. Our hope is that we never have to write a blog post like this again."
"The fact that Snapchat got snagged with this shows that being young, cool, and high tech doesn't protect you from being a phishing target. Bad guys are getting so good at phishing that they aren't just fooling that older relative who calls a grandchild every time they need to print something.
"Even people born into the Internet, apps, and the cloud are clicking on bad links. That's very good news for attackers in case they were worried that millennials would put them out of the phishing business with their tech savvyness."