text:
Remembering a catastrophe that won't go away
Two years on, Japan's tsunami and nuclear disaster casts a long, terrifying shadow. Survivors talk to Neil McMahon about the struggle to recover.
By Neil McMahon
March 11, 2013 — 3.00am
Just because you'll never forget doesn't mean you'll always want to remember. A year ago, on the first anniversary of the disaster in Japan that wrenched her heart and stopped the world in its tracks, Keiko Egusa found it hard to talk about all that it meant - the indelible memories, the inevitable fears.
But in 2013, settled in Australia and perhaps with the perspective of distance as well as time, she is ready. She can share her story of those awful days that began on the afternoon of March 11, 2011. She can talk of the fears that lurk two years after a disaster that seems conjured from our darkest dreams: an earthquake, then a tsunami, then a nuclear catastrophe.
It is the latter that prompts Egusa's most startling description of the demons that have settled in the minds of some Japanese people since the Fukushima nuclear power plant explosion: the admission of vast relief that she and her family are now free of a land where many people live with the fear of radiation contamination.
''Frankly speaking, personally speaking - my husband and I were so relieved to leave,'' says Egusa, who now lives in Melbourne and works at the city's Japanese consulate.
Relieved to be away from danger: Keiko Egusa, with her husband and children, jumped at the chance to return to Australia. Credit:Justin McManus
''I have two children, a six-year-old boy, a 12-year-old girl. [In Tokyo] my husband was so worried, he was much more worried than I do, about radiation, and about the side effects of radiation for children - even in Tokyo he was so much worried about it. But now I am relieved, so relieved.''
It is a statement made even more compelling when you understand that Egusa's entire family live in a part of Japan far closer to the radiation zone than low-risk Tokyo. She at first found her husband's concerns difficult to accept.
''We have quarrelled about it so many times because my sisters and my cousins live in these areas, and my husband would say it is so dangerous,'' she says.
It is also a reminder that to mark the anniversary of the March 11 disaster is not merely a ceremonial nod to an event confined to its moment in time. It is to take fresh stock of a living disaster - the poisoning of air, land and water - its end not in sight, its impacts yet unknown.
Permanent reminder: a fishing boat washed ashore by the tsunami sits in a deserted port area in Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture, northeastern Japan, at dawn on Monday 11 March, 2013. Credit:AP
Then there are the things we do know, the memories of the slowly unfolding horror across our screens as the impact of the deadly wave became apparent and as Japan tallied its missing and grieved its dead (in the end, more than 15,000 people perished). Given the size of the Japanese diaspora, these are memories carried around in countries far beyond Japan.
In Australia, there are women such as Egusa, whose mind can take her back to that afternoon in an instant as the news unfolded, with frightening warnings of what was to come in the coastal area that was home to her mother and father.
This combination photo shows an aerial view of Otsuchi, Iwate prefecture on April 10, 2011, left, and March 4, 2013. Credit:AP
''They were saying, a big tsunami is coming so please go away, warnings, warnings, all the way warnings. And half an hour later, they recorded that they had found bodies. I watched it on the TV - I was thinking, 'Oh my god, my parents have passed away'. The live image [was from] exactly the same area where my parents lived. How can I describe the feeling? Speechless. I called my father's mobile and that didn't work. I called my uncle's mobile, didn't work. My sisters, my cousins, my sisters-in-law. Nothing.''
Egusa was living in Tokyo then, fresh from her first experience of Australia as a senior diplomat in the Japanese consulate in Sydney. She had spent three years there, then returned to Tokyo. On that March afternoon, she was busy moving house with her family when she got word of the earthquake. It would be days of agony before she knew whether her parents, both in their 70s, had survived.
Tsunami: waves wash over land in Iwanuma, northern Japan. Credit:AP
I watched it on the TV - I was thinking, 'Oh my god, my parents have passed away'
''They didn't realise that a tsunami was coming. They fell down on the floor, but they survived and they moved up to the first floor and waited for rescue for a day. They saw the neighbours next to them washed away by the tsunami. It was very lucky that my father and mother didn't take the decision to go away, with a car. They saw the people around them rushing into cars and trying to get away from the coast. They saw the people around them washed away.''
Egusa's parents survived, but their house was destroyed.
A mannequin's arm sticks out from the rubble in a devastated neighbourhood of Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture. Credit:AP
In other areas - away from the tsunami's deadly path, but closer to the Fukushima plant - people were facing an entirely different peril.
Like Egusa, Noriko Tadano was forced to watch the catastrophe unfold on television and to wonder if the worst had happened. Her extended family all lived near the reactor. But Tadano was far away - in Australia, which she has made her home since 2004.
This combination photo shows a view of Minamisanriku, Miyagi prefecture, on March 13, 2011, top, and on March 2, 2013. Credit:AP
''For everyone else it was things happening in Japan,'' Tadano says. ''But for me it was things happening in my family.''
Tadano is a celebrity in the Japanese community, as an accomplished musician (her main instrument is the Japanese banjo, or shamisen) and on March 11 two years ago she was with a group of musician friends when the first news filtered through.
''Japan has a lot of earthquakes, so we didn't picture it as it turned out to be … but when I came home and saw the news on the TV, I just couldn't believe what was happening. I couldn't imagine it.''
Her relatives survived, but their losses were immense - none have been able to return to their homes and farms and businesses, which were so close to Fukushima the danger has been deemed too great. Japanese authorities have been criticised for their handling of the disaster almost from the first day, and Tadano confirms emotions are still running high. ''They just can't bear the anger.''
And yet, she says: ''So many bad memories, but at that time a lot of people put in so much effort to support each other, I think we should think of that … a lot of people came together to bring Japan back to what was before. I hope the people remember what happened.''
In Japan, in the worst-affected areas still trying to rebuild their lives and communities, this simple hope - the importance of being remembered, of keeping the world's focus on their plight - was vividly obvious to Australian businessman Tomohiro Matsuoka when he visited in January.
''All the people I talked to said the same thing, that in addition to their frustration, one of the things they can't face is being forgotten - being forgotten by the rest of Japan, being forgotten by the rest of the world.''
Matsuoka is a member of Japanese for Peace, an Australian organisation whose previous focus had been on keeping alive the memory of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Its anti-nuclear focus has found fresh intensity in the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster, and the nuclear-power debate in Japan is one Australians are obliged to take an interest in, Matsuoka says - after all, our uranium was being used in the Fukushima reactors.
''It's not just something that's happening out there,'' he says. ''We are actually related to it.''
This week, Matsuoka is guiding a Japanese delegation on an Australian visit to mark the March 11 anniversary. The visitors arrived in Melbourne on Saturday on a tour that will also take them to Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane and Darwin. Among them are the prominent peace activist Akira Kawasaki, and Hasegawa Kenichi, a dairy farmer turned political activist from a village that was entirely evacuated - forever - after the disaster.
''I hope that hearing my story is an opportunity for people to understand more about the ongoing situation in Fukushima,'' Kenichi says in a statement. ''It is important to make sure that what is happening in Fukushima is not forgotten.''
Matsuoka says he left Japan in January with the impression ordinary people were reluctant to express their opposition to nuclear power. ''The country was so embedded with nuclear it is still very hard to speak against … there is this kind of pressure not to raise the issue. That's why they're so frustrated, they want to speak out but they don't have the opportunity to express their opinion.''
Giving disaster victims a voice - and doing all she can to raise money to support them - is also the driving force for Lesley Kehoe, whose stature as an Australian friend of Japan was in place long before the disaster. Kehoe has immersed herself in Japanese culture for several decades, and is a world-regarded specialist in Japanese art.
She opened her Melbourne gallery, Lesley Kehoe Galleries on Collins Street, two years ago. A room jammed with influential members of the Japanese community were on hand for the event; it promised to be a memorable Friday evening.
The date? March 11, 2011.
''Everyone's phones started going off at once,'' Kehoe recalls in an interview from Tokyo, where she is travelling for business.
Since that night, Kehoe has made raising money and awareness a priority, including hosting charity events at her gallery and visiting Fukushima in 2012 to see the destruction firsthand.
''It was really hard to comprehend the level of destruction,'' she says. ''There is no sense of life. Life has been wiped out totally.''
Reconstruction and recovery efforts have a long way to go, she adds, and now is not the time to avert our gaze.
''It's important because there are still massive problems,'' she says. ''It's two years later and people think everything is OK. It's not. And two years is a long time for people living with it.''
A long time indeed. As Keiko Egusa says, the passage of those two years means it's time to speak up, not to move on. ''Last year for me it was difficult to tell all these stories, but now I am able to talk a little bit about my family. Maybe it's time - and now I am able to do that.''
Most Viewed in World


text:
PHOTOS: Denver Broncos beat New England Patriots
SportsNFLDenver Broncos
Denver Broncos linebacker Malik Reed (59) celebrates after tackling New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton (1) in the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020.
Denver Broncos kicker Brandon McManus (8) kicks a 54-yard field goal in the third quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020. McManus kicked six field goals in the game, Broncos won 18-12.
Denver Broncos offensive tackle Garett Bolles (72) congratulates Denver Broncos kicker Brandon McManus (8) after McManus kicked a 54-yard field goal against the New England Patriots in the third quarter at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020.
New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton (1) during a pregame warm-up before playing the Denber Broncos at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020.
Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay (30) greets players coming out onto the field for warmups before playing the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020.
New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton (1) greets New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) during warmups at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020.
Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock (3) throws a complete pass to Denver Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick (81) against the New England Patriots in the first quarter at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020.
Denver Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick (81) gains yards after a reception from Drew Lock against the New England in the quarter at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020.
Denver Broncos linebacker Malik Reed (59) keeps an eye on New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton (1) in the first quarter at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020.
New England Patriots running back Damien Harris (37) finds running room against Denver Broncos inside linebacker Josey Jewell (47), left, and Denver Broncos linebacker Malik Reed (59) in the quarter at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020.
Denver Broncos outside linebacker Bradley Chubb (55) and Denver Broncos cornerback Bryce Callahan (29) celebrate with Denver Broncos defensive end DeShawn Williams (90) after Williams got an interception against the the New England Patriots in the first quarter at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020.
Denver Broncos defensive end DeShawn Williams (90) celebrates after his interception against the the New England Patriots in the first quarter at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020. Denver Broncos outside linebacker Bradley Chubb (55) celebrates with his teammate.
Denver Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick (81) makes a reception on a long pass against New England Patriots cornerback Jason McCourty (30) in the third quarter at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020.
Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (10) gains yardage after a reception against New England Patriots defensive back Jonathan Jones (31) in the third quarter at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020.
Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay (30) looses one of his cleats running past a host of New England Patriots in the third quarter at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020.
Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock (3) gets knocked out of bounds by New England Patriots free safety Devin McCourty (32) in the third quarter at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020. New England Patriots defensive back Jonathan Jones (31), left, and New England Patriots defensive end Chase Winovich (50), second from left were in on the play preventing Lock form a touchdown.
Denver Broncos free safety Justin Simmons (31) heads down field towards New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) after a fumble recovery in the third quarter at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020.
Denver Broncos cornerback Bryce Callahan (29) intercepts a ball intended for New England Patriots wide receiver N'Keal Harry (15) in the third quarter at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020.
Denver Broncos cornerback Bryce Callahan (29) celebrates with teammates after an interception against the New England Patriots in the third quarter at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020.
Denver Broncos DL Timmy Jernigan (77) pressures New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton (1) in the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020.
New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton (1) pushes forward with the office line for a touchdown on a keeper against the Denver Broncos in the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020.
Denver Broncos linebacker Malik Reed (59) takes down New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton (1) in the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020. Denver Broncos inside linebacker A.J. Johnson (45) and New England Patriots offensive guard Hjalte Froholdt (64) were in on the play.
Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock (3) throws under pressure to Denver Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick (81) in the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020.
New England Patriots defensive back Jonathan Jones (31) intercepts Denver Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick (81) in the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020. New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) defends on the play.
Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020.
New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton (1) runs down the sidelines after a pass reception from New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) in the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020.
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) throws to New England Patriots running back James White (28) across the field under pressure from Denver Broncos cornerback Bryce Callahan (29) in the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020.
Denver Broncos cornerback Michael Ojemudia (23) breaks up a pass intended for New England Patriots wide receiver Damiere Byrd (10) in the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020.
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, left, and Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio meet on the field after the Broncos defeated the Patriots 18-12 at Gillette Stadium Oct. 18, 2020.
By Andy Cross | across@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: October 18, 2020 at 12:45 p.m. | UPDATED: October 18, 2020 at 4:46 p.m.
The Denver Broncos beat the New England Patriots 18-12 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020. Kicker Brandon McManus made a franchise-record six field goals, helping the Broncos overcome not scoring any touchdowns and two Drew Lock fourth-quarter interceptions.
Read more: Broncos survive late Patriots rally, get first win in New England since 2006
Broncos highlights
Denver Broncos photos
Andy Cross | Photographer
A Denver Post staff photojournalist for more than 20 years, Andy Cross grew up in Denver and studied photojournalism at both the Colorado Institute of Art and the Metropolitan State College of Denver. In addition to covering daily assignments and photo projects, he has covered major Colorado news and sporting events, including the Columbine and Aurora mass shootings, forest fires, flooding, the 2008 Democratic National Convention, two Super Bowls and the World Series.
across@denverpost.com
Follow Andy Cross	@acrossphoto

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


christana . PlayfulKat. Yurysexy8U. a0SeductiveDoll.
1LittleNikkyYvesMariejoybookAnittaPERFECT .LoveLyJuiLiaLongLeggedAppleitsALLaboutLOVESexyTopEbony .FallenAngeelSophieLoveeLUCYANDERIKHotfunn .SweetMeBadDorothyDejaVu01NastyaRayDianaOcean .SofiAndJasonCallieVxSasharose44PharaXXDiaz .MelodycoolVelvetClarissaYvesMarieBBTenderness .LongLeggedAppleQueencristalla0SeductiveDollJennyHillsX .beautymariajosexANDREI85YvesMarieimpressivegirl1 .JennyHillsXxKarinaVelezxa0SeductiveDollCrazyAmmy .SmokingChavWonderMilanajoybookChadMurphy .LauryPassionAsianTwinkCheDorothyDejaVuSmokingChav .
MelodycoolHanaWeiMakoSunXDinaRaye .PharaXXDiazYvesMarieCristineLee1LittleNikky .LeiilaFordbeautymariajosexLeandroFtStebanSEXISANDY .SabrinaSantosSabrinaSantoshotkarla18AndyTwinkX .CrazyAmmyMagicDiamondxxAsianTwinkCheQueencristall .hotkarla18hotkarla18LovelyFunkKatrinaRay .GKMistressManiaSerahGraceSofiAndJasonDinaRaye .KristyLusciousFallenAngeelPedroandSamantaHoneyCunney .GritarobinybatmanitsALLaboutLOVEAndriuTs .DaniellaCassieLovelyFunkhotkarla18SabrinaSantos .OscarRollandAmberLuxLuckyMayaDhavidd .


text:
NJ Man Charged After 30 People Gather For Acoustic Pink Floyd Concert
By Andrew Magnotta @710WOR Apr 6, 2020
A New Jersey man is facing charges after 30 people gathered on his front lawn to hear him and another man play some of Pink Floyd's greatest hits on acoustic guitars.
John Maldjian, 54, was charged with reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and two other charges related to violating the state's emergency orders and allegedly hosting a party at his property on Blackpoint Road in Rumson.
Police said that most of the attendees were adults, between ages 40 and 50, and were mostly sitting or standing at least six feet apart.
Officers interrupted the show as Maldjian and another man performed Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here," but the men — who were broadcasting the occasion on Facebook Live — reportedly didn't stop playing until an officer approached them.
Rumson Police said via Facebook that people in attendance shouted 'F--- the police' at them and compared them to Nazis as they broke up the gathering, in accordance with Governor Phil Murphy's executive order to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Murphy has railed against 'corona parties' in recent weeks — social gatherings in spite of widespread calls for distancing — and has repeatedly warned residents that people hosting such events would be prosecuted.
"The time for warnings is over, the time to ensure compliance is here," said State Attorney General Gurbir Grewal at a March 23 news conference with Murphy.
Charges related to the audience members are pending, police said.
"The Rumson Police Department takes no enjoyment in ruining anyone's fun!" the department added via Facebook. "However we ALL have a responsibility to take this pandemic SERIOUSLY and adhere to social distancing requirement."
"We also need to be a good role model for our children and be kind and understanding during these times," the statement continued, before warning that if officers need to respond to another corona party, there will be 'zero tolerance.'
Violating social distancing requirements in New Jersey come with penalties of up to six months in jail and fines of up to $1,000.


On Tuesday reader F. reported that the long-dormant Exxon at South Capitol and I was being demolished; and today neighboring blogger DG_Rad has Tweeted that the not-quite-as-long-dormant Exxon at 11th and M is being torn down today. There's been no big movements that I've heard for either of these lots, both of which were "sold" by the main ExxonMobil Corporation to its nonprofit ExxonMobil Foundation. Perhaps the city's recent blighted property tax doings spurred the demos?
[Here's the] link to a DOJ press release [now dead, alas] from January detailing that the Exxon's owner pleaded guilty "to fraudulently double-billing government contractors more than $120,000. [Mahmud] Rashid, 46, of Raleigh Lane, Stafford, Virginia, entered a plea of guilty yesterday in United States District Court to one count of wire fraud. According to the terms of the plea agreement, Rashid could be sentenced to between 12 to 18 months of incarceration when he is sentenced before the Honorable Richard J. Leon on June 2, 2006."
Digging in the DC land records database late on a Friday afternoon (isn't that what everyone does to get ready for the weekend?), I see that the ExxonMobil Corporation deeded its land at South Capitol and I in November to the ExxonMobil Foundation. There's nothing stated in the deed about any planned uses for the land, except to spell out restrictions on future uses and requirements for cleanup since the site may have contaminated soil. As for the foundation itself, a little blurb describes it as the "primary philanthropic arm of the Exxon Mobil Corporation in the United States. The Foundation and the Corporation engage in a range of philanthropic activities that advance education, health and science in the communities where ExxonMobil has significant operations." Is this the prelude to selling the land (assessed at $16 million in 2008) and having the foundation get the proceeds? Or is something else afoot?
Time again to dig into the What's the Deal With....? mailbag. Reader BH has asked about the two boarded-up gas stations and the old KFC along South Capitol Street, wondering when they're going to be demolished.
I have no answer, alas, for the former Exxon station on the east side of the street at I, which has been closed since May 2006 after its owner pleaded guilty to double-billing government contractors for more than $120,000; JPI was apparently somewhat interested in acquiring it so that they could build 23 I on the entire block, but that doesn't seem to have happened.
The KFC/Taco Bell closed in June after being bought by Ruben Companies, which has long-term plans for an office building on the site, to match their SC1100 on the east side of the street and 21 L Street to the north. However, they are not planning to demolish the KFC anytime soon, and in fact are looking to rent the space to a food-related business in the near-to-medium term.
But there was big news tucked into the press release touting what JPI is now calling its "Capitol Yards" neighborhood along I Street (with 70 and 100 I Street across the way from 909 New Jersey about to sprout out of their deep hole): the announcement of plans for 23 I Street, a fourth JPI residential project on I Street, slated to have 421 residential units and as much as 35,000 square feet of retail space. Its location would be on the south side of I Street between Half and South Capitol, from Half over to (and including) the current Wendy's lot. (The moribund Exxon station does not currently appear to be part of the plans.) Construction wouldn't start before 2008. I haven't added it to my main map yet, but I've put up a few boring shots of what the block looks like as of now.
With that, the number of not-spoken-for lots in Near Southeast has just about dwindled to zero. Pretty much there's the block on New Jersey across from Capitol Hill Tower (though Akridge now owns a portion of it), the Exxon at South Capitol and I if JPI doesn't grab it, and the Metro Chiller Plant on the southwest corner of Half and L, which might not be made available anytime soon. (And I'm assuming that the rumors of Monument Realty picking up the Sunoco site at 50 M are true.) Everything else west of 7th Street is now spoken for. So if you were hoping to make your millions in Near Southeast and you haven't already staked your claim, your time's just about up, unless you can wrest some parcels out of some other developer's hands.
UPDATE, 6/11: Five days later, here's the Post's blurb on Capitol Yards.
The Exxon at South Capitol and I streets has apparently shut down--a correspondent reports that the building is boarded up, and their phone number has been disconnected. Their page on exxonstations.com says "Temp. Closed", but it would seem odd that a temporary closing would result in a disconnected phone number. I've heard nothing about a sale of that property, but certainly it could be considered a somewhat prime location (although that's a ghastly intersection). Will pass along more as I find out.
UPDATE: From another very on-the-ball correspondent, a link to a DOJ press release from January detailing that the Exxon's owner pleaded guilty "to fraudulently double-billing government contractors more than $120,000. [Mahmud] Rashid, 46, of Raleigh Lane, Stafford, Virginia, entered a plea of guilty yesterday in United States District Court to one count of wire fraud. According to the terms of the plea agreement, Rashid could be sentenced to between 12 to 18 months of incarceration when he is sentenced before the Honorable Richard J. Leon on June 2, 2006." As my correspondent noted, "this might help shut down your gas station."


text:
March 31 is the deadline to apply for Community Grants
"We are looking for ideas that will enhance the quality of life, build relationships and improve community connections."
By Chris Barnett | March 09, 2022
The Rhode Island Foundation is offering local libraries, schools, neighborhood groups and nonprofit organizations grants of up to $10,000 to fund proposals that bring people together as a community. March 31 is the deadline to apply.
"Our goal is to support work that will enliven neighborhoods and build lasting bonds among residents," said Jenny Pereira, vice president of grants and community investments.
Since launching the Community Grants program in 2016, the Foundation has awarded nearly $2.5 million to hundreds of projects across Rhode Island. Work has ranged from creating performance spaces and urban farms, to hosting neighborhood meals and making historic places and nature preserves more accessible to the public.
Last year's recipients include the Jamestown Community Chorus, which received $5,000 to support a community-wide talent show; the Little Compton Community Center, which received $6,995 to launch the Little Compton Collective Action Network; the Pontiac Village Association in Warwick, which received $5,000 to make the Pontiac Village Park playground more accessible for children with mobility related challenges; and the Narragansett Historical Society, which received $10,000 to install signage that marks the town's history.
Proposals should spark community engagement at the local level, be easily accessible, create new or enhance existing partnerships, be relevant to the particular community, promote the role of shared public spaces as local anchors, be doable and demonstrate a meaningful impact.
Priority will be given to proposals that include community support such as matching grants, the participation of volunteers and donated space and other forms of in-kind contributions. Other considerations may include whether projects are led by or serve historically marginalized groups, including people who identify as Asian, Black, Hispanic or Latino, Indigenous or multiracial.
While both new initiatives and enhancements to existing projects are eligible, the grants are intended to support one-time costs and expenses. Applicants will not be eligible for renewed funding for the same project in future years. Capital campaigns, endowments, for-profit entities, individuals, political groups and lobbying efforts are not eligible.
For more information about applying for a Community Grant, visit rifoundation.org.
The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. Working with generous and visionary donors, the Foundation raised $98 million and awarded $76 million in grants last year. Through leadership, fundraising and grant-making activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is helping Rhode Island reach its true potential.
More from Media releases
La Fundación de Rhode Island y la Oficina Ejecutiva de Salud y Servicios Humanos se asocian para lanzar dos programas de subvenciones financiados con los ingresos del Acuerdo de Conciliación de Opioides del Estado
Nonprofits can apply for $3.25 million for opioid recovery and prevention services
Rhode Island Foundation offering nearly $290,000 in grants to serve Newport County residents
All news and publications


text:
F T I YT L
SFU News
President statements
Issues and Experts
Media Releases 2022
Supporting an aging population experiencing homelessness: SFU research
Improving supports for older adults who experience homelessness in three major Canadian cities is the focus of an ongoing study being led by Simon Fraser University adjunct professor Sarah Canham.
The research builds on a pilot study that documented evidence-based interventions, in shelter and housing services that support persons with experiences of homelessness for people aged 50 and older in Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary – cities that have seen a dramatic increase in homelessness among the 50+ age group. Their new project will evaluate these promising practices to improve services for those who are experiencing homelessness.
"This trend is expected to continue as Canada faces an aging population, increasing urbanization and an ongoing shortage of affordable housing," says Canham. "Younger baby boomers are particularly at-risk for homelessness due to life course disadvantages associated with competitive job and housing markets and resulting challenges in accumulating assets to protect against housing insecurity."
The team will conduct evaluations of 11 shelter/housing practices to determine which are most useful in supporting Aging in the Right Place (AIRP), focusing on four programs in Calgary and Vancouver and three in Montreal. Researchers will conduct interviews with providers and clients, analyze intakes and conduct environmental audits.
Their findings will help to inform decision-makers on issues related to housing, homelessness, health and social service provider's design and delivery of services.
Older adults have unique challenges such as health and mobility issues often requiring support to live alone. According to Canham, research shows that they face harassment and bullying in emergency shelters from those who are younger than them.
Aging in place—for some, that means the home they have always occupied—may not be possible and researchers suggest the focus should be on aging in the right place, with the right supports for the complex needs of this cohort.
The pilot study identified several categories of shelter/housing for older persons with experiences of homelessness including:
• Emergency, temporary, or transitional shelter/housing with supports
• Independent housing with offsite supports
• Supported independent housing with onsite non-medical supports
• Permanent supportive housing (PSH) with onsite medical support and/or specialized services
• Long- term care
• Palliative care/hospice
Other SFU researchers involved in the project include Habib Chaudhury, professor and gerontology chair; Atiya Mahmood, gerontology associate professor; Julian Somers health sciences, distinguished professor; Andy Yan, director of SFU's City Program; and Rachel Weldrick, postdoctoral fellow.
AVAILABLE SFU EXPERTS
SARAH CANHAM, adjunct professor, gerontology
scanham@sfu.ca
RACHEL WELDRICK, postdoctoral fellow, AIRP
rachel_weldrick@sfu.ca
MELISSA SHAW, SFU Communications & Marketing
236.880.3297 | melissa_shaw@sfu.ca
Communications & Marketing | SFU Media Experts Directory
ABOUT SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
As Canada's engaged university, SFU works with communities, organizations and partners to create, share and embrace knowledge that improves life and generates real change. We deliver a world-class education with lifelong value that shapes change-makers, visionaries and problem-solvers. We connect research and innovation to entrepreneurship and industry to deliver sustainable, relevant solutions to today's problems. With campuses in British Columbia's three largest cities—Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey—SFU has eight faculties that deliver 193 undergraduate degree programs and 144 graduate degree programs to more than 37,000 students. The university now boasts more than 170,000 alumni residing in 145+ countries.


text:
GothamJoe
Joe Laszlo's online home
Museum Project
Posted on May 1, 2018 by Joe Laszlo
Statue of Liberty Museum
Edification value
Should you go?
123 minutes (not counting time going through security, waiting for the ferry, or on the ferry)
Best thing I saw or learned
I'd never given much thought to the Statue of Liberty's pedestal. So the story of its design — and the near failure of the effort to raise the money to build it — fascinated me. Yes, it's like choosing frame over the painting, but still.
Think how different she'd look if they'd gone with a stepped, Aztec-looking pyramid as her base. Or something Egyptian revival.
There aren't all that many museums built to honor a single work of art. Right? I assert that and now suddenly I'm unsure of myself. In New York, there's Walter de Maria's Earth Room. And I think of the Hall of Fame for Great Americans as a single, unified whole, even though many busts of great men (and a few women) comprise it. And the Statue of Liberty Museum makes three.
Lady Liberty
The Statue of Liberty Museum occupies a substantial space in Liberty's pedestal. It tells the story of the genesis, engineering, construction, and gifting of the statue, as well as her absolutely iconic role as a symbol of freedom, democracy, New York, and the United States. Among other treasures, it includes the statue's original torch, glass and lit from inside.
However, the museum is, I'd say, just adequate. Windowless, somewhat cramped, and almost certainly not equal to the crowds that visit Liberty and Ellis Islands during peak tourist season. I got there on one of the first ferries of the day, which I highly recommend. It's probably not so fun to visit at midday.
Statue of Liberty Museum, interior
The National Park Service is in the process of building a glassy, grassy, glossy, larger, and ultramodern Statue of Liberty Museum on the island (due to open sometime next year). That's definitely a good idea and not beforetime.
Future Statue of Liberty Museum
But there's something special about seeing the statue's story told in her late 19th century foundation. I'm not sure the glassy, glossy, modern, green museum will resonate the same way. So I hope they continue to use the space for something, even if I'm not sure what.
There's a comprehensive self-guided audio tour available. I highly recommend it. It covers the island in general and the museum's displays specifically. It's well done, entertaining and informative.
Some Things You'll See and One You Won't
I feel like everyone knows the story of the Statue of Liberty. Gift from France, colossal, New York Harbor. Lifting her lamp beside the golden door. Yadda yadda yadda.
So why bother with the overcrowded, only adequate museum?
Well, for one thing, you can get up close and personal with a life-sized replica of Liberty's face and her foot, and view one of the original plaster forms of an ear. It drives home the size of the statue (46 meters, or 151 feet, 1 inch from torch to toe) and how much detail exists that's simply invisible from the ground or sea.
Eye to Eye With Liberty
The museum tells the Statue's story in terms of five instrumental people, also immortalized in modern statues on Liberty Island:
Edouard de Laboulaye: who dreamed her
Auguste Bartholdi: who designed her
Gustav Eiffel: who engineered her
Joseph Pulitzer: who gave her a place to stand
Emma Lazarus: who gave her her soul
The Heroes of Liberty
The museum speaks not only to the design and building of the Statue, but also to the painstaking centennial restoration as well, which saw much of the original ironwork replaced, ensuring Liberty stays strong for at least another century.
On these modest, twisty rods are hung the gown of Liberty
And the museum speaks to Liberty as an icon as well, in popular culture, government propaganda, and commercial advertising. Particuarly timely given this year's centennial is the classic, scary New York Harbor image from the Liberty Bonds campaign of World War I.
Rather than write further on what's in the museum, I'll comment on the one thing that's notably absent from it. I assert that the single most iconic representation of the Statue of Liberty comes at the end of the original, 1968 Planet of the Apes. Which is sort of a spoiler for that movie, I guess. Sorry?
Anyway, no Planet of the Apes at the Statue of Liberty Museum. It's a strange oversight.
Harbor Defenses and the Power of Allegory
The Statue of Liberty Museum will also offers a fine explanation of Liberty, née Bedloe's, Island and historic Fort Wood as one of the extant early 19th century defenses of New York Harbor.
Fort Wood, Harbor, Ferry
Other harbor defenses include such places as Castle Clinton, where visitors purchase tickets for the Liberty/Ellis Ferry, Fort Wadsworth, and Fort Hamilton — which houses the Harbor Defense Museum. For the full list, see my review of Fort Totten in Queens.
While never tested in war, their existence had a deterrent effect, prompting the British to blockade but not attack New York during the War of 1812. Fort Wood's distinctive star shape forms the base out of which the classical pedestal (by architect Richard Morris Hunt, who also designed the facade of the Met) rises.
I wonder how many visitors to Liberty Island reflect on how appropriate it is that the Statue of Liberty rises from a base in a fortress. We don't live in terribly allegorical times. Alas, this era rewards bluntness more than allusion, and literalness rather than metaphor. Still, freedom doesn't come for free, and we all have to defend Liberty lest we lose her.
One other allegorical note. I think my favorite thing about the Statue of Liberty isn't actually on Liberty Island. On a hill in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, Charles Higgins commissioned a statue of Minerva, a Goddess of Wisdom, arm outstretched in salute to her sister goddess in the harbor. Wisdom saluting Liberty.
Should You Visit the Statue of Liberty Museum?
Plaque overdue for an update
You don't have to go to the museum at the Statue of Liberty. You could go to Liberty Island and just circumambulate the Statue and swing by the gift shop. The audio guide would offer pretty much the same information as you get in the museum. But you would miss the views, exterior and interior.
The Infrastructure of Liberty
If you're interested in engineering, Franco-American relations in the 19th century, acts of chutzpah (which the Statue Museum helpfully defines as "having New York-sized ambition"), public art, or immigration, you will enjoy the museum. If you like symbology you'll also enjoy the museum, which talks extensively about the various symbols associated with the Roman goddess Liberta as well as Masonic symbolism that Bartholdi experimented with on his way to the final statue.
The Statue of Liberty is an absolutely essential, unique, and iconic work of public art. She stands for some of the best aspirations of New York and the United States. Just look at the best gauge of importance and meaning in the contemporary world. There's no emoji for the Public Library lions or the Met's hippo mascot. But 🗽.
At the end of the day the Statue of Liberty upstages her attendant museum. Which is as it should be. The museum does a fine job telling the story it sets out to tell, and it's a deeply interesting one at that. Moreover, Liberty is a twofer with Ellis Island, home of one of New York City's very best museums. And if you're going to Ellis or visiting Liberty Island, why not spend some time at the Statue of Liberty Museum, too?
Liberty Island, New York Harbor
Ferry tickets: statuecruises.com
National Park Service: nps.gov
General Admission: Ferry fare plus pedestal museum entry $18.50 (includes both Liberty and Ellis Islands)
Green-Wood Cemetery blog post on its Minerva.
CategoriesUncategorized Tagsarchitecture, harbor, history, manhattan, nyharbor
3 Replies to "Statue of Liberty Museum"
Pingback: Castle Clinton National Monument - GothamJoe
Pingback: The Museum Emoji Guessing Game - GothamJoe
Pingback: Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration - GothamJoe
Previous PostPrevious The Museum of Defunct and Departed Museums
Next PostNext Roosevelt House
Like or Follow the Museum Project on Facebook
The Museum Project Home
Database of New York Museums
Interactive Map of New York Museums
Subscribe to The Museum Project
Background Posts
Introduction: Museum Project genesis
Background stats on New York museums
Rules and gameplan
eastvillage
financialdistrict
lowereastside
midtowneast
morningsideheights
museummile
nyharbor
statenisland
uppereast
upperwest
westvillage
Museum Project Archives
Museum Project Archives Select Month March 2020 (2) November 2019 (1) July 2019 (1) June 2019 (1) March 2019 (3) October 2018 (1) July 2018 (1) June 2018 (5) May 2018 (8) April 2018 (6) March 2018 (8) February 2018 (10) January 2018 (9) December 2017 (8) November 2017 (12) October 2017 (14) September 2017 (10) August 2017 (11) July 2017 (21) June 2017 (10) May 2017 (15) April 2017 (20) March 2017 (30) February 2017 (5)
I am located in Morningside Heights, on the Upper Upper West Side of Manhattan, New York City, New York State, United States of America, North America, Earth
Seek and you may find
Copyright © Joseph W. Laszlo. All rights reserved. Photos taken by and copyright © Joseph W. Laszlo (all photos taken on an iPhone SE).
gothamjoe.com
joe@gothamjoe.com
Instagram @gothamjoe
Joe Laszlo


text:
Q: Unique contraint violation on OneToMany relationship I have a City entity and a Person entity. I want to setup a OneToMany relationship from Person to City indicating which cities a person has lived in. Its a uni-directional OneToMany relationship from Person.
My City class looks like this
@Entity
public class City {

  @Id
  @GeneratedValue
  private Long id;

  private String name;
  ...
}

link to City class code
The person entity looks like this
@Entity
public class Person {

   @Id
   @GeneratedValue
   private Long id;

   private String name;

   @OneToMany(fetch = FetchType.EAGER, orphanRemoval = true)
   private Set<City> livedInCities = new HashSet<City>();
   ...
}

link to Person class code
In my test I am simply creating a city first and saving it. Then creating a person and adding the saved city instance on it before saving that person. After saving the person, everything is fine.
When I add a second person and add the same city on the second person, it throws a unique constraint violation. I am not sure why this is happening because in the relationship table, this should be inserted as a new row for person 2 and city 1.
Test code
@Test
public void test() {

    City chicago = new City();
    chicago.setName("chicago");
    City savedChicago = cityRepo.save(chicago);

    Person john = new Person();
    john.setName("john");
    john.addCity(savedChicago);
    Person savedJohn = personRepo.save(john);

    Person tom = new Person();
    tom.setName("tom");
    tom.addCity(savedChicago);
    Person savedTom = personRepo.save(tom);

    System.out.println(savedTom);
    System.out.println(savedJohn);

}

link to Test code

2015-07-02 18:11:21.026  WARN 5473 --- [           main] o.h.engine.jdbc.spi.SqlExceptionHelper   : SQL Error: 23505, SQLState: 23505
  2015-07-02 18:11:21.026 ERROR 5473 --- [           main] o.h.engine.jdbc.spi.SqlExceptionHelper   : Unique index or primary key violation: "UK_B6XKGKBT91IXB0WE6N030RFPQ_INDEX_C ON PUBLIC.PERSON_LIVED_IN_CITIES(LIVED_IN_CITIES_ID) VALUES (1, 1)"; SQL statement:

The complete project for this is available at
https://github.com/adeelmahmood/jpatest-onetomany
I would appreciate any help.

A: The problem is that you are trying to relate two Persons to the same City when by using @OneToMany annotation on the Person class you are saying that each City only will relate to one single Person.
Possible solutions:
1 - (Most recommended) Move @OneToMany annotation to the City class. Instead of having a Set of Cities on Person, implement a Set of Person on the class City. Also, adding the @OneToMany annotation on the Set of Person attribute.
2 - You can simply use the @ManyToMany annotation and leave all the rest like it is. This is not recommended because in your case it does not make sense to have a many-to-many between Person and City

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


>    >    systems I mentioned.
>    CHECKIN request body containing new contents for the resource.
>    clients to do so, however.
> auto-version behavior from PUT only when it explicitly asks for it?
> achieve your goal would be to add an Autoversion header to PUT.
> a new header for every parameter to CHECKIN.
> Chuck: Does the Autoversion header for PUT get you what you need?
my proposed mutable VCR option.
> that existing DAV:auto-version and PUT behavior isn't sufficient?
Yes, because of the problem of proliferating versions.
Next message: Boris Bokowski/OTT/OTI: "minor comments regarding 12.2"
Previous message: Tim_Ellison@uk.ibm.com: "RE: Autoversion confusion"
Maybe in reply to: Fay, Chuck: "DeltaV doesn't support a true client workspace"
Next in thread: Eric Sedlar: "RE: DeltaV doesn't support a true client workspace"
Reply: Eric Sedlar: "RE: DeltaV doesn't support a true client workspace"


BACKGROUND: Conducting surveys in low- and middle-income countries is often challenging because many areas lack a complete sampling frame, have outdated census information, or have limited data available for designing and selecting a representative sample. Geosampling is a probability-based, gridded population sampling method that addresses some of these issues by using geographic information system (GIS) tools to create logistically manageable area units for sampling. GIS grid cells are overlaid to partition a country's existing administrative boundaries into area units that vary in size from 50 m × 50 m to 150 m × 150 m. To avoid sending interviewers to unoccupied areas, researchers manually classify grid cells as "residential" or "nonresidential" through visual inspection of aerial images. "Nonresidential" units are then excluded from sampling and data collection. This process of manually classifying sampling units has drawbacks since it is labor intensive, prone to human error, and creates the need for simplifying assumptions during calculation of design-based sampling weights. In this paper, we discuss the development of a deep learning classification model to predict whether aerial images are residential or nonresidential, thus reducing manual labor and eliminating the need for simplifying assumptions.
RESULTS: On our test sets, the model performs comparable to a human-level baseline in both Nigeria (94.5% accuracy) and Guatemala (96.4% accuracy), and outperforms baseline machine learning models trained on crowdsourced or remote-sensed geospatial features. Additionally, our findings suggest that this approach can work well in new areas with relatively modest amounts of training data.
CONCLUSIONS: Gridded population sampling methods like geosampling are becoming increasingly popular in countries with outdated or inaccurate census data because of their timeliness, flexibility, and cost. Using deep learning models directly on satellite images, we provide a novel method for sample frame construction that identifies residential gridded aerial units. In cases where manual classification of satellite images is used to (1) correct for errors in gridded population data sets or (2) classify grids where population estimates are unavailable, this methodology can help reduce annotation burden with comparable quality to human analysts.


How do I find my DuesPayment Account Number?
This number is used by your association to identify you in their association management software. You may have already received this number from them when you moved into your home.
For security purposes, we are unable to provide this information. If you are unsure of, or do not know your account number, please contact your association management. Once you have this information and are able to create your account, you will only need to log in with your username and password.
How are payments processed on weekends and holidays?


Can anyone find a good home for a bit of Buell memorabilia?
Post subject: Can anyone find a good home for a bit of Buell memorabilia?
My name's Phil Truran. Back in 2003, I was a Buell owner and also ran the advertising agency that looked after all of the promotional work for both Harley-Davidson and Buell in the UK.
Keeping matters on the Buell track, some of you may remember a Buell stoppie game that was run online, featuring Craig Jones. This was a bit of fun at the time to create some buzz around the brand, and have a bit of fun. The idea was to see who could do the longest stoppie. The prize that was put up for the winner was a Craig Jones monogrammed XB9. I can't remember the guy's name that won but he was about 6'12" and looked like a proper heavy metal guitarist.
The bike in question had gold Craig Jones signature plates on both sides and a gold top yoke insert.
Now when I had these made, I was smart, and had two sets produced. No, not a set for my Buell, but just in case anything went wrong with the fixing. Needless to say, I charged Buell for both sets, which makes them all the more valuable!
I no longer own my XB12S ( sold it to Steve at Black bear) but I still have the graphic work in proper gold plate. I've attached a crap snapshot for reference here.
It seems a shame to hide these away in my office drawer, so I decided that they should go to a better home, and I thought that the UKBEG site would be the best place to start.
Post subject: Re: Can anyone find a good home for a bit of Buell memorabilia?
He helped me get a recall shock for my 98 M2 in Holland, to the sound of much grinding of teeth from the dealership management No way would they have done it without his insistence.
May be for some, however, his other face wanted to report me to the Police over a Post that someone else made. Possibly, he wasn't very literate?
Helped me getting the recall shock sorted on my S1 too!
I've only ever been in a managerial position with Local Authorities where I would be held accountable, on threat of dismissal, for informed opinions that I gave. Perhaps it's different in the private sector?
Yep, if you care to donate them for the auction, I'll do my best to maximise their value on the night (Just like the seven "One of a kind" posters that people bought last year. ).


On the Front Lines in the Battle Against Invasive Species: Strike Teams!
Invasive Species Strike Teams are an important part of environmental stewardship; they are the protectors and defenders of our native plants and wildlife! Invasive plants are fast spreading and can create ecological changes that crowd out native plants and alter habitats to make them unsuitable for native insects or animals. The goal of the strike teams is to manually remove these plants in areas of significance to protect our native biological diversity. A diverse landscape is healthier and more robust, better able to fend off threats and adapt smoothly to changes, such as climate change.
Above: Our 2014 Western Strike Team in Letchworth State Park, showing off all their hard work removing Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii). Japanese barberry is a commonly planted ornamental which escapes into forest understories and increases incidence of Lyme disease.
What is a Strike Team anyway?
The New York State Parks Invasive Species Strike Teams consist of seasonal employees who travel throughout New York State to remove invasive plants from the most valuable areas of our Parks. These teams of four camp near their project areas to accomplish the goals of the Invasive Species Program. All these removals are done with manual hand tools, such as pick mattocks, shovels, machetes and loppers. Our strike teams are always up for the physical challenge and have made incredible headway against some large opponents.
Above: A strike team member from 2012 who proudly showcases the large autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) he removed with hand tools, determination and brute strength. Machinery is used to remove large shrubs, but our strike team got there first in this case!
Invasive Species Program staff has had many successes in controlling invasive species by carefully selecting projects geared toward terrestrial invasives, which can be controlled manually and through adaptive management.
Above: The 2015 Eastern Strike Team wishing everyone well from Grafton Lakes State Park, outside of Albany. You can see some of our most often used tools in this photo (From L-R: the ax mattock, pick mattock and loppers), as you can see, other essential elements in their toolbox include the hard hat and gloves!
Starting in 2008, six interns and volunteers assisted with invasive species removals state wide. Since 2010, State Parks has employed 46 seasonal staff to remove invasive species. In the past 5 years over 1100 new observation points were entered into the program iMap Invasives, a national database reflecting new sightings of invasives. On average, strike teams remove 19 different species per year at their project sites. Some of the native species which are protected by the invasive species program include: twinleaf, American Hart's tongue fern, sky blue aster, cardinal flower, Chittenango ovate amber snail, the Karner blue butterfly, several warbler species, mountain mint, bushy cinquefoil, and slender blazing star.
Above: Two examples of native plants which benefit from strike team controls. On the left, the spring flowering twin leaf (Jeffersonia diphylla). On the right, the stunning late summer red of the cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), a plant loved by pollinators.
For more information regarding Invasive Species Awareness Week (July 12-18) events, check out the New York Invasive Species Information Blog.
Post by Alyssa Reid, Minnewaska State Park Preserve (OPRHP). Photos courtesy of OPRHP.


text:
Podcast Episode 10: Tom Horn – Gunslinger (part 2)
Hi all welcome to Tales of History and Imagination, on today's episode we're continuing the tale of Tom Horn – This is part two of a three parter so if you haven't read part one yet, you might want to check it out here first. In part one I discussed how Tom had grown up a loner in a strictly religious family, in Scotland county, Missouri. How following the loss of his faithful dog Shedrick, and a terrible beating from his father, 14 year old Tom struck out west – taking up several jobs to make ends meet. He increasingly found himself employed as a man of violence; becoming involved in the Apache Wars, railroad wars, one of America's bloodiest family feuds, as a lawman, then – and this brings us up to date – as an enforcer for the Beef Barons of Wyoming. Though ostensibly his role was to protect their interests from cattle rustlers, in reality his role would be much more complex.
We discussed the kind of guy Tom Horn was. While he excelled under pressure, and became notable for several brave acts, he was also a braggart and, at times a bold- faced liar. Also worth reiterating from part one – while a capable gunfighter, Horn became known as an expert sharpshooter, what we would now call a sniper. Sharpshooters were rare, but occasionally known at the time – the best known known victim of a sharpshooter just prior to Horn's era was Union General John Sedgwick; killed in the American Civil War after stating to his men "They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance".
Tom Horn had killed dozens of men by sharpshooting, but his time was the end of an era. Times were a changing, the west began to tame. Welcome to Tales of History and Imagination Episode 10, Tom Horn – Gunslinger, Part Two.
(theme music)
We left off last episode as Tom Horn had just left the Pinkerton detective agency in 1894. He soon found himself in Wyoming, officially working for the Swan Land and Cattle company as a ranch hand. Unofficially, he was there as an enforcer – hired muscle for when asking nicely wouldn't do. To explain why the group we now refer to as the Beef Barons needed hired thugs, we need to delve back to the 1860s, first via a war with the neighbours.
To put a little context in explaining why the west was so wild, and less developed than the east coast at this time, it is worth pointing out places like Wyoming were still new to the USA. The United States seized the west coast of the country, by conquest, off the Mexicans in the Mexican – American war (1846- 48). Prior to Mexican rule, the west coast was conquered – their peoples almost annihilated – by the Spanish Conquistadors following the fall of the Aztec Empire in 1521. The West was then part of what was called New Spain. Prior to that the west was ruled by various indigenous tribes.
A few things happened during, and in the wake of the American Civil War (1861-65) which would bring two new groups in to this region. The first that from 1866 cattle farming became extremely popular in these states – starting in Texas, then up to regions like Wyoming. The model of much of this farming was to grab a big piece of land, but to take your cattle out onto a common area- the range- to graze. The Beef Barons – I prefer this to their other name, the Cattle Barons – were often farming large, essentially squatting on massive swathes of land. Up until the mid 1880s these barons were making a killing – America was growing rich, eating better, and anyone selling good dry-stock like cattle was making great money. This wealth reflected in the region, Cheyanne, Wyoming particularly had the newest and best of everything- gas lighting throughout the streets, phone lines – The Cheyanne Club, a plush gentlemen's club where wealthy cattle investors spent their days.
The Cheyanne Club
Cattle on the range
The other group we have to mention is the Homesteaders. The Homestead Act of 1862 was actually the first of a series of acts passed by Abraham Lincoln, in relation to the new territories of the USA. If a settler wished to stake a claim to unclaimed land up to 160 acres – most of which was west of the Mississippi river, they just had to possess the land, and still be living there five years later. This would become a wildly successful scheme, with around 1.6 million homesteaders occupying around ten percent of the land in the USA. Though they would come in various waves, the bulk of them would begin to arrive in Wyoming around 1874.
A family of homesteaders on their way to Nebraska.
In effect you had two very different schemes, competing with far less oversight than there should have been – and a region with nowhere near enough law enforcement to ensure anyone's safety. One model was based around a large commons where everyone could use what they needed, without restriction. The other on outright ownership, but with a caveat that if you could be unseated from your land, you would lose it. It really isn't hard to see how this could get ugly, fast.
By 1886 Wyoming, now overrun by homesteaders, found itself flooded with far too many cattle, which was lowering the cost they could sell their stock for. Some of the homesteaders were running into conflict with the Beef Barons by bringing sheep onto the range, putting further stress on resources. By 1886, counting cattle alone, there were already an estimated 1.5 million cattle in the state, and the free feed which had previously allowed a Beef Baron to buy young cattle at $5 a head, sell them grown at $60 a head, and pay very little in overheads- was fast diminishing. What did people do in this time to protect their livelihoods? For one, you hired a private army of gunslingers, two, you designated anyone you didn't like a 'cattle rustler' and sent your enforcers out to mete out summary justice.
With murders of homesteaders a common occurrence in this time, one particular event did become particularly shocking nonetheless. Now I am sitting on the Johnson County war for an episode in it's own right some time in the future – but I do need to touch on it today. From 1889 to 1893 the Wyoming Stock Growers Association – a group of barons who regularly gathered at the Cheyanne Club – went to war with a group of homesteaders who'd grown tired of being threatened and attacked by the baron's heavies. The first flashpoint was the lynching of two homesteaders, Ella Watson and Jim Averill – having falsely been accused of cattle theft. This escalated on both sides, till, in 1892 the Stock Growers Association hired a fugitive killer and bank robber, turned sheriff, turned gun for hire who went by the name Frank Canton to put together an army of Texan killers to come to town and carry out a night of long knives style hit on 70 targets. It has been said Horn was among the killers for hire, though he does not appear in the photo they took to memorialize the planned killings. Nor was he arrested with the others after. I won't spoil this topic for later, but there were up to three dozen murders resulting in this conflict. It does not go exactly as planned, but is plenty bad enough. This was the world Tom Horn settled into, full time in 1894.
Tom Horn came to work for the barons at a point where their power began to dissipate. Before the Johnson County War they owned the judiciary and politics. At the next round of elections the homesteaders made their numbers known, and got rid of a lot of the barons' stooges. Were Horn able to see the writing on the wall, one wonders what he would have done differently. It is clear though he really didn't see the shift in power in the region. He kept doing what he always did.
1895 saw two murders of note which were probably carried out by Horn. The first victim was an English settler named William Lewis. Lewis genuinely came with a bad enough reputation that many were happy to see him dead. In his short time in Cheyanne he had been caught stealing clothing, cheating at faro (a card game mentioned in the last episode) and genuinely cattle rustling. On 30th July a bullet struck Lewis from out of nowhere via a hidden assailant. Lewis was left walking wounded, but in good enough shape to get on with his day, which included fighting with his neighbors – and butchering more stolen cattle. The following day William Lewis was out in the open air skinning a stolen animal when a second bullet, fired from a Winchester 30-30 at a range of 300 yards, struck him in the chest, this time killing him.
The second murder that year was another bona fide rustler, named Fred U Powell. Powell met his end by the same modus operandi. In both cases Tom Horn was arrested and charges brought, but Horn had witnesses who put him elsewhere when the murders occurred. In both cases he walked free. If inclined to make Horn out as some good guy vigilante, it is worth remembering that days after Horn was released without charge for Powell's murder, a letter arrived at Powell's old house. Powell's brother in law Charles Keane had moved in following his murder. The letter threatened Keane with the same fate as Powell if he wasn't gone in 3 days' time. Sometimes Horn killed bad men, but bad appears to have had little to do with the killings.
For a little while Horn would be selective over his contracts, not jumping for every job as he had previously, and particularly avoiding anything where he would have to work in a posse. In 1897 Horn was involved in the killing of a cattle rustler in Arizona named William Christian, then later his associate Robert Christian – presumably related. In 1898 he would head off to Cuba however, to get involved in a war.
In February 1898 an American warship, the USS Maine blew up outside of Havana, Cuba. They had been there to look out for Americans in the country, which had broken out in a war of independence between the Cubans and their Spanish rulers. Although the explosion was caused by a malfunction, which in turn set off several rounds of ammunition, and not a Spanish attack- it was just the provocation America needed to enter the war. When the Spanish American war broke out, Tom Horn was quick to re-enlist, as a mule packer. Although Horn was not directly involved with the fighting, he was fired upon numerous times by the enemy, while transporting goods to and from the front lines. Around 1900 he would catch yellow fever and he would be sent back to Wyoming, in spite of wanting to continue on to the Philippines for the next stage of the war.
The USS Maine
Soldiers in the Spanish American war.
Back in Wyoming, Horn would commit two more murders before we get to Willie Nickell. The first was Matt Rash, the head of the Brown's Park Cattle Association – a group of smaller ranchers who had banded together in an effort to stop the beef barons running them out of business. Horn was given instructions to investigate Rash for cattle rustling, allegedly finding him a rustler. The barons green lit his killing. Horn left a note on his door giving Rash 60 days to vacate the area, and when rash would not, on July 21st someone came up to his front door while he ate, and gunned him down at close range. Although not his usual M.O, a dying Rash wrote the name of his killer in his own blood. The writing pointed to Horn. Days later an associate of Rash, a cowboy called Isom Dart – formerly a cattle rustler who went by the name Ned Huddleston, was gunned down from a distance. As per modus operandi 30-30 cartridges were found from the vantage point where the shot had been fired. Which finally brings us back round to where I started this season – the assassination of Willie Nickell.
Willie Nickell
Though Horn knew of the Nickells, his first dealings with them came in 1901. That year Horn took a job with a baron called John Coble, at the Iron Mountain Ranch Company. Coble was a man who hated rustlers, and even more then the rustlers hated sheep farmers. There was one particular sheep man he hated most, and that was Kels Nickell. A feud between the two had turned ugly only prior to Horn's employment, when Coble and Nickell had come to blows at the Iron Mountain railway station. Reports state Coble threatened Nickell with death if he didn't leave town immediately. Coble then drew his pistol, but Kels Nickell was too quick for him, pulling out his Bowie knife and stabbing Coble in the gut. The wound was not enough to kill Coble, but more than enough to make him hire an assassin to finish what he started.
The Nickell family had been in the area for 15 years, having come up from Kentucky. Kels had made few friends in that time. Soon after his arrival Kels had dammed water on his property, cutting the water supply to a number of lower ranches. It took other ranchers taking him to court, and the Nickells being fined $500 to stop him doing this. He had also clashed with a neighboring family, the Mahoneys. In all fairness to Tom Horn and John Coble, a lot of people wanted the Nickell family gone. Horn however was the one sent to their farm to deliver the message, pack up and leave, or die.
Soon after Horn began stalking Nickell, watching his every move for weeks. At the time Kels was especially paranoid – packing a sidearm at all times. Tom Horn visited the Nickells' neighbors, the Miller family on July 15th, finding they too hated Kels Nickell. The following day someone took a shot at Kels from a long distance, though unusually for Horn, he only managed to catch him in the elbow. Kels Nickell managed to escape to the safety of his ranch house. Kels kept his head down for a little while. Meanwhile his son Willie was sent out to do a lot of the jobs his father normally would have. In the cold, dim light of morning on the 18th July 1901 Willie Nickell would be gunned down while opening a fence, his body to be found three days' later. As usual Horn would have an alibi – another employee of John Coble, who had seen him on Coble's ranch at around the same time as the murder. Early in August, following the mutilation of several of his sheep, someone took another shot at Kels, but again only managed to injure him. This could have ended like all the other murders, but it didn't. I'll be right back after this break to discuss how Tom Horn found himself in a cell, weaving the rope which would hang him.
I'll pick this tale up for it's conclusion, part three, next week – Simone
This entry was posted in Crime & Punishment, Interesting Lives, Monsters and tagged 19th Century, 20th Century, Azec Empire, Beef Barons, Cheyanne Club, Ella Watson, Frank Canton, Fred U Powell, Isom Dart, Jim Averill, John Coble, Johnson County War, Kels Nickell, Matt Rash, Mexican American War, New Spain, Pinkertons, Robert Christian, sharpshooter, Spanish American War, Swan Cattle Company, Tom Horn, USS Maine, William Christian, William Lewis, Willie Nickell, Wyoming Stock Growers association on May 26, 2020 by Simone Toni Whitlow.
← Goodnight My Love – a bonus tale The sincerest form of flattery… a bonus tale →
1 thought on "Podcast Episode 10: Tom Horn – Gunslinger (part 2)"
Pingback: Podcast Episode 10: Tom Horn – Gunslinger (part 3) | Tales of History and Imagination


text:
Some of the Fiercest Eye Makeup Worn by Male Idols
One of the most fascinating things about K-pop is how aesthetically pleasing it is. From music video sets to the fashion, the world of K-pop and its idols know how to turn a look exceptionally well and keep us staring at all their pretty faces for hours. But one thing that sets idols apart is that K-beauty is deeply embedded in their culture, and this goes for both men and women. It's not only the girl groups that go the distance with their makeup to achieve a full conceptualized look; boy groups do it, too. And recently, the guys have been painted so well that for myself, a fan of K-beauty who happens to be a guy, it's been delightful and inspiring to see the variations of fierceness they've been able to pull off.
A post shared by 샤이니 SHINee FAN PAGE (@shinee.shineeworld) on Nov 18, 2018 at 7:25am PST
Be it at a red carpet, at an airport, or on a live show, male idols are bringing attention to their faces through means that lie beyond their natural beauty. The world of makeup, which has traditionally been categorized as a "woman's" accessory, is finding a whole new space of existence now that today's male K-pop idols are challenging that archaic standard. Makeup is an art form, and just like there are no rules in art, neither is there in how makeup is utilized and by whom.
While female idols generally focus their application on the face as a whole (eyes, cheeks, lips, etc.), the majority of male idols target one specific area: the eyes. Taking into consideration that makeup is a tool, male idols use it as such to emphasize several key aspects of the eyes. Temperature, size, and impact are the three elements that idols tend to play with most. While some guys like to keep it subtle, others have a far more severe approach.
A post shared by my idol (@they_are_idol) on Nov 23, 2018 at 8:12am PST
GOT7's Bambam is one idol who see-saws between serving intense pops of color and keeping things relatively subtle. For the most part, BamBam likes to stay in the lighter end of the spectrum. By applying a light amount of eyeshadow (in this case, a deep coffee color), it gives his eyes a nice depth without over-exaggerating the lids. It's like a natural look with a bit of oomph for good measure.
In EXO's Baekhyun's case, you have a heavier approach to this, and it really boils down to his double eyelids and the tricks makeup artists have used over the years to emphasize them. Baekhyun's eyes really pop because a stronger liner and darker eyeshadow were used to make them look wider. It's a technique that works particularly well on stage and looks even more captivating with light colored lenses.
A post shared by ZKDLIN-L 🧸 (@jongbrothers) on Dec 2, 2017 at 9:59am PST
Finally, there are those moments in which all of the above are blended together to deliver severe looks that could stop you dead in your tracks. Thanks to Monsta X's Jooheon, I've found my newest makeup inspiration. Some of my absolute favorite eye looks on both men and women are the ones that feature dynamic colors, and Jooheon did just that in Monsta X's recent comeback promotional photos.
A post shared by JOOHEON ♡ #SHOOT_OUT (@jooheonday) on Oct 9, 2018 at 9:00am PDT
Whether it's natural makeup or makeup that is worn to make a statement, it's great to see these guys embracing it as a form of self-expression, not just for the cameras, but in their day to day lives as well. It's also another way to elevate their image and add yet another wrinkle into the already extraordinarily elaborate world of K-pop.
Does your favorite male idol rock bold eye makeup? Let us know in the comments section below!
Cover Image: Allure; Monsta X (Starship Entertainment/Mercury Records)