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Urban Meyer: Ohio State coach explains wife's actions in ESPN interview
Urban Meyer's three-game suspension for his handling of ex-wide receivers coach Zach Smith is now over.
Urban Meyer: Ohio State coach explains wife's actions in ESPN interview Urban Meyer's three-game suspension for his handling of ex-wide receivers coach Zach Smith is now over. Check out this story on Freep.com: https://on.freep.com/2xqpa1o
Kirkland Crawford, Detroit Free Press Published 11:52 a.m. ET Sept. 16, 2018
Mixed reactions from students at Ohio State University after the head football coach, Urban Meyer gets suspended for three games for mishandling repeated professional and behavioral problems of an assistant coach. (Aug. 23) AP
FILE - In this April 14, 2018, file photo, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer watches the NCAA college football team's spring game in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State has made it through two games fine without Meyer. Now the No. 4 Buckeyes face their toughest test on the last Saturday before their suspended coach can return to the sideline. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)(Photo: The Associated Press)
The Ohio State football team improved to 3-0 with a win over TCU in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday.
And now, they get their head coach back.
But before we see Meyer on the sidelines again, ESPN's Tom Rinaldi had a sit-down interview with the embattled coach, who has admitted to not being totally forthcoming about the 2015 domestic violence allegation against Smith at the Big Ten media days on July 24 in Chicago. But reporting has since shown that claim to be false.
The 7-minute-plus excerpt was shown on "SportsCenter" on Sunday morning and is available online.
Perhaps most interesting from this two-part interview - the second of which will be shown on ESPN on Monday - was going through what happened in 2015.
That year, Courtney Smith, Zach's then-wife, shared pictures of bruising with Meyer's wife, Shelley, who, according to the investigation report released, called the police for more information and then texted a message of support to Courtney that included the phrase, "he scares me."
Meyer said that if his wife had "imminent fear," that she would have shared the allegations.
"The first time I heard of those texts were just recently, last month" Meyer said. "Shelley did not share those text messages with me."
More: Mitch Albom: No surprise Urban Meyer guilty, yet forgiven
Rinaldi continued down that line, asking what Meyer believes his wife should have done.
"I can't speak to that because, once again, I don't know everything that she knew," Meyer said. "She shared with me her reasoning and I don't want to speak on her behalf."
"You said, 'imminent fear,'" Rinaldi said. He then looked back down on his paper for Shelley's text.
"'He scares me.' How much does that sound like imminent fear?"
"We talked about that," Meyer said. "She wanted to be as compassionate as possible. Once again, she had her reasoning for why she didn't react. ... And if her reasoning was what it was, that's why she didn't alert me or go anywhere else with it."
More: Urban Meyer would be fired if Ohio State cared about the truth
Meyer said that after Zach Smith was arrested in 2009 after Courtney called the police, the coach, then at Florida, brought both people to his office.
Meyer said he was "told and believed that this was not domestic violence. That she threw him out of the house." He then said he relied upon the fact that no charges were filed.
Meyer kept Smith on his staff in Florida, and then brought him along when Meyer was hired at Ohio State, after Meyer said he "did background checks" on Smith from other coaches he worked with during the head coach's hiatus.
Rinaldi also pressed Meyer about the process of hiring Smith at Ohio State, asking why Meyer didn't tell athletic director Gene Smith about the 2009 arrest.
"In hindsight, I should have," Meyer said. "I can't recall why. It was several years ago, I just can't tell you exactly what my mindset was at the time."
Rinaldi then asked about Meyer's core values, posted in the football building. The first two are "honesty" and "respect for women."
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer listens as university president Michael Drake at Longaberger Alumni House speaks on the Ohio State University campus. (Photo: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports)
"I still hold those values so firm, so strong. And I apologize for the perception that I don't," Meyer said.
"What is the perception," Rinaldi asked.
"That as a result of this investigation and this situation, that I did not take that seriously," Meyer said.
"What apology, if any, for the actions, Urban," Rinaldi continued.
"Also for the actions," Meyer said. "It was a very tough time, a tough situation, that Courtney was in, that Zach Smith was in. And we were led to believe was a very difficult divorce. They had a lot of things going on.
"And I erred, Tom, I erred. I made a decision to do the best I can to stabilize that situation. And I probably should have fired him."
More: Ohio State's Urban Meyer defends himself on Twitter: 'I did not lie'
On Aug. 22, Meyer made a statement when it was announced he would be suspended. He was then roundly excoriated for not apologizing to Courtney Smith, the ex-wife of Zach Smith who alleges he abused her.
Two days later, Meyer released an additional statement, apologizing to Courtney Smith and her children.
Former Ohio State assistant coach Zach Smith says he was encouraged about his future in football after meeting with Urban Meyer this year. "We were talking about the next step toward becoming a head coach because things were going so well for me and my value on the staff," he said. (Photo: AP)
At the start of the interview excerpt, Meyer said when he thinks of Courtney Smith, he thinks of "an extremely difficult situation, a very troubled marriage, and a situation where I wish I had known more and wish I had done more."
The interview excerpt concluded with Rinaldi asking Meyer: "When it comes to the program's core value of treating women with respect, who respected and protected Courtney Smith?"
After a long pause, Meyer said, "that's a tough question, now that all the information's out. Now that I've heard more. If I fire him at the time, sever that relationship, and I see these two young kids. That's the way I've always thought. How do you help stabilize something. And at the time, that's how I thought.
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Pierre's Web
Civil Society : Emergence : Technology : World
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Secrecy News Roundup
One of the things I've been reading regularly is Steven Aftergood's excellent Secrecy News e-mail newsletter. Mr. Aftergood runs the Federation of American Scientists Project on Government Secrecy.
He's had quite a lot to do recently. The following are excerpts from recent issues of his newsletter that have caught my eye. (The section titles are mine.)
This item has to do with the recent political storm over how intelligence information was mis-used by the Bush Administration in order to gather support for the Iraq war. It reminds me of the fable of the Boy Who Cried Wolf.
Yet Congress was told as a factual matter that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them even to the United States, recalled Sen. Ben Nelson (D-FL) this week.
"I was looked at straight in the face and told that [Iraqi] UAVs could be launched from ships off the Atlantic coast to attack eastern seaboard cities of the United States," he said. "Is it any wonder that I concluded there was an imminent peril to the United States?" See:
http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2004_cr/s012804b.html
The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same (Sadly)
A sadly familiar military intelligence analysis from 1946 on the state of the Muslim world, titled Islam: A Threat to World Stability.
Out of miles of declassified files, an old U.S. Army publication called "Intelligence Review" recently surfaced. Intelligence Review was a classified journal published after World War II and prepared by the Army's Military Intelligence Service.
The first issue, dated 14 February 1946, explored a diversity of topics and regional conflicts.
One paper with current resonance, bluntly entitled "Islam: A Threat to World Stability," examined the dynamics of Islamic politics as perceived at the time. Another paper, "Wheat: Key to the World's Food Supply," addressed a global food shortage in 1946.
See Issue 1 of Intelligence Review (80 pages, 3.7 MB PDF file) here:
http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/army/intelreview1.pdf
Some excerpts from the report that I've selected:
The Moslem world sprawls around half the earth, from the Pacific across Asia and Africa to the Atlantic, along one of the greatest of trade routes; in its center is an area extremely rich in oil; over it will run some of the most strategically important air routes.
With few exceptions, the states which it includes are marked by poverty, ignorance, and stagnation. It is full of discontent and frustration, yet alive with consciousness of its inferiority and with determination to achieve some kind of general betterment.
The net result of all these intrigues [referring to a series of self-proclaimed defenders of the Muslim faith throughout history] has been that the Moslems are properly suspicious of their leaders. The moment a new leader appears he is tempted by various European Powers to accept their "assistance," and almost inevitably his loyalty and discretion are eventually sold to one of them.
If the Moslem states were strong and stable, their behavior would be more predictable. They are, however, weak and torn by internal stresses; furthermore, their peoples are insufficiently educated to appraise propaganda or to understand the motives of those who promise a new Heaven and a new Earth.
Because of the strategic position of the Moslem world and the restlessness of its peoples, the Moslem states constitute a potential threat to world peace. There cannot be permanent world stability, when one-seventh of the earth's population exists under the economic and political conditions that are imposed upon the Moslems. [emphasis added]
This was written in 1946.
Congress has been curiously missing in action (or AWOL?) since September 11th. Thankfully, people are beginning to notice.
At a time when crucial matters of national policy are at stake, the current Congress has in important respects been missing in action.
"[E]ver since it passed the USA Patriot Act after the events of Sept. 11, 2001, Congress has stood by in an alarming silence while a fabric of new law governing the balance between liberty and security has been woven by the other two branches of government," observes the Washington Post in a penetrating editorial today.
See "Silence on the Hill...," January 5:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54807-2004Jan4.html
But this Congress has done worse than just stand by. It has also acted recklessly and without due diligence to dismantle some of the existing checks and balances that wiser legislators imposed after careful consideration.
See, for example, "Too Much Power," another Washington Post editorial, dated January 4:
Even conservative analysts sympathetic to the Bush Administration sense that something is awry.
"The American people cannot be expected simply to give the government the benefit of the doubt forever, agreeing that seemingly extralegal measures are justified," writes law professor Thomas F. Powers. "Open, robust, and if necessary prolonged debate of the issues is not to be feared."
See his article "Due Process for Terrorists?" in The Weekly Standard, January 12, 2004 here:
http://tinyurl.com/22gq2
Thank you, Mr. Aftergood, for your excellent work.
Posted at 05:17 PM in Civil Society, Current Affairs, World | Permalink
Hi Pierre, thank you for being reachable. Peter Kaminski encouraged me to approach you. I also learned of your work through Tom Munnecke's http://www.givingspace.org I've organized an open laboratory for independent thinkers around the world, http://www.ms.lt, with 75 active and 750 supportive participants. We reach out to involve all manner of independent thinkers, including Islamic independent thinkers, who I think would help express Islam as one faith but many lives, and our network might bridge cultures and provide integrity for business.
We propose to create a Social Networking Kit optimized for marginal Internet access so that we might integrate activists http://www.no-hit.com/andrius/archives/000074.html Our idea is to develop a web service so when people (who pay per minute, or away from home, or have a slow connection) could upload data and instructions they've prepared ahead of time. This leads to a modeling language for human activity on the web, such as "add to this wiki page", "comment on this blog", "spider this site", "look for this item on eBay" etc. Such a modeling language then serves as a universal interface for wikis, blogs, discussion lists, websites, etc. because the specific syntactic differences can be handled by the web service. The business model is that those syntaxes keep changing, so that social entrepreneurs can provide an open source engine which ISPs may offer the service for free to their subscribers, but the ISPs have to pay the entrepreneurs for prompt fixes, if they want them. Also, we are enabling thinkers with marginal access to become global activists. I expand on this idea in my proposal to Noah Samara of WorldSpace to make use of their satellites beaming radio and data to Africa and Asia http://www.no-hit.com/andrius/archives/000093.html Perhaps we might all work together to make this happen.
Meanwhile, we are developing team-building services based on our network of people who generate content in the Public Domain http://www.voght.com/cgi-bin/pywiki?OpenPeople We are able to freely circulate our content and energy to different groups. We can unload social networking from busy leaders, or serve people who don't have the social capital. We can mobilize ourselves as a team, and then sort out any income we earn through our own internal economy.
I'm glad to share our ideas. Thank you for your thoughtful service. Let us think how we might work together. Peace.
Posted by: Andrius Kulikauskas | February 11, 2004 at 05:24 AM
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Reston Real Estate
Election Roundup: Local Races to Follow on Election Day Next Week
Fatimah Waseem October 30, 2019 at 3:30pm
The election is less than one week away for Fairfax County voters.
While Democrat Walter Alcorn won the primary seat for Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins, who is retiring, there are still plenty of local races to follow.
The makeup of the Fairfax County School Board is expected to change considerably, with nine contested seats. Six district seats and the chair are contested on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
Two candidates are running for the seat of Pat Hynes, who currently holds the Hunter Mill District seat on the school board. Earlier this year, Hynes said she would not seek reelection after serving on the 12-member board for the last seven years.
Reston Now will be covering the race for the chair of the Board of Supervisors, the Commonwealth's Attorney, the at-large seat for the school board, and the Hunter Mill District Seat for the school board.
Chairman of Board of Supervisors
Joseph Galdo (R)
Jeff McKay (D)
Fairfax County School Board — Hunter Mill DistrictLaura Ramirez Drain
Melanie Meren
Fairfax County School Board — At-Large Seats (voters choose three)
Cheryl Buford
Priscilla DeStefano
Rachna Heizer
Karen Keys-Gamarra
Abrar Omeish
Vinson Palathingal
Steve Descano (Democrat)
Jonathan Fahey (Independent)
Absentee voting, which is offered at 10 locations, runs through Saturday, Nov. 2 at 5 p.m. Polling locations are available on the county's website.
Residents will also vote on a number of bond referendums for schools, including planning funds for a new "Silver Line" elementary school.
Election returns will be posted by the Virginia Department of Elections online. Stay tuned for more information and coverage next week.
UPDATED: In Democratic Primary, Former Fairfax County Planning Commissioner Wins Hunter Mill District Seat
Fatimah Waseem June 11, 2019 at 8:10pm
(Updated at 9:45 p.m.) Former Fairfax County Planning Commissioner Walter Alcorn easily won the Hunter Mill District Supervisor seat in Tuesday's Democratic primary election.
With nearly 50 percent of the vote, Alcorn defeated four other challengers in the election, which has been fraught with issues like development, traffic and infrastructure needs.
He maintained his sizable lead throughout the night.
The Hunter Mill District seat was vacated by veteran politician Cathy Hudgins earlier this year after she announced her intention to retire.
Reston lawyer Laurie Dodd placed second in the race, with a distant 25 percent of vote. Other challengers included U.S. Air Force Veteran Shyamali Hauth, Comstock executive Maggie Parker, and recent college graduate Parker Messick.
Unofficial election returns are below:
His name will head to the ballot in November. Alcorn wrote the following after the results were released:
It was a privilege to have shared the primary field with a record number of diverse Democrats who believe cooperation, unity, empowerment, and inclusivity are critical to Hunter Mill's success. Winning the primary couldn't have been possible without the support of all the volunteers and our union brothers and sisters who gave so generously of their time to make this happen.
I look forward to moving forward with the agenda I laid out in my campaign – including managing growth, protecting our green spaces, fully finding schools – and will work with all community stakeholders to ensure our district is working together to remove barriers to opportunities for all.
In previous interviews with Reston Now, Alcorn stated that he wants the county to manage infrastructure as new development continues in the area. He also wants to improve citizen engagement in the planning and development review process.
He says his biggest concerns are Reston's population growth, affordable housing, and redevelopment of the community's village centers.
As Hunter Mill District Supervisor, Alcorn says that he will clean up phase two of Reston's comprehensive plan, implement affordable housing land use reforms, develop a county energy and climate action plan, and improve the county's affordable living strategy.
Over the course of his campaign, Alcorn picked up dozens of notable endorsements, including a nod from Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Sharon Bulova.
In recent weeks, the local election was fraught with a dispute over whether or not campaigning was allowed at the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station's plaza, which is leased from the county to Comstock Companies.
Concerns voiced by Bulova over the company's restrictions on free speech suggested Parker had an unfair advantage at the station.
Parker raised $258,225, with sizable backing from her employer. Alcorn raised $102,749 while the other candidates had significantly smaller coffers.
Overall, turnout in the county was just 5.4 percent. The Hunter Mill District had the highest turnout with 7.3 percent of registered voters participating.
Alcorn did not immediately return a request for comment.
Updated: Democratic Primary in the Hunter Mill District in Full Swing
Fatimah Waseem June 11, 2019 at 9:45am
(Updated at 1:10 p.m.) Voting is in full swing for the Democratic primary as five candidates vie for Hunter Mill District Supervisor — a seat vacated by local veteran legislator Cathy Hudgins.
As of 1 p.m., turnout in the Hunter Mill District was around 4.7 percent — the highest of all other districts in the county. Overall, turnout in the county is 3.4 percent.
The morning got off to a slow start. Campaign volunteers at Reston Community Centers said they only saw a handful of candidates between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. today (Tuesday). Campaign signs flapped quietly in the wind as the casual voter strolled in.
In previous years, voter turnout for local primaries has been under 10 percent. For example, in the 2010 Republican primary, turnout was just under 5 percent in the Hunter Mill District.
So far, Comstock spokeswoman Maggie Parker leads total fundraising with $258,225 raised, despite a late start to her campaign. Former Fairfax County Planning Commissioner Walter Alcorn — who has also picked up a number of local and county endorsements — raised $102,749.
U.S. Air Force Veteran and community advocate Shyamali Hauth raised $28,738 — a little more than lawyer Laurie Dodd, who raised $24,919. Recent Roanoke College graduate Parker Messick raised a little over $7,000.
Candidate profiles published on Reston Now are linked below:
Laurie Dodd
Parker Messick
Shyamali Hauth
Walter Alcorn
Voters will also select a new chair for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors:
Reston developer Timothy Chapman
Lee District Supervisor Jeffrey McKay
Georgetown law professor Alicia Plerhoples
Fairfax County School Board Member At-Large Ryan McElveen
Information about the complete ballot is available online.
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. today. Acceptable forms of identification include a Virginia driver's license, a U.S. passport, employer-issued photo ID, and student photo ID. Only one form of ID is required.
County officials will post updates on Twitter about voter turnout totals throughout the day. Unofficial election returns are expected to come in starting around 7 p.m. today.
As a reminder, registered voters of any party can participate in the Democratic primary.
Following Allegations of Civil Rights Violations, Comstock Grants Campaigning Rights for Two Days
In anticipation of the Democratic primary tomorrow, Comstock Companies is now allowing campaigning and electioneering for two days at Reston Station Plaza after the county threatened legal recourse due to potential free speech violations.
Chris Clemente, Comstock's CEO, told Reston Now that the company is inviting all candidates on the June 11 ballots to campaign at the plaza today and tomorrow "on their own schedules and without the need to coordinate schedules with Comstock."
The temporary change comes after Comstock came under fire for its longstanding restrictions on soliciting, including campaigning and electioneering, at the plaza. The county says the forum qualifies as public space — even though Comstock leases the property from the county through a 99-year ground lease. Comstock disputes this claim.
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Sharon Bulova lashed out against the company when she learned about the policy late last week. Bulova accused the company of favoritism and civil rights violation after she said it allowed Maggie Parker — Comstock's vice president of communications — to post campaign signs but barred her opponents from approaching voters.
"Allowing one's own employee to engage in such highly protected activity in a public area, while excluding other candidates from doing the same, is clearly wrong and cannot be tolerated," Bulova said in the letter, which threatened legal action.
Parker said that she never campaigned at the plaza and purchased large advertisements from the company at the plaza and on Comstock's building — a possibility that she said is open to all other candidates.
Ads cost between $2,000 and $3,500 per week.
Claire Gastanaga, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Virginia chapter, said the lease to the private company does not renege individual's free speech rights.
Ray Morrogh, the county's commonwealth's attorney, directed the Fairfax County Police Department to decline any requests to prosecute individuals for campaigning at the train station and the plaza above it.
"It would not be appropriate to prosecute anyone exercising their First Amendment rights in public areas," Morrogh wrote in a May letter to the police department.
Clemente did not indicate what led to the two-day allowance for campaigning.
"Although we had hoped to provide the residents of the Hunter Mill District an opportunity to meet all the candidates in a casual setting during these last days of the campaign, we were unable to secure commitments from all candidates to participate in a coordinated event," he said.
The debate over whether or not the plaza qualifies as a public forum was catapulted into the county spotlight after candidates running for Hunter Mill District Supervisor attempted to campaign at the plaza.
Over the past several weeks, candidates, volunteers for their campaigns, and a representative for a local advocacy group said they were kicked off the property and told to apply for permits.
Photo via Fairfax Connector
As Primary Election Nears, Confusion over Campaigning at Reston Station Remains
Fatimah Waseem June 7, 2019 at 1:15pm
Some residents are concerned that restrictions on political campaigning at Reston Station Plaza raise free speech issues. But local and state officials versed in state election law say the question of whether or not campaigning is allowed on the plaza is a gray area.
That's because Comstock Companies, the developer of Reston Station, leases the plaza from Fairfax County through a 99-year ground lease. The county says that state election law still allows campaign activities, including voter registration, on the private property.
Several residents who have unsuccessfully tried to campaign and distribute leaflets on the plaza say they've been told to request permits from Comstock before distributing materials.
But Comstock's CEO Chris Clemente says that Comstock has no such policy for requesting permits.
"I cannot respond to the reports you have received about a days-long permit process since that is simply not true," Clemente told Reston Now in a statement.
He clarified that Comstock has not revised its policy prohibiting soliciting on its private properties "out of respect for the privacy of residents, visitors, and commuters." Instead, Clemente said Comstock's policy revision was restricted to scheduling a candidate meet-and-greet for a few hours at the plaza. Candidates would get the chance to meet with voters and distribute campaign materials with no cost.
"To date, we have not seen any indication of interest from any of the campaigns (except Maggie Parker's) to participate in such an event. What we have seen from some of the candidates is public criticism of Comstock for not allowing random soliciting of Metro commuters. It makes me think that the candidates, with the exception of Maggie Parker, have no interest in discussing their vision for the Hunter Mill District with members of the public," Clemente said.
Parker, who is Comstock's vice president of communications, is a candidate for the Hunter Mill District seat and has campaign signs on the property.
Other candidates can purchase advertising space for either $2,000 or $3,500 per week on two plaza locations. Parker said she paid for her ads on Comstock's property. Comstock and Comstock-linked entities have filled up more than half of her campaign coffers — which exceeds all of her challengers' fundraising for the latest reporting period combined.
Joanne Collins, a representative for Herndon-Reston Indivisible, said Comstock's security told her to leave the plaza after she tried to hand out leaflets about Tuesday's primary. Collins said she requested a permit from Comstock, but was told the process would take several days — possibly after the June 11 Democratic primary.
Residents say that the Fairfax County Board of Elections and the Virginia Department of Elections are mum on the issue. Laurie Dodd, a candidate for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisor's Hunter Mill District seat, lodged a complaint with the state's elections department, but was told the issue wasn't within its jurisdiction.
Dodd said she was told the department only addresses issues within 40 feet of voting machines. The Attorney General of Virginia's office offered the same statement, she said.
Others said they would file complaints with the county's election board after the election in order to spend more time campaigning in other parts of the Hunter Mill District.
Dodd also noted that the cost of purchasing signage at the plaza was too high, especially since the election is just days away and the process would require Comstock's approval.
The Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney is looking into whether or not free speech rights are at risk of being violated.
Friday Morning Notes
Fatimah Waseem June 7, 2019 at 8:45am
Local Venture Firm Perfects Fundraising Methodology — Reston-based venture firm Proof.VC, which raised $34.5 million in the first round of funding could exceed that total in the second round. The company aims to perfect its fundraising strategy to invest in businesses like Beyond Meat Inc. and Bird Rides, Inc. [Washington Business Journal]
Reminder: Absentee Voting Deadline is Tomorrow — The last day to cast an absentee ballot is tomorrow at the county's government center. Satellite absentee voting locations will also be open tomorrow only, including the North County Governmental Center. [Fairfax County Government]
South Lakes High School PTSA Nominated for Family Engagement Award — The group was nominated for the 2019 VA PTA Family Engagement Award. Members are thankful for families who volunteer throughout the year. "The recognition of the Virginia PTA is for you," the group wrote in a statement. [South Lakes High School PTSA]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
In Race for Hunter Mill District Supervisor, Parker Boasts Big Fundraising Lead Buoyed by Comstock
Maggie Parker, vice president of communications for Comstock Companies and a candidate for Hunter Mill District Supervisor, has received more funds than any candidate running for a district office seat in the county in a single reporting period this year. At least $108,323 of her campaign war chest was given by Comstock or Comstock-linked entities, the developer behind the massive redevelopment of Reston Station.
According to campaign finance reports filed on Tuesday (June 4), Parker's campaign war chest ballooned over the last several weeks with $254,276 raised in the latest reporting period. She collected $155,375 — roughly 61 percent of total contributions — from 65 donors who contributed more than $100.
In the final stretch before the primary next week, Parker has raised more money in the last reporting period than all four of her challengers combined.
Although Parker spent most of her contributions — leaving her with $11,856 in the bank before the June 11 primary — campaign finance reports indicate Parker is backed by several contributors linked with the development community in Reston.
Former Fairfax County Planning Commissioner Walter Alcorn raised $31,774 over the last reporting period and had $26,821 in the bank. Most of his donations — $28,930 – came from 80 donors who gave more than $100.
Shyamali Hauth, a U.S. Air Force veteran and self-described community advocate, raised $12,366 and ended with a balance of $7,331. She received $6,172 from 22 donors who gave contributions of more than $100.
Laurie Dodd, a local lawyer, raised $9,285 and had $4,468 in the bank. Seven donors gave contributions of more than $100 to her campaign.
Meanwhile, Parker Messick's campaign coffers dried out with no donations of more than $100 and a total of $155 raised. He has $1,039 in the bank.
The primary for the Hunter Mill District Supervisor seat is on June 11.
Photo via Maggie Parker
Monday Morning Notes
Pride of Herndon Band Leaves for D-Day Celebrations Tomorrow — "The Herndon High School band of Herndon leaves Tuesday to participate in 75th D-Day celebrations in Normandy. Band members will carry pictures and stories of crew members who served on the USS Herndon during the invasion." [WTOP]
Candidates for Fairfax County Board of Supervisor Discuss Stances on Cycling Issues — The Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling caught up with two candidates running for the seat of Hunter Mill District Supervisor. Candidate Walter Alcorn says he hopes to "accelerate existing plans to enable non-motorized access to transit stations and work centers" while candidate Maggie Parker discusses how biking is "a great equalizer." Other candidates did not respond immediately to requests for comment. [Fairfax County Alliance for Better Bicycling]
Last Day for "LOVE" Letters in Reston Town Center Tomorrow — The iconic letters sign will leave RTC tomorrow as they tour 11 different sites in Fairfax County to celebrate the Virginia Tourism Corporation's 50th anniversary of "Virginia is for Lovers!" [Reston Town Center]
Comstock Revises Campaigning Policies at Reston Station Plaza
Fatimah Waseem May 30, 2019 at 3:30pm
(Updated at 5:45 a.m. on May 31 to state candidates did not receiving ad pricing information from Comstock).
Comstock Companies, the developer of Reston Station, will allow political campaigning and electioneering at Reston Station Plaza following a recent debate over the legality of the company's longstanding policy to bar soliciting on its properties.
In a letter to Reston Now's editor regarding the May 24 article, Chris Clemente, the company's CEO, clarified Comstock's position on the issue. His company's vice president of communications, Maggie Parker, is running for Hunter Mill District Supervisor, and her campaign signs are plastered on the property.
"Given the local nature of the Hunter Mill District race, which is the first contested race since Reston Station existed, and the significant number of Hunter Mill District residents using the commuter facilities at Reston Station, it was decided that it would be appropriate to allow such activities for this political contest," Clemente wrote.
A spokesperson for Fairfax County has stated that campaigning at the property is allowed by state election law, noting that Comstock leases Reston Station Plaza from Fairfax County under a 99-year ground lease.
"Comstock leases the Wiehle garage plaza from Fairfax County pursuant to a 99 year ground lease. State election law doesn't prohibit campaign activities including voter registration on private property," according to the county.
Clemente said the company has barred all types of soliciting "out of respect for the thousands of daily visitors' time." He also noted that the county has not raised any issues with Comstock's policy.
A county spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request from Reston Now about why this was the case.
Parker pushed Clemente to give other candidates running for the seat the opportunity to erect signs at Reston Station, Clemente said. Requests to have signs were submitted by Walter Alcorn's campaign on May 25 and Laurie Dodd on May 28. Parker also requested permission to use Comstock's property for an all-candidate meet and greet event, which Clemente said Comstock fully supports.
Clemente, a former Reston resident and parent of current Reston residents, is backing Parker for the seat. In a 19-point letter to Reston Now, Clemente expressed his support for Parker, who he called a "champion of affordable housing" and a "strong proponent of limiting significant development in the Hunter Mill District."
In a statement, Clemente wrote the following:
This is why I support Maggie Parker in this important race, because she has the skills needed to create solutions to complex issues that can sometimes be divisive, build consensus, and put the interests of the Hunter Mill District residents first, rather than hurling misleading accusations for political purposes. It's refreshing to see a political candidate take the high road!
Parker said that she organized the forum because she wants to have all five candidates campaign in a safe and open environment and meet some candidates' interest in coming to the plaza.
"A free-flowing meet and greet is one way to accomplish both," Parker said. "I am confident that my message and experience will win out."
Her campaign manager pitched the meet and greet idea to other candidates running for the seat on May 28. A date has not been set.
Alcorn, whose volunteers were recently barred from distributing campaign materials at the plaza, says the gesture comes too late:
Comstock responded to our community pressure with a token gesture that is too little, too late as Comstock's candidate has enjoyed weeks of unlimited and exclusive advertising. Democracy does not happen in 3 hour windows. Comstock is attempting to buy a seat on the Board of Supervisors for developers. Voters should also be alarmed that Comstock is using a public private partnership with the County to limit freedom of speech for all candidates but their own.
Both Dodd and Alcorn stated that they have not yet heard back from Comstock regarding requests for the pricing of advertising on the plaza.
The Hunter Mill District primary is set for June 11.
Tuesday Morning Notes
Fatimah Waseem May 28, 2019 at 8:45am
Lifeguard Shortage Prompts Pool Schedule Change — RA changed the schedule of its pools over the weekend due to an unexpected shortage of lifeguards. The organization is actively hiring lifeguards for this year's season. A job fair is set for Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at a local pool. [Reston Association]
The Washington Post Releases Endorsements for Fairfax County Board of Supervisors — The paper endorsed Walter Alcorn for the seat of Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins, calling him a "formidable land-use expert." [The Washington Post]
INOVA Blood Drive is Today — Stop by the bloodmobile truck next to the pavilion at Reston Town Center to date blood between 1 and 6 p.m. today. Registration is available online and on site. [Reston Town Center]
Explore Reston Association's Home Inspection Process — Dive into the exterior inspection process that is required by RA before selling your home. [Reston Today]
Flickr pool photo by vantagehill
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Election: Meet Maggie Parker
RestonNow.com May 24, 2019 at 10:45am
Five Democrats are running for the seat of Hunter Mill District Supervisor after Cathy Hudgins, the current supervisor, announced plans to retire earlier this year. This week, Reston Now will publish candidate statements for each of the candidates. This is the last profile.
Statements, which are in question-and-answer format, are published in the order in which they are received. With the exception of minor formatting edits, profiles are published in unedited form. Each candidate had the opportunity to answer the same questions in their own words.
What inspired you to run for this seat?
I've always welcomed an opportunity to serve. I thrive on learning, meeting new people, and learning from a broad range of voices. I learned early on that one must consider many perspectives in order to develop a personal viewpoint. I've learned that life experiences impact viewpoints, and that thought process is evolutionary. Humans, hopefully, evolve as they age and engage.
I was compelled to run for Hunter Mill Supervisor when it became a vacant seat, Supervisor Cathy Hudgins having announced retirement after 20 years of bold and noble service to Hunter Mill. I am honored to be a candidate; it is privilege.
Inspiration comes from varied places; I was most fortunate to grow up in a family that was committed to serve. Both my mom and dad were elected officials in my hometown; my two brothers have served their local jurisdictions and my little sister chairs the Board of Education in a town with a school system that rivals that of Fairfax County. My other sister has chaired noble community efforts in California and is a perennial elections officer in her small town. One might say service runs in the family.
What are the three biggest concerns you have for Reston? What do you plan to do address them?
I'm concerned about:
Responsible economic growth: Appropriate development in the right places and making sure that our approved development applications are delivered in the highest quality and are integrated with our community. Whether in Reston or Vienna or Herndon, we must make sure that we welcome the new, engage our new residents and business workers, and integrate all with open arms. Reston is a New Town studied by a world-wide audience; as we enter into the 'next fifty years' it's imperative that we be true to the founding tenants.
Improved transportation options: Our community needs to respect the fact that we have and will continue to grow, and additional asphalt lanes are a ready solution to congestion. As soon as a lane is built, it is congested, adding exponentially to our carbon footprint. We need to provide safe and connected pedestrian and bicycle pathways, provide overpasses or underpasses across or beneath some of our wide thoroughfares. We need to adapt our suburban-built thoroughfares into a more urban street grid; often slowing traffic results in better throughput through intersections and community centers.
Quality of Life for All – Equity in Housing Options: We have a shortage of housing options — running the range from low-income for-sale and for-rent inventory, through housing options for our service workforce, and onto aging in place and/or affordable senior alternatives. We have thought leaders and industry leaders in our community; we can find solutions.
How can the county improve how it manages growth and development in this growing community, especially as it relates to infrastructure needs, transportation, and affordable housing?
The County is doing a good job of working to plan for our future. Like anything, it can always do better. Current attention can to transportation and infrastructure financing options needs to remain a priority, and efforts to evaluate options for means to provide housing diversity are imperative. Solutions come through many avenues, such as developer commitments to provide work force housing programs in new multifamily buildings, developers paying a fee per square foot per commercial development added and convening industry experts to review national best practices for finding and funding diverse housing types. We will need to review zoning code; we can find solutions.
What do you hope to accomplish in this position?
I hope to provide excellent customer service to all of the Hunter Mill constituents, to enable transparent and inclusive conversation about pressing issues and to ably represent the voice of Hunter Mill on a board of ten. I hope to make the voice of Hunter Mill influence the continued success of Fairfax County, and be recognized as the key driver in the County's prominence.
Photo via Maggie Comstock
Comstock and County Clash Over the Legality of Campaigning at Reston Station Plaza
Comstock Companies, the developer of Reston Station, has barred political campaigning at Reston Station Plaza — a policy that clashes with the county's official position on the issue.
Conflicting stances on the permissibility of political campaigning at the plaza has piqued some concerns about the privatization of public spaces in Reston.
A spokesperson for Fairfax County told Reston Now that state election law "doesn't prohibit campaign activities including voter registration on private property."
Comstock leases Reston Station Plaza from Fairfax County under a 99-year ground lease. This public-private partnership does not prevent political campaign activities, the county says.
The company, however, has adopted a longstanding policy that political campaigning is not allowed at the plaza, according to Maggie Parker, Comstock's vice president of communications.
"It would be like me setting up shop on Walter [Alcorn's] front lawn," Parker, who is also a candidate in the race for Hunter Mill District Supervisor, said.
Alcorn, who is also running for the seat vacated by longtime Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins, said volunteers from his campaign were recently barred from campaigning outside of the Starbucks on the plaza.
He says a security officer told campaigners that political activity was not allowed at the site.
"It's unfortunate that what should be publicly usable space is being operated as private space," Alcorn said. "This is one of the challenging and frustrating things about where we are as a community. We've really privatized our public spaces."
Parker, who has campaign signs plastered along a fence near the entrance to the garage at Wiehle-Reston East, said she is seeking Comstock's approval for all candidates to campaign at the plaza before the primary election on June 11.
"Given the interest in the campaign, I would like an opportunity to challenge our management and have one day — maybe the Thursday before the primary — for all candidates to come out. I would love to work on that," Parker said.
Jubal Thompson, general counsel for Comstock Companies, noted that Reston Station Plaza's unique public-private partnership sets it apart from other Metro stations, which may allow political campaigning.
"Comstock has a 99-year leasehold interest for the exclusive use to the land and the improvements it makes to the property. So effectively Reston Station Plaza is private property with public access rights," Thompson wrote in an email to Reston Now.
Alcorn also took issue with Parker's campaign signs on Comstock's property, which he says muddies the line between private and public interests.
Parker noted that her signs are on private property.
"My company is very enthusiastic and support of the campaign and the signs are all on private property," she said. "I wouldn't go stick my signs in someone's yard without them agreeing."
Comstock's marketing team is open to selling sign space to any candidate, she added.
Photos by Fatimah Waseem
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Election: Meet Shyamali Hauth
Five Democrats are running for the seat of Hunter Mill District Supervisor after Cathy Hudgins, the current supervisor, announced plans to retire earlier this year. This week, Reston Now will publish candidate statements for each of the candidates.
Our local government is where the rubber meets the road. This is where we make change that affects each of us on a daily basis. I have led a life of service around the world, across this great nation, and right here in Fairfax County. I want Fairfax County, and specifically the Hunter Mill District, to be the leader of a progressive vision of community. It is time for change in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Many of our supervisors have done an incredible job of governing over the past 20 plus years, but the county has changed drastically since they first took office. We need new leadership that reflects the desires and diversity of the community.
As a grassroots community organizer, I understand the benefit of building a community from the ground up. I understand the importance of engaging voters in decisions that will affect their lives. I have walked miles and worn out shoes knocking on doors and talking to residents about their concerns, asking for their input and expertise, and advocating for those concerns before our elected officials. I bring a proven track record of leadership and a collaborative working style which will help me serve the Hunter Mill district with compassion and integrity.
Problem 1: Climate Change
Solution 1: We need a multi-faceted and bold approach to addressing climate change in Fairfax County. I would like to see us increasing the minimum LEED standard to Gold for any new construction and renovation — with an incentive for Platinum. Placing solar panels on schools and government buildings is a start to reducing our dependence on carbon-based fuels, but we also need to encourage our businesses to do the same and reduce our overall energy use. We must also reduce traffic congestion by lowering the cost of and increasing the use of public transportation systems. Additionally, we can initiate several consumer-oriented changes like a single use plastics ban, an increased emphasis on waste reduction, and the introduction of front yard gardens and zero-scapes.
Problem 2: Affordable Housing
Solution 2: I have a S.M.A.R.T.E. (Safe, Mixed Income, Accessible, Reasonably Priced, Transit-oriented, and Environmentally Sustainable) housing plan. This plan is comprehensive and would incentivize new construction and renovations to include percentages of housing accessible to various income levels. In addition, we need to be creative and use the concepts of tiny or small houses, add-on mother-in-law style apartments, utilizing existing offices and other buildings for new housing and community space, and creating community based housing.
Problem 3: Education
Solution 3: Our teacher and staff pay needs to improve and we need to bring equity across the school system. For both safety and to improve the learning environment, we need to address the overcrowding and excessive use of trailers. We need to ensure we are providing the best education for all of our students and that includes offering apprenticeships for those not choosing to attend a four-year college, or skills based learning for students of differing abilities. I also value our language immersion programs as they foster a broader world view and allow our students to develop new ways of problem solving. In order to address inequities in our education system perhaps the greatest impact will be through offering universal free pre-K programs. Finally, I will work hard to ensure our curriculum and school environment is inclusive and welcoming.
We need to ensure as growth and development occur, they are accompanied by appropriate infrastructure support and completion. This includes ensuring we look at new school facilities as well as number and locations of first responder services and other community services. In addition, we need to re-examine some long-term infrastructure plans to determine if, as changes in lifestyle create new modalities of travel, we are planning well for our future needs. One of my biggest concerns in developing housing that falls within the 30% of income level is that it needs to be integrated throughout the community and especially near transit. We cannot make the mistakes other communities have done and have transit oriented equate to high cost "luxury" housing. Making our community transit-friendly means we need to be sure areas are walkable and have appropriate lighting for safety and ease of use. We must also look to emerging technologies to encourage more environmentally sound and commute-friendly transportation options.
It is essential we address climate change in a bold and impactful way. If we don't do this, all other decisions will not matter. My hope is to accomplish this while listening and responding to the needs and desires of our residents. I will ensure the voices of all residents are heard, including those who work two jobs, have a person with a disability at home, or simply cannot afford to make it to a meeting. I will help maintain a vibrant economy through support for our locally owned small business community, ensure needs of families are met through an excellent education system and affordable housing, and make our county the leader in addressing climate change. For over 30 years I have led a life of service: in the military and in communities in which I have lived. I would be honored to continue serving you as your next Supervisor.
Photo via Shyamali Hauth
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Candidate Returns $500 from ALEC CEO
(Updated at 1:50 p.m. to clarify that the ALEC contribution and contributions from Alcorn's developer friends are two separate issues).
Walter Alcorn, a candidate running for the seat of Hunter Mill District Supervisor, has returned small donor contributions from the CEO and Strategist of the American Legislative Exchange Council, a right-wing, pro-business group that has been criticized for furthering the goals of its corporate benefactors.
The donations were flagged in a May 3 press release by opponent Laurie Dodd, who is one of five candidates running for the seat.
In that release, Dodd also pointed out that Alcorn accepted contributions from developers in violation of his pledge to not take money from developers.
Alcorn said the donations were from college friends who do not have projects in the Hunter Mill District. He said he has maintained his pledge to decline donations from developers, noting the small size of the contributions from ALEC employees.
According to the latest campaign finance reports, the Democrat raised nearly $71,000 and has $44,942 in the bank — well beyond his competitors.
In 2012, the Democratic Party of Virginia condemned donations from ALEC, stating that the organization is on a "stealthy mission to purchase our democracy," powered by funding from the Koch brothers.
Dodd told Reston Now that Alcorn's statements about the matter are unethical and deeply disturbing.
Alcorn clarified that he will not accept contributions from developers who have a stake in land-use cases in the Hunter Mill District.
Dodd, Shyamali Hauth and Parker Messick have also pledged to accept no developer contributions.
Photo via Walter Alcorn
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Election: Meet Laurie Dodd
RestonNow.com May 22, 2019 at 9:45am
As a 23-year resident who has raised 2 children through our public schools, I know that Reston is a unique, inclusive community which has so much to offer. But Reston is at risk from poorly managed development that has threatened to take our open spaces and harm our quality of life. For years, I have been active with community groups who want to protect our planned community. That concern merged with my passion for the environment, and I decided that nothing I could do would have a greater impact than helping manage development in Fairfax County. As supervisor, I will foster smart growth and transit-oriented development while protecting our green spaces. And I will take action to reduce our carbon footprint and fight climate change.
My work as a child advocate attorney also inspired my candidacy. In that role, I have helped ensure that our most vulnerable children get the quality education they need in our public schools, along with mental health care. Both of these vital services provided through our county must be supported and improved.
My top concern is uncontrolled development. We see this problem in the continuing battle to protect our open spaces (including two 18-hole golf courses) and the fight to avoid raising the density cap in our planned community. As supervisor, I would not approve more residential development without asking whether we have the schools, roads, parks, and public safety to serve them. We need transit-oriented development and expansion of affordable housing opportunities. I will not give up one more inch of the district to unplanned growth.
Fairfax County should take the lead in addressing environmental issues through a public/private partnership, engaging the best minds of our region to find innovative solutions. We must move forward with a community-wide energy and climate action plan. Replacing our streetlights with efficient LED lighting is a good start that must be followed by bold action, including a focus on improving our transit system. Transit options must be expanded and buses upgraded to appeal to riders, reducing our reliance on cars.
Education is my third concern. We must fund universal pre-K. Teachers and other staff need pay raises, while class sizes are reduced. We must establish equity throughout the county by improving our lower-performing schools. When our county has more than 800 trailer classrooms, saying that our school system is "fully funded" rings hollow. We must accelerate our capital investment to eliminate trailer classrooms rapidly. I will work with the school board to ensure that we provide a world-class education to our children and future leaders.
Fairfax County residents thrive when growth is managed. The Reston area continues to benefit from the vison of Robert Simon, who believed that high-density housing combined with open space for recreational activities could create a lively and varied community. This philosophy merges easily with today's transit-oriented development, which emphasizes compact walkable design focused on transit centers and allows decreasing dependence on cars. With expansion of the Silver Line, transit-oriented development should move forward in Fairfax County, while open spaces like golf courses and parks are protected. Bus service should be upgraded to be more convenient and appealing, allowing easy mobility from transit centers to retail and residential sites. Because elected officials should be able to make decisions about development without any possible conflict of interest, I have chosen not to accept any campaign funds from developers.
Affordable housing is a growing need in our area. The county should devote an additional penny on the real estate tax rate to create housing where our teachers, service workers, and young families can afford to live. As Supervisor, I will focus on protecting and increasing affordable housing in all parts of the county — not only in dense areas but also allowing duplex or triplex homes in lower density areas of the county. Affordable housing could be put into underused office buildings, if amenities like shopping and schools are nearby, or co-located in county projects that serve other purposes, like the Residences at the Government Center. Creative solutions must be explored.
Fairfax County should continue to be one of the best places to live in this country, with diverse neighborhoods, quality schools, and housing options for all. We should become leaders environmentally, bringing together the best minds of our high-tech region to solve energy issues and driving to zero carbon emissions by 2050. Our community-wide climate and energy action plan can become a model for others to emulate. Our transit system should evolve to decrease the amount of time and energy we spend getting from here to there. And all residents should share in a high quality of life that is sustaining and sustainable, with the equity and justice we all deserve. I believe I can lead Hunter Mill District towards this goal.
I am the only candidate in this race who has the breadth of experience in our district, who does not take a dime from corporations or developers — no matter where they have projects, who has advocacy skills to speak up for our residents, and who is beholden to no one but the citizens of Hunter Mill District. This is the leadership we need, now and for the future of Hunter Mill. I hope you agree.
Photo via Laurie Dodd
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Herndon Town Council Names New Vice Mayor
Pet of the Week: Jenny
Final Homes at Station House Infill Development Move Forward
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Latin America: frozen desserts market revenue 2018-2023
Published by J. Mendoza, Dec 13, 2019
The statistic shows the estimated value of the frozen desserts market in Latin America in 2018 and 2023. In 2018, the value was estimated at around 2.69 billion U.S. dollars and it is expected to rise to about 3.06 billion U.S. dollars by 2023.
Frozen desserts market value in Latin America in 2018 and 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)
Value in billion U.S. dollars
** Forecast.
Market share of leading premium ice cream brands in the UK in 2017
Ice cream: manufacturing sales volume in the United Kingdom (UK) 2009-2018
Leading ice cream tub brands in Great Britain 2016-2018, by number of users
Ice cream manufacturers' sales in the United Kingdom (UK) 2008-2018
Statistics on "Ice cream and frozen desserts in the United Kingdom (UK)"
Ice cream retail value in Great Britain 2007-2018
Ice cream retail volume in Great Britain 2007-2018
Frozen confectionery retail value in Great Britain 2007-2018
Frozen confectionery retail volume in Great Britain 2007-2018
Manufacture of ice cream: enterprises in the UK 2019, by turnover size band
Ice cream: manufacturing sales price in the United Kingdom (UK) 2009-2018
Ice cream: UK export value 2001-2018
Ice cream: UK import value 2001-2018
Frequency of ice cream usage in Great Britain 2015-2018
Leading ice cream bar and cone brands Great Britain 2018, by number of users
Leading ice cream types in Great Britain 2016-2018, by number of users
Supermarket brands of ice cream in Great Britain 2013-2018, by number of users
Leading ice cream tub brands of Wall's in Great Britain 2014-2018, by number of users
Leading ice cream tub brands of Nestlé in Great Britain 2015-2018, by number of users
Percentage change in retail volume sales of frozen desserts Western Europe in 2015
Revenue of Hennig-Olsen Is 2012-2017
Sales volume of Hennig-Olsen Is 2012-2017
Market share of Hennig-Olsen Is 2012-2017
Number of employees of Hennig-Olsen Is 2012-2017
Sales revenue of Hennig-Olsen Is 2016, by market
Italy: frozen desserts sales volume 2016-2017
Argentina: largest ice cream and frozen desserts producers 2018
Ice cream & frozen dessert retail sales in South Korea 2012-2021
Canadian change in sales value of frozen baked desserts by product type 2018
Canadian sales volume of frozen baked desserts by product type 2018
Canadian sales value of frozen baked desserts by product type 2018
Sales volume of ice cream and frozen desserts in India 2012-2018
Chile: largest ice cream producers 2017
Packaged ice cream and frozen desserts retail sales value in the UAE 2010-2015
Colombia: ice cream and frozen desserts retail sales value 2013-2017
Frozen desserts in Canada Frozen Foods Market Frozen Desserts Industry Frozen food market in Europe
Market Data Forecast. (October 15, 2018). Frozen desserts market value in Latin America in 2018 and 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved January 23, 2020, from https://cdn2.statista.com/statistics/979495/frozen-desserts-market-value-latin-america/
Market Data Forecast. "Frozen desserts market value in Latin America in 2018 and 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)." Chart. October 15, 2018. Statista. Accessed January 23, 2020. https://cdn2.statista.com/statistics/979495/frozen-desserts-market-value-latin-america/
Market Data Forecast. (2018). Frozen desserts market value in Latin America in 2018 and 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: January 23, 2020. https://cdn2.statista.com/statistics/979495/frozen-desserts-market-value-latin-america/
Market Data Forecast. "Frozen Desserts Market Value in Latin America in 2018 and 2023 (in Billion U.S. Dollars)." Statista, Statista Inc., 15 Oct 2018, https://cdn2.statista.com/statistics/979495/frozen-desserts-market-value-latin-america/
Market Data Forecast, Frozen desserts market value in Latin America in 2018 and 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars) Statista, https://cdn2.statista.com/statistics/979495/frozen-desserts-market-value-latin-america/ (last visited January 23, 2020)


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TransferTravel launches marketplace for unwanted bookings
TransferTravel.com has launched a new website aimed at bringing transferable travel to the masses.
With over 220,000 hotel rooms a day going wasted in the US alone and an estimated $40 Billion worldwide worth of pre-booked and unused travel being wasted annually, the new website aimed to provide a solution to this extensive consumer issue.
With 80 per cent of all travel eligible for transfer, but little consumer knowledge about this, and very few brands highlighting this in their small print Simon Powell, chief executive of the company, believes that this peer-to-peer marketplace will champion the consumer.
The London and San Francisco based company has ambitious plans with a growing team both in the UK and US and an objective to secure over a million users by the end of 2018.
All this is the brainchild of Powell's who launched the company after his own relationship break-up forced him to try and recover some of the cost of an expensive non-refundable romantic holiday to Dubai that he suddenly had no need for.
Realising that no single effective marketplace existed for transferring travel Powell launched TransferTravel.com and has since gone on to secure two rounds of funding leading to the new website with an app launch planned to follow imminently.
The easy and intuitive website is purposefully simple mirroring its problem-solving business credentials and making it easy for both those searching for travel bargains and those looking to list their travel.
"We are bringing to market a simple solution to a problem most people don't know is solve-able.
"It is not fair that companies choose to hide the fact that 80 per cent of travel is transferable and of course it's the consumer that loses out by not knowing this.
"We want to educate the consumer and provide a fix for this."
Riding on the trend for businesses that give power to the consumer and the ever-growing sharing economy TransferTravel.com operates on a no-sale, no-fee basis, only collecting a 15 per cent fee when a successful transfer is made.
Find out more on the official website.
Beneyto to lead Como Metropolitan London
TUI rolls-out chat function on customer app
transfertravel


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'The Ultimate Colin Wilson': still the best 'best of'
On May 27, 2019 May 27, 2019 By Philip CoulthardIn Colin Wilson, Criminology, Existentialism, Fiction, Occult, Phenomenology1 Comment
First published in 1985 under the title The Essential Colin Wilson, this sampler of Wilson's forbiddingly large bibliography was one of the first of his books I read and it quickly made me aware of the philosophical continuity throughout his work, which was otherwise obscured by the sheer number of his books and their bafflingly diverse subjects. Originally selected and edited by Wilson himself, with a specially written introduction and postscript, this new edition adds six extra post-1985 excerpts chosen by Wilson scholars.
This collection was one of the primary sources I used to navigate Wilson's daunting work load and back catalogue back in my teens in the 1980's. Without it, I'd have struggled to comprehend the larger picture he was offering, what he called his 'existential jigsaw puzzle', where clues from philosophy, literature, criminology, occultism and many other fields were examined and pieced together with highly illuminating results. In 1985, Wilson was 54 but astonishingly, this was his 74th book. And as the editor notes, "in the 28 years prior to his death in 2013, he produced another 100 titles". I have now read them all but I can still recall the overwhelming sense of vertigo looking at a list of his published titles (even then). On top of that, there was also the endless amount of thinkers he referenced – from Proust to Gurdjieff to Husserl and Lindsay and hundreds more – all of which he discussed in such an engaging fashion that I was desperate to find out more – and did. It was exhilarating, but intimidating. In the long run, however, it was totally worth it.
By expertly placing key chapters from such lesser known books such as Beyond the Outsider and Introduction to the New Existentialism next to those from The Outsider, The Occult and Mysteries – I knew those last three – and by including a few sections from his monumental A Criminal History of Mankind and excerpts from novels like The Mind Parasites, I began to see a pattern emerging. I then started to borrow, buy and collect ever Wilson title I could find.
Most casual readers associate Colin Wilson with one book and one book only – his debut, The Outsider. A 'smash hit' in rock n' roll terms (it was 1956, remember), this precociously erudite study of existential alienation still reads well today. But it reads even better with the other six volumes of the 'Outsider Cycle' next to it. From these, the Autobiographical Introduction from his unfairly maligned follow up Religion and the Rebel is included as are The Strange Story of Modern Philosophy and Everyday Consciousness is a Liar from Beyond the Outsider and Introduction to the New Existentialism respectively. Nothing was chosen from the other volumes (The Age of Defeat, The Strength to Dream and Origins of the Sexual Impulse) but The Outsider is represented by it's opening chapter and helpfully preceded by The Outsider, Twenty Years On, a reminiscence of the events leading up to it's publication date. These introductory pieces from his first two books give the novice reader the necessary background to who Wilson was and where he cane from, as well as explaining his ideas (the 1985 introduction from the first edition goes a bit further). Reading about Wilson's struggles to pull himself out out of the apathetic torpor of regional working class consciousness and into something more dynamic is highly illuminating, especially if you're from that background yourself. This certainly made me identify with him and wonder why his second book, from which the autobiographical section is extrapolated, was panned so badly. With these sections, a fully rounded figure emerges.
The two chapters from the sixth 'Outsider Cycle' volume (Beyond the Outsider) and the seventh, a summation of all the previous volumes (Introduction to the New Existentialism) are very important choices. The first, which offers a potted history of modern philosophy [1] is essential for understanding the philosophical background Wilson was investigating throughout all his interests. To simplify: modern philosophy was invented by Descartes, who suggested we doubt everything. This is the beginning of the scientific method. But as Wilson points out, "Descartes had launched modern western philosophy with a dubious proposition" and subsequent philosophers – Locke, Berkeley, Hume – left philosophy "looking like a landscape after the dropping of an H-bomb". The neo-Kantian philosopher Fichte came up with an ingenious solution against Descartes passive 'I think therefore I am' by essentially asking 'yes, but who are you?' – but his efforts were mostly ignored. "By the end of the nineteenth century", writes Wilson, "philosophy had fallen into a sad state". Philosophers saw themselves as essentially passive, data collecting machines with no will, yet Fichte had stumbled on something important by noting that Descartes had failed to analyse his own identity, presuming himself to be a perfectly reflecting mirror, pointed squarely at reality. Questioning (or rather, interrogating) this 'passive' identity would be the basis of the work of Edmund Husserl, a mathematician turned philosopher who founded the influential school of phenomenology. Starting with his first major work in 1900, Husserl dragged philosophy out of it's confused nineteenth century state and developed a highly original method to find out who we are. The next selection, Everyday Consciousness is a Liar, originally from Introduction to the New Existentialism, is one of the clearest (and more importantly, most compulsive) introductions to Husserl and his method ever written. In the original 1966 text that it it is drawn from, Wilson wrote that there were no general introductions to this topic available for the average person: a mere 53 years later, this still remains the best one that I can think of. (I have written more fully of Wilson's Investigations into phenomenology here).
As an existentialist, Wilson was preoccupied with the phenomenological question of 'who are we?' and concerned with our tenacious habit of negative consciousness and the pessimistic culture which arises from it. "Consciousness without crisis", he noted in New Pathways in Psychology, "tends to become negative". But this is absurd. Why are we bored by perfectly pleasant circumstances until they're threatened or disappear? We all seem to have a quirk which never lets us appreciate anything unless a crisis takes it away from us – we find it hard to see what is right in front of us, and focus our full attention on it.
Personal Notes on Maslow, drawn from New Pathways in Psychology (1971) is an account of Wilson's correspondence with the humanist psychologist, instigated by Maslow himself after he read Wilson's early book, The Age of Defeat. Frustrated by the gloomy atmosphere of Freudianism and baffled by the pessimistic turn in post war culture, Maslow began to seek out the healthiest people he could find, and collected some very surprising results. All of these people, he found, , had experienced what he called 'peak experiences' (PE's), moments of serenity and joy, but in ordinary circumstances where there was otherwise nothing particular to be ecstatic about: a mother looking at her family eating breakfast, a hostess viewing the mess after a party. These people had suddenly became aware of things they previously took for granted, or barely noticed. A marine stationed into the Pacific who had not seen a woman for a few years 'peaked' when arriving offshore and noticed that women are different to men. It seems too obvious to even need stating, but he realised it with clarity, like Proust in Swann's Way remembering that he was a child in Combray after he tasted the tea and cake in the famous scene. Maslow thought that such peaks just happened randomly and couldn't be engineered, but Wilson had different ideas.
"I was able to point out to Maslow a possibility that he had overlooked" writes Wilson. "This was a concept I called 'the indifference threshold'". This recognises the fact that difficulties or crises can produce a deeper sense of meaning than comfortable circumstances ('consciousness without crisis tends to become negative'). Sartre felt more alive, more free, during his dangerous time in the French Resistance, much more than he did during peacetime when he was stating than man is a useless passion and being awarded the Nobel Prize. By realising that what we take for granted is threatened we direct more concentrated energy (intentionality, Husserl would have said) into protecting it. Yet ironically we don't bother much when it's already there. If we could hurl enough intentional power at so called 'ordinary' situations, life would become a permanent peak (or 'flow') experience. Phenomenology is the art of training our focusing muscles to grasp reality at all times and to cease frittering attention on minor problems and exaggerating our sense of 'meaninglessness'. This faculty or ability to grasp reality, drawn from Wilson's phenomenological 'new existentialist' researches of the fifties and sixties would be thoroughly analysed in books such as The Occult (1971) and it's sequel Mysteries (1978) here represented by the chapters Magic – the Science of the Future and The Ladder of Selves.
The Occult was Wilson's best critically received title since his debut. Still very useful as a history of hermetic thought, it is notable in that it introduced his theory of 'Faculty X' (previously the less snappy 'phenomenological faculty' in his sixties books) to readers. When Proust was reminded of his childhood in his novel Swann's Way, this 'peak experience' was a Faculty X moment. "Five minutes earlier, he could have said, 'Yes, I was a child in Combray' and no doubt described it in detail" says Wilson. But with his faculties wide awake he could say it and mean it – he was experiencing reality rather than a cheap carbon copy. Faculty X is the realisation of the reality of other times and places: "we know perfectly well that the past is as real as the present, and that New York and Singapore and Lhasa and Stepney Green are as real as this place I happen to be in at the moment. Yet my senses do not agree". However, Wilson insists that this is not an occult faculty like second sight or precognition, rather it is a pure potentiality of ordinary consciousness, often recognised by the best poets (it is 'occult' in the etymological sense in that it is generally hidden or submerged in consciousness). This chapter is probably Wilson's most thorough examination of it. The Ladder of Selves from Mysteries delves further into paranormal territory. Exhausted from overwork – remember that the book reviewed here was his 74th – Wilson suffered a series of debilitating panic attacks. True to his nature, he analysed these states as objectively as he possibly could, battering them into submission and bringing himself back to health. We can remember Fichte's answer to Descartes' statement 'I think therefore I am' – 'yes, but who are you?' – and think about Husserl's methods of stripping all illusions away to get to the 'true self' or transcendental ego and this is what wilson meant by the ladder of selves. "I get the feeling that the 'me' I know is some kind of temporary half measure" he comments on page 144. "On top of this, I begin to believe that the pessimists are making a fundamental mistake about the rules of the game. 'Meaning' is revealed by a kind of inner-searchlight. (This is just another way of stating Husserl's insight: Perception is Intentional)".
The notion of false selves isn't quite as unscientific as it sounds. The split brain research of Sperry and Ornstein is examined in two short pieces (The Other Mode, extrapolated from Frankenstein's Castle and the amusingly titled Laurel and Hardy Theory of Consciousness, from 1980 and 1979 respectively). Two sections from A Criminal History of Mankind (1984) take Julian Jaynes' notions of bicameral consciousness – similar to those of Sperry and Ornstein – into more disturbing territory: criminals appear to exist on the lowest rungs of this ladder. But there's still cause for optimism. One of the new additions here, The Future of Mankind, is taken from the updated 2005 edition of Criminal History; another, The Psychology of Optimism from the following year is something I've not come across before. All hover around the same problems, analysing them from different angles. This collection makes these connections accessible to the novice reader, and enquiring minds will doubtless wish to delve further into Wilson's catalogue, from whichever angle they want. A neat piece of continuity was once noted by Wilson scholar Howard F. Dossor. The Uncle Sam section of Wilson's 1963 novel The World of Violence, also partly included here, contained the line "I felt as if I had been transported into a city of gigantic and hairy spiders" (p. 224 of the present collection). This is virtually the plot of Wilson's Spider World fantasy series, written decades later – an excerpt (Inside The White Tower) from the first volume is now included in this updated edition.
Below the Iceberg (1998), the title piece from a very rare book about Sartre and post war thought, takes on the then fashionable philosophies of postmodernism and the deconstruction of Derrida, finding them lacking any real originality (Derrida began his career, like Sartre before him, by writing about Husserl; both generally misunderstood what Husserl meant by phenomenology and abandoned it quickly). Ironically enough, Wilson predated the current interest in Alfred North Whitehead – he's mentioned often throughout this book – and also the 21st century fashion for writing about philosophy and the weird fiction of HP Lovecraft (Discovery of the Vampires from The Mind Parasites, 1967). "Western man is in the position of a conductor who is unaware that he possesses an orchestra" writes Wilson in Active Imagination, originally from a short monograph on Jung. This quest to find our hidden potential and hold onto it is the central theme which emerges throughout these collected writings. Accessing this 'seventh degree of concentration' (a nod to Wilson's hero Shaw, and the title of one of the new inclusions) "is a fairly new problem for human beings." Use of the intellect has brought an enormous amount of material comfort to the modern Western world, but "this comfort has brought the curse of 'lukewarm' consciousness, and we long for a simple method of being able to summon those moments of 'Mozart and the stars'" as Hesse put it. "It seems to me", he continues, "that all this implies that mankind has a joint purpose, and that no writer is justified in declaring that human existence is meaningless". After all, if 'normal' consciousness is partial, as Husserl, Proust and split brain theory suggest, how can we make definitive statements about the totality of life from such a partial understanding? And, when Proust suggests he had ceased to feel mediocre, accidental or mortal during an ecstatic 'peak', does this not contradict the lazy cliches of Sartre, Beckett and other literary and philosophical pessimists? Wilson certainly thinks so, and these collected writings remain a concentrated cocktail of possibilities and insights which go far beyond the dull acceptance of how things apparently seem to us from our 'natural standpoint' (to use Husserl's term).
Wilson's boundless enthusiasm for what we could become flies off every page of this still essential collection.
[1] This edition presents an updated version of the original chapter from Beyond the Outsider (The Strange Story of Modern Philosophy) which later appeared in Superconsciousness, published by Watkins in 2009. Watkins have also republished The Occult and Mysteries. Their website is here.
Eagle and Earwig back in print
On October 2, 2018 October 2, 2018 By Philip CoulthardIn Colin Wilson, Existential Literary Criticism, Existentialism, Fiction, Gary Lachman, Phenomenology, William BlakeLeave a comment
New Edition 2018
Wilson's 1965 collection Eagle and Earwig, originally published by John Baker in 1965, gets it's first reissue in five decades by Eyewear Publishing. Now entitled Eagles and Earwigs, this hardcover edition has a new introduction by Wilson biographer Gary Lachman, annotations by Wilson's bibliographer Colin Stanley and is 412 pages long. Like The Age of Defeat, also just reprinted, Eagles and Earwigs is rare in it's original edition. Both titles show the development of Wilson's new existentialist thought, with Eagles and Earwigs being particularly strong on what he dubbed 'existential literary criticism' a technique for not separating an artists' personal attitudes from their work – the title comes from Aldous Huxley who gloried in the name of Earwig. The first essay in the book is a discussion of the modern (i.e. 1957) hero in literature and anticipates the central theme of The Age of Defeat, which was two years away. It's all relevant to the twenty-first century.
"It is my hope", wrote Wilson exactiy sixty years ago, "that within the next two decades, the techniques of existential thinking will become a commonplace in England and America". The opening words of Existential Criticism (the second essay here) were written a decade before the non-techniques of semiology and deconstruction began to influence the literary and philosophical departments of English and American universities, with postmodernism glibness becoming ubiquitous by the end of last century. Now commonplace and tedious, those reductionist techniques are a very tiresome cliche. Wilson's ideas, however, remain powerfully relevant to twenty-first century individuals wishing to go beyond the acceptance of meaninglessness, a problem which is possibly more relevant now than in 1958. "Our modern culture has seen a gradual decline in the in the tacit sense of human purpose, fostered by materialist philosophies […] Consequently the notion of 'prehension' of the human effort to assimilate and overcome, has begun to disappear from out literature. The tacit sense of human purpose has been tacitly dropped". Existential Criticism is a method to expose this unquestioned attitude rather than to wholeheartedly accept it whilst imagining that fine tuning linguistic ambiguities can free us from this 'romantic defeatism'.
First Edition, 1965
The 1965 essay Phenomenology and Literature is short, but it is one of the best introductions to Wilson's interest in Edmund Husserl. "Phenomenology regards itself as the philosophical method" Wilson says, but we can forget just how important a method it is unless we practice it – "for 'academic' means nothing if not 'limited'. We lose sight of the basic meaning of phenomenology if we forget that it is, at bottom, a mystical venture – the first mystical venture in human history to insist upon a strictly scientific method". Imagining a scenario where Husserl meets William Blake, Wilson thinks they would have shared common ground. "For if the word 'visionary' means to penetrate through obscurities to the underlying truth, then all science and all literature are visionary in intention". An essay on Nietzsche and Kierkegaard from 1964 finishes the first part (the book is divided into three sections: Literature and Philosophy, Individual Writers and The Writer and Society).
The second section has essays on Powys and Hemingway, on Lindsay's A Voyage to Arcturus, Madach's Tragedy of Man and Mark Twain. There's thoughts on the obscure L.H. Myers, The Shaw Problem and an amusing essay on Ayn Rand. Wilson receives a letter from Rand's 'organisation' which reads: "Miss Rand would be very pleased to hear of your interest in her work – when and if you correct your offense against it in the same terms that the offense was committed: that is, publicly". This section ends with ruminations on Henry Williamson, a contemporary of Myers, who wrote children's favourite Tarka the Otter and whose reputation was tarnished due to his right wing politics (rather like Wyndham Lewis). The third section concludes the volume with rather more personal thoughts on publicity and writers (1959), particularly Wilson's own brush with fame in 1956, and The Success Problem from the year after. "We are living, I think, in one of the most culturally treacherous ages that has ever beset Western civilzation". In the final essay, Personal: Influences on my Writing (1958) Wilson states that he has nothing in common with the Angry Young Men "except my age", preferring to align himself with "the tradition of an intellectual creation with it's roots in analysis" which has the "eventual aim of […] a new form of self-consciousness". Wilson would develop this through his new existentialist 'foundation work' in the next decade, and thereafter by analysing the darkest corners of human behaviour while all the time remaining an optimistic philosopher.
Eagles and Earwigs can be purchased for £20 via Amazon. More information about Eyewear Publishing here.
On September 13, 2017 September 13, 2017 By Philip CoulthardIn Colin Wilson, Existential Literary Criticism, Existentialism, Fiction, Gurdjieff, Lost Civilisations, Music, Occult, Ouspensky, Phenomenology, Robert Musil, The Work2 Comments
After the success of the first conference – see the post below – a second one will be held next year on the 6th of July. The full details are –
The Second International Colin Wilson Conference; University of Nottingham, Kings Meadow Campus, Lenton Lane, Nottingham, NG7 2NR. To be held on Friday the 6th of July, between 9:30 – 17:10. Eight speakers will present papers, there will be discussion, refreshments, and a tour of the huge Colin Wilson archive housed in the University. There are only 55 places in total and tickets for Friday are £36.50 – email Colin Stanley at stan2727uk@aol.com or call/fax 0115-9863334. Please be aware that tickets will sell fast. There will also be a rare chance to see an operetta co-authored by Colin Wilson on Saturday – for those who wish to attend both this and the conference the ticket price is £42.
Nicholas Tredell – Voyager and Dreamer: Colin Wilson's Autobiographical Writing
Davd Moore – The Evolutionary Metaphors of Colin Wilson
Gary Lachman – The Outsider and The Work: Colin Wilson, Gurdjieff and Ouspensky
George C. Poulos – The Importance of The Outsider
Jason Reza Jorjani – Understanding The Atlantean Mind
Vaughan Rapahatna – The Hunt for Colin Wilson's Lulu
Brendan McNamee – Body, Mind, Heart: 3 Aspects of Mysticism in Robert Musil's The Man Without Qualities
Jonathan Lewsey – Colin Wilson and Music
Special Event, Saturday the 7th of July, 10:00 – 12:30, at the George Suite, Mercure Hotel, Nottingham: Leon Berger introduces a special showing of Donald Swann and Colin Wilson's operetta The Man With a Thousand Faces.
On September 11, 2017 September 12, 2017 By Philip CoulthardIn Colin Wilson, Criminology, Existential Literary Criticism, Existentialism, Fiction, Occult, Paupers' Press, Phenomenology6 Comments
More vintage Wilson reissued
On August 2, 2014 August 2, 2014 By Philip CoulthardIn Existential Literary Criticism, Fiction, Music, Phenomenology, William Blake1 Comment
Wilson's long out of print work on music, The Brandy of the Damned, has been reissued by Foruli Classics. "Dedicated to bringing the best music and popular culture books back into print." I'm not sure if this is the shorter UK version or the expanded US version, but it incorporates some of the artwork from the UK version of the latter (confused?) which was published by Pan as Colin Wilson on Music. Phew! Meanwhile, Geoff Ward provides an introduction to a very welcome reissue of The Glass Cage. Published by Valancourt, it's also available for Kindle.
Ritual in the Dark essay
On May 5, 2013 By Philip CoulthardIn Colin Wilson, Existential Literary Criticism, Fiction, Paupers' Press, Phenomenology1 Comment
There's a lengthy appreciative essay by Colin Stanley on Ritual in the Dark at the London Fictions website here. There's interesting photos throughout the essay too.


In silico PCR with BAM files?
Question: In silico PCR with BAM files?
I have a .fa file for my organism and several .bam files for my isolates. I have designed some PCR primers for the isolates. Are there any programs that would allow me to run In silico PCR with the bam files?
Hi zaroteary, Maybe you can convert your bam files to fasta - check BAM/SAM to FASTA conversion and then use in-silico PCR from UCSC ( download http://hgwdev.cse.ucsc.edu/~kent/exe/linux/isPcr.zip).


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text:
Blair Witch Volume III: The Elly Kedward Tale — компьютерная игра в жанре survival horror, разработанная Ritual Entertainment и выпущенная Gathering of Developers. Игра вышла только на Windows в 2000 году. Игра является третьей в серии игр, основанной на фильме «Ведьма из Блэр: Курсовая с того света».

Сюжет
Являясь сюжетным приквелом, заключительная часть трилогии посвящена истории, произошедшей за полтора века до событий первого эпизода и задействует некоторых из его персонажей. Несмотря на название игры, ведьма Элли Кедвард () в ней не появляется.

Главный герой — священник и охотник на ведьм Джонатан Прай (), призрак и дневник которого фигурировали в первом эпизоде. Кризис веры побуждает Прая в феврале 1786 года отправиться в посёлок Блэр (будущий Бёркиттсвилль), по слухам страдающий от великого зла. Прибыв в Блэр, Прай узнаёт, что поселенцы приписывают все беды некой Элли Кедвард, ранее обвинённой в колдовстве. Кедвард была изгнана из города и оставлена умирать в лесу, однако тело её не нашли, после чего в Блэр начали исчезать дети. Жители в ужасе бежали из поселения, остались только несколько людей: глава города Иона (Jonah), священник Хейл Гудфеллоу и двое заключенных в местной тюрьме — пьяница Хиррум Хитоу и подозреваемая в ведьмостве Элизабет Стайлер.

В ходе расследования Прай встречается с индейским шаманом Асгайей, также знакомым по первому эпизоду игры. Шаман рассказывает ему об истинном корне местного зла — тёмном духе Хекайтомиксе, которого индейцы издревле задабривали подношениями. Не получив аналогичного уважения от белых, Хекайтомикс возненавидел всех людей и принялся похищать и убивать их потомство. Асгайя сообщает Праю, что для победы над Хекайтомиксом требуется спасти детей, которых готовят к ритуальным жертвоприношениям на трёх астральных планах — физическом, призрачном (завоёванном Хекайтомиксом) и демоническом (являющимся домашним миром Хекайтомикса).

Вернувшись из демонического плана, Прай сталкивается с Элизабет Стайлер, которая сознаётся, что является слугой и сосудом Хекайтомикса в физическом плане. Прай побеждает её (либо убив её, либо выполнив обряд экзорцизма). В игре предусмотрено два варианта концовки в зависимости от того, как была побеждена Элизабет. Если она была убита, жители поселения благодарят Прая за спасение детей и предлагают остаться в Блэр. Если Элизабет осталась жива, то она благодарит Прая за помощь и предлагает остаться с ней. В обоих случаях, Прай, преодолев кризис веры, отказывается от предложения и решает вернуться к своей пастве.

Игровой процесс
Игра делает упор на экшн-составляющую, квестовый элемент практически отсутствует. По сравнению с предыдущими эпизодами значительно уменьшены объёмы текста, количество диалогов и активных персонажей, с которыми взаимодействует игрок. Урезано разнообразие противников, среди врагов превалируют зомби. Между тем присутствует семь боссов (больше, чем в двух предыдущих играх, вместе взятых).

Особенностью третьей части стали получаемые игроком по мере прохождения индейские и христианские артефакты, позволяющие использовать против врагов различную магию (соответственно, в игре появился дополнительный ресурс маны).

Критика

Blair Witch Volume III: The Elly Kedward Tale получила смешанные и средние оценки, согласно агрегатору рецензий Metacritic игра получила среднюю оценку 55 %.

К октябрю 2001 году в США было распродано всего лишь 8500 копий игры.

Примечания

Ссылки
 Blair Witch Volume 3: The Elly Kedward Tale  на сайте Gamespot
 Blair Witch Volume 3: The Elly Kedward Tale  на сайте IGN

Компьютерные игры 2000 года
Игры для Windows
Компьютерные игры по мотивам фильмов
Survival horror
Ведьма из Блэр

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia