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A New Year in Canada – Beethoven's 9th – 4th Movement
January 1, 2020 in Canada, Music | Tags: 9th symphony 4th movement, Beethoven, New Year, Ode to Joy | by The Arbourist | 1 comment
We did it folks. Another year over and many of us are still here. Thank you to my kind audience for the words of encouragement, the words keeping me honest, and the words correcting my errors so that I may continue to learn about his world of ours.
I share with you now a snippet that always kicks me directly in the tear-buckets. The emotive power of this movement always manages to surprise me. This isn't the whole movement, but edited brilliantly.
Best wishes to you all my friends in the New Year.
O Freunde, nicht diese Töne!
Sondern laßt uns angenehmere anstimmen,
und freudenvollere.
Oh friends, not these sounds!
Let us instead strike up more pleasing
and more joyful ones!
Freude!
Tochter aus Elysium,
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische, dein Heiligtum!
Deine Zauber binden wieder
Was die Mode streng geteilt;
Alle Menschen werden Brüder,
Wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt.
Joy, beautiful spark of divinity,
Daughter from Elysium,
We enter, burning with fervour,
heavenly being, your sanctuary!
Your magic brings together
what custom has sternly divided.
All men shall become brothers,
wherever your gentle wings hover.
Wem der große Wurf gelungen,
Eines Freundes Freund zu sein;
Wer ein holdes Weib errungen,
Mische seinen Jubel ein!
Ja, wer auch nur eine Seele
Sein nennt auf dem Erdenrund!
Und wer's nie gekonnt, der stehle
Weinend sich aus diesem Bund!
Whoever has been lucky enough
to become a friend to a friend,
Whoever has found a beloved wife,
let him join our songs of praise!
Yes, and anyone who can call one soul
his own on this earth!
Any who cannot, let them slink away
from this gathering in tears!
Freude trinken alle Wesen
An den Brüsten der Natur;
Alle Guten, alle Bösen
Folgen ihrer Rosenspur.
Küsse gab sie uns und Reben,
Einen Freund, geprüft im Tod;
Wollust ward dem Wurm gegeben,
Und der Cherub steht vor Gott.
Every creature drinks in joy
at nature's breast;
Good and Evil alike
follow her trail of roses.
She gives us kisses and wine,
a true friend, even in death;
Even the worm was given desire,
and the cherub stands before God.
Froh, wie seine Sonnen fliegen
Durch des Himmels prächt'gen Plan,
Laufet, Brüder, eure Bahn,
Freudig, wie ein Held zum Siegen.
Gladly, just as His suns hurtle
through the glorious universe,
So you, brothers, should run your course,
joyfully, like a conquering hero.
Seid umschlungen, Millionen!
Diesen Kuß der ganzen Welt!
Brüder, über'm Sternenzelt
Muß ein lieber Vater wohnen.
Ihr stürzt nieder, Millionen?
Ahnest du den Schöpfer, Welt?
Such' ihn über'm Sternenzelt!
Über Sternen muß er wohnen.
Be embraced, you millions!
This kiss is for the whole world!
Brothers, above the canopy of stars
must dwell a loving father.
Do you bow down before Him, you millions?
Do you sense your Creator, O world?
Seek Him above the canopy of stars!
He must dwell beyond the stars.
Jason Kenney and the UCP are Kryptonite to Alberta Workers.
December 5, 2019 in Alberta, Canada, Politics | Tags: #ThanksUCPvoters, Alberta Politics, Gutting the Public Sector, Jason Kenney, UCP Austerity | by The Arbourist | 1 comment
When the economy is down, and the money is tight, and a recession looms in the near future what would be the best course of action for the government of Alberta? Apparently, firing 6000 people from their jobs is the correct answer according to Jason Kenny and his merry band of right-wing ideologues. The raging boner the UCP has for austerity and the gutting of the public sector has never been more apparent.
"Nearly 6,000 Alberta public-sector jobs could be eliminated as the UCP government tries to cut costs and find efficiencies, the provincial government signalled to Alberta's largest union in letters released late Friday afternoon.
The union received the letters in advance of bargaining for 2020 collective agreements. The letters are not formal notices of layoffs, but as required under the collective bargaining process, outline cuts the provincial government might make.
The potential cuts would impact 2,500 Government of Alberta positions across several ministries, as well as the following positions at Alberta Health Services:
1,000 to 2,000 housekeepers;
350 administrative support and medical transcription employees;
250 general support staff, such as maintenance employees;
235 laundry and linen operations staff;
200 auxiliary nursing employees, such as licensed practical nurses and health-care aides;
200 home care services staff;
165 foodservice employees.
"The [Government of Alberta] will continue to guarantee employment security until March 30, 2020, for permanent bargaining unit employees using attrition, vacancy management and redeployment to meet employer needs," states a Thursday letter to the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees from Alberta Public Service Commissioner Tim Grant."
Because having 6000 fewer breaking even, paying their bills without assistance, and supporting the floundering local economy isn't sound economic policy.
The mass layoffs will put people who have to use our health care system at risk. Never fear though, these public employee's may be partially replaced by private workers and companies who will charge more for the same job, while providing inferior service and products.
"If further contracting out initiatives are to be considered in future, we will advise as required," the letter states.
"AHS will continue to consider all options available to meet our organizational needs including changes to staff mix, service redesign, including changes and repurposing of sites, relocating services, reducing or ceasing the provision of services," it says.
Notley said it is clear the UCP government intends to further privatize public services.
"Albertans will pay the price for this. And again, it's entirely unnecessary. This has gone from prudent fiscal management to an extreme ideological vendetta."
The 'fuck you, I've got mine' crowd has been crowing about trimming the fat and reducing bloat in the public sector. They never seem to connect the idea that the people working these jobs: nurses, teachers and those who support them, are more likely that not, providing services that benefit the fat trimmers.
See also the standard neo-liberal ploy of hollowing out public institutions, then decrying said institutions for not being effective, and then turning to privatization as the magical panacea that will fix the systems they just sabotaged.
The problem is that this strategy never works for the benefit of the end users – the public – as they inevitably will be saddled with less efficient, more expensive private services. Who this benefits, of course, is the businesses and corporations who will make handsome profits while immiserating the populace.
Thank you UCP voters…
DWR PSA – The Bread & Roses Women's Centre in Nelson Needs Your Help
December 2, 2019 in Canada, Feminism | Tags: Boots on the Ground Feminism, Canada, DWR Feminist PSA, Female Only Spaces | by The Arbourist | Leave a comment
A quick click at Canadahelps.org gets you to the donation page for a 15 dollar membership, follow the instructions so you can get a proxy and a vote to ensure that the Bread & Roses Women's Centre remains a safe female only space. Holly will guide you through the rest of the process.
Thank you to all who follow up and support Canadian Women.
Urban Problems – Being Lonely Together
November 30, 2019 in Canada, Culture | Tags: CBC Radio, Ideas, Loneliness, Mental and Physical Health, Urban Isolation | by The Arbourist | 3 comments
I think it is uncontroversial to say that we are hardwired to be social animals. Yet, why do we design our cities and spaces to make interaction and social contact less affable and easy to access?
"Urban loneliness is a virtual pandemic. Even though there have never been as many cities across the world as there are right now with such high populations, urban loneliness carries with it huge social, medical and financial consequences. Why are cities the new capitals of isolation?
"Ideas contributor Tom Jokinen believes the design of urban centres may actually be the cause of urban isolation. Yet they may also contain the ingredients for a more integrated social landscape.
It's hard to believe that anyone could be lonely in the city, surrounded by millions of people. But urban loneliness is real, and it's at the centre of a health epidemic.
According to Dr. Vivek Murthy, former United States Surgeon General under President Obama, loneliness can lead to increased risks for heart disease, anxiety, depression and dementia: in stark terms it is the same as smoking fifteen cigarettes a day."
"Yet the idea of solitude and isolation is central to the culture of the city. Think of the paintings of Edward Hopper depicting nighthawks at the diner. His realist paintings are actually about something more abstract: what it's like to be alone in a city of millions. Eye contact is never made in a Hopper painting — and the people in his paintings look like the last survivors of some urban catastrophe — one that's been a long time coming.
In 1920, only 5 per cent of Americans lived alone. By 2016, that number was 27 per cent, and most of the growth of solo living has been in the cities.
A study by the Engaged City Task Force in Vancouver asked people to report the biggest problem facing that city. The result was surprising: they might have said homelessness, or the opioid epidemic. But the number one problem in Vancouver according to residents was urban loneliness."
Who I see suffering the most from loneliness is the elderly. As we grow older our world shrinks. Mobility goes down and correspondingly contact with the outside world also declines. Friends begin to die off as disease and accidents of life take their toll. The golden years are rarely golden for many senior citizens. What contact is available from the outside world comes through the television (and sometimes the radio). The lonely context the elderly inhabit is a recipe for poor physical and mental health outcomes.
"What is it about cities that makes us so lonely? Just look up. The urban environment, with its tall glass towers of one-bedroom and studio condos is built for loneliness, it's designed to cut people off from each other.
But things may be changing: new ideas like co-housing, where families live together, mean the city itself could become less forbidding. But is it enough to face down an epidemic?"
Not changing fast enough. These solutions need to have been started decades ago. Our society is now paying the price for not designing our cities around the idea that we need social contact for our mental and physical health. The quotes are from the preface to an radio broadcast on CBC called Ideas. The show on loneliness is quite interesting, I recommend going to page and giving it a listen.
Alberta Government Fires Electoral Commissioner Investigating Government
November 25, 2019 in Canada, Politics | Tags: Alberta, Alberta Governmenet, Canada, UCP corruption | by The Arbourist | 3 comments
You would think that our dear UCP government wouldn't be so brazen in their attempt scuttle the investigation into their dark little web of political hackery. Apparently not. Their solution to being investigated by the Electoral commissioner is well… fire the electoral commissioner.
"The Office of the Election Commissioner has been dissolved and transferred to the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Elections Alberta said in a news release Friday.Bill 22, the Reform of Agencies, Boards and Commissions and Government Enterprises Act, came into effect on Friday, the agency said.On Thursday, the legislature passed the bill, which included the firing of election commissioner Lorne Gibson. Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley said Thursday the quick passage of the bill is the mark of a premier and government "consumed by power and unconcerned by the views of Albertans." Gibson was leading the investigation into the so-called "kamikaze" campaign of UCP leadership candidate Jeff Callaway and had levied fines against 15 people totalling $207,223.
Callaway allegedly entered the race to discredit former Wildrose leader, and Kenney's chief rival, Brian Jean, only to drop out and endorse Kenney weeks later. Kenney and Callaway deny they worked together to defeat Jean, but emails obtained by CBC News show high-ranking Kenney officials providing resources, including strategic political direction, media, and debate talking points, speeches, videos and attack advertisements, to the Callaway campaign."
It should be readily apparent to both sides of the political spectrum that an investigation is warranted. We, as a populace, need to be able to trust our democratic institutions. It is bullshit like this that negates all the 'get out the vote' and 'express your voice' and 'do your civic duty' sentiment we are bombarded with before elections.
As a active citizenry we should be taking part in the political process the rest of the time, but that is another blog post.
"Edmonton-Manning MLA Heather Sweet, the NDP critic for democracy and ethics, sent a letter to Resler on Friday asking him to provide a report to the legislature on the steps he will take to preserve the material Gibson gathered during his investigation.
"Public confidence in the integrity of our democratic elections in Alberta has been significantly damaged," Sweet wrote. "Any loss, misplacement or destruction of the evidence being gathered by Mr. Gibson in his investigations would lead to further irreparable damage to that confidence."
This investigation is, rather ineptly, being swept under the carpet. Thankfully the NDP is doing what good oppositions do, and not letting the issue be buried.
Source: cbc.ca
Superb Meghan Murphy Interview on New Zealand's News Hub Broadcast – Dismantles Gender Self-ID Arguments
November 21, 2019 in Canada, Feminism, Gender Issues, Radical Feminism | Tags: dismantling trans straw arguments, Gender Self ID, Interview, Meghan Murphy, Radical Feminism | by The Arbourist | 1 comment
Please go and watch the video that is attached to this article as Meghan Murphy eloquently expresses the concerns of Women about the transgender/gender self id movement.
The rest of the article reprinted here with the exception of the hyperbolic response from the trans groups in NZ that who were afraid to debate Meghan Murphy in person on live TV.
"Meghan Murphy is a radical feminist who believes transgender women aren't women – views that have seen her banned from Twitter.
She was the star guest at Feminism 2020 on Friday – an event organised by Speak Up For Women that was originally going to be hosted at Massey University, but cancelled before being picked up by ACT leader David Seymour and hosted at Parliament.
Murphy told Newshub Nation on Saturday her position was "pretty straightforward".
"I don't believe that it's possible to change biological sex, so I think that you're born either male or female, and you remain male or female for life.
"Being a woman isn't a feeling – it's a fact. I guess I don't quite understand what the purpose is in identifying the opposite sex."
Murphy said she has concerns about "women's rights as a whole", but added she feels "total empathy" towards people with gender dysphoria, mental illness and their identities.
"The problem with trans is there's no definition of transgender – it's just an announcement," she told Newshub Nation. "There's no way to discern who is transgender. It's just something that you say."
***Update*** Just found the transcript!
On Newshub Nation: Simon Shepherd interviews Meghan Murphy
Simon Shepherd: It's Transgender Awareness Week, the same week a feminist group, Speak Up For Women, has brought Megan Murphy from Canada to speak in New Zealand. Murphy is a radical feminist who believes trans women aren't women, views that have seen her banned from Twitter. We asked representatives from several trans and rainbow organisations to engage in a debate, but no one was available. So I began by asking Megan Murphy to explain her position.
Megan Murphy: Sure, I mean, my position is pretty straightforward, in my opinion. I don't believe that it's possible to change biological sex. So I think that you're born either male or female, and you remain male of female for life. So I disagree with the idea that you can identify as female if you're male. I also, of course, have concerns about gender identity legislation and policies and the way that they impact women, and particularly women's spaces where women and girls might be particularly vulnerable, so change rooms, transition houses, prisons.
We'll get to those specific examples in a moment. Gender self-identification — what is wrong with a trans person declaring that they're a woman, though, if that's how they feel?
Well, being a woman isn't a feeling, it's a fact. I guess I don't quite understand what the purpose is, in identifying as the opposite sex. I understand that some people suffer from, you know, what you might call gender dysphoria.
That's right. And that's a medically recognised diagnosis, isn't it?
Well, the problem is that now gender identity legislation and policy isn't based on any kind of medical diagnosis. I would disagree with the concept of gender dysphoria, but that's sort of a more complicated topic we could maybe get into later. But right now, what we're talking about is literally just a person announcing that they're the opposite sex, based on nothing, not based on any kind of mental illness or whatever.
Well, there is one thing that we should raise, though. What about intersex people — the definition is people who do not fit the typical definitions for male or female bodies. Where do they fit into this?
Well, they don't fit into this, because trans people aren't intersex, they're just males or females who don't identify with the gender stereotypes attached to males and females.
Yeah, but you are saying that biologically you are one or the other, but these people are both or neither.
Well, actually, with intersex conditions, usually those people are male or female, and then they have an intersex condition. There's some people that it's more complicated and harder to decipher, but for most people, it's actually not that hard to decipher, and they just have abnormalities.
Right, so, if someone chooses — if they are intersex and they choose to become a female, is that acceptable to you?
Well, I mean, this conversation really doesn't have anything to do with intersex, so I'm not particularly interested in debating that issue. I think that's separate. And, you know, I'm not a doctor, so that's an issue between the person and their doctor, how they want to go about dealing with this condition.
Sure, but it doesn't fit into your—
But what we're talking about is a male who's obviously male, clearly male, simply saying, 'I'm a woman,' and expecting to be accepted as a literal female.
The non-binary community is tiny; some studies here put it at about 1%. So why does a feminist like yourself feel threatened by trans people calling themselves women?
Well, I don't know that it's about me feeling threatened per se. Is that I have concerns for the impact on women's rights as a whole, and particularly marginalised women. So, for example, when we're talking about female prisons, the women who are in female prisons are among the most marginalised people in the country. And men are being transferred to these prisons and assaulting and sexually harassing these women.
Trans people have a high suicide rate here. There's a study recently that more than 50% of them have considered suicide in the past year. They are very marginalised as well. Shouldn't there be some empathy towards them?
I totally have empathy towards people who struggle with gender dysphoria, who struggle with mental illness, who struggle with, you know, their identities, who are marginalised in various ways. It's really not about empathy or a lack of empathy. I mean, we're talking about legislation, so it has to be about more than just how you feel. And really, what I'm concerned about is why no one in this conversation seems to have empathy or concerns for women and girls — I mean, they're totally being left out and shut out of this debate.
And you are fighting for what you say has been the oppression of women over centuries. Do you believe that, in a way, this is also the oppression of another minority, or a marginalised society — that your opinions about them is marginalising them and oppressing them?
Well, I mean, my opinions about people who identify as trans are not offensive or judgemental or hateful in any way. I'm really just saying these basic things like you can't change your sex.
Yeah, but some cultures have accepted this for years. I mean, there's cultures around the world that have a history of gender fluidity. So why is it an issue right now?
I don't have an issue with gender fluidity. And many of those cultures actually didn't necessarily accept these people as literally the opposite sex. They accepted them as, you know, a male who adopted feminine stereotypes. Or there was, like, a 'third gender', but it wasn't the same as what we're talking about now.
So you're saying that society— In your view, should society treat trans people differently, have a different category than male or female?
No. I mean, the problem with trans is that there's no definition of transgender. It's just an announcement. So there's no way to discern who is transgender. You know, what does that mean? What does it mean to be transgender? It's just something that you say.
The transgender community feels feminists like yourself are what they call exclusionary. They call you TERFs — trans exclusionary radical feminists.
Mm-hm.
So you're excluding them from society. That's what their argument—
I'm definitely not excluding them from society.
So why do you object on the terms?
And I'm not excluding trans people from anything. I mean, females who identify as transgender are welcome in women's spaces, males who identify as transgender are welcome in male spaces and welcome everywhere else. What we're saying, what we're talking about specifically is men, so I really feel frustrated when people start talking about it as oppression of trans people or about transphobia, for example, because it's really not about the trans identity. It's really about biological sex, and that's it.
These people feel like they've been trapped in the wrong body. That's one of the things that you hear.
Well, it's not possible to be trapped in the wrong body. You're just born with the body and you deal with it. I mean, lots of people don't like their bodies and wish they had different bodies, but, you know, too bad.
So, you're a male; you're always going to be a male. That's right? You just cannot identify—
Of course. And everyone knows that. I mean, you have to agree it's not possible to change sex. How would that happen?
Well, medically, it's possible to change sex.
It's not possible to change your chromosomes. It's not possible to change your bones. It's not possible to change your pheromones. I mean, you can get cosmetic surgery, so you can be a male with breast implants or you can get genital surgery, but that doesn't literally change your biological sex.
Do you think that you have the privilege in this debate?
I mean, you know, you are a cis-gender woman, and—
I am not a cis-gender woman. I don't identify with femininity.
I don't identify with sexist gender stereotypes.
Okay. All right. So you're a woman.
I'm a woman. I'm a female. That's right.
Okay. You're a female. But you are not being marginalized, are you? I mean, because women are 50% of the population. So therefore you have the power in this relationship with people—
I mean, I— Me personally— This conversation really isn't about me personally. It's about all women and girls, and around the world, you have to agree that women still suffer enormously in many parts of the world. I mean, in Saudi Arabia, women still, you know, can't function on their own. They're not allowed to drive.
Sure. So, I guess the argument is with that kind of understanding, why do you not have an understanding of people who feel like they are in the wrong bodies and they want to identify as women and that's what their natural state should be?
You know, we can't base legislation based on a few people's feelings, especially when those people are male and potentially present a threat to women and girls.
Okay. Well, let's talk—
I mean, just because a man identifies as a woman, I don't think that means he should be allowed access to women's change room and be able to be there naked with his penis out around women and girls.
All right. So, they can—
I think surely you can agree that's inappropriate.
Okay, so let's talk about the practicalities. You say that a trans woman who hasn't had a genital change should not be allowed into women's spaces. Is that right? In women's changing rooms?
Okay. So you shouldn't share bathrooms. What about sport? Should trans women compete against other women in sport?
I mean, this is a really big issue, and I'm really glad that you brought it up, because males have an obvious advantage over females in most sports, and that's why they compete separately. So, you know, women fought to have the right to compete on fair ground, and that's being rolled back really quickly, and they're being forced to compete against males. And there's no— There's nothing that a man can do, you know— These are men who have gone through puberty; they have male bodies. Even if they reduce their testosterone, that doesn't mean that they—
Because many sports bodies do have levels of testosterone that are acceptable to have trans women versus women.
I know, but those men still have more muscle mass, their bones are different. You know, males have, like— their bodies are completely different than female bodies. They have different organs — they have bigger lungs, they have bigger hands, they have longer limbs, and you can't change any of that by reducing testosterone.
What about self-identification on passports and drivers' licences, these official kinds of documents?
I mean, I don't see the point, but, again, I think that it's dangerous to legally change a person's sex, because what that means is that then that person, if he's male and he has changed his sex to female on his ID and whatnot, then he must be accepted in women's transition houses, in female prisons, in women's change rooms.
Are trans women really a threat in those kinds of places?
Definitely not trans women. Men. Males. So, it doesn't matter if you identify as trans or not. I don't think that trans women are any more dangerous or predatorial than any other man, and I don't even think all men are predatorial. But we know that the people who are predatorial towards women, who sexually harass women, who sexually assault women are generally males, not females.
So you're saying that a male cannot change their spots if they're a bad male, whether they be a trans woman or a male?
I mean, I hope that men can change their spots. By transitioning, they're definitely not changing anything. That's not the kind of change that we're looking for.
You say that self-identification is a regressive ideology that's trying to erase sex-based rights. So you're saying that if somebody wants to self-ID as a trans woman, they're erasing women's rights.
I think that if 'woman' no longer has a definition and there's no such thing as a women, then there's no basis for women's rights.
The Totalitarian Left's Bastardization of Intersectionality
November 18, 2019 in Canada, Gender Issues, Radical Feminism | Tags: Actual intersectionality, critical thought, Feminism, gender identity, Sexism | by The Arbourist | Leave a comment
Intersectionality is one of the positive additions that heralds from Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw. Her concept of intersectionality is as follows – "The main argument of this black feminist paper is that the experience of being a black woman cannot be understood in terms of being black and of being a woman considered independently, but must include the interactions between the two, which frequently reinforce each other." Elegant isn't it? Simply – one must consider the many axis of challenges and oppression that people face and how they interact with each other.
Intersectionality changes though once run through the mill of gender ideology. Intersectionality magically becomes synonymous with being inclusive which is distinctly not what the term means. I cringe when someone says that they are an 'intersectional feminist' because inevitably it means that they have gone down the rabbit-hole of regressive politics and now somehow believe that men should be centred in feminism because those men who choose to enact female sex stereotypes suddenly become the most oppressed people in society.
That friends, is grade 'A' bullshit. Feminism is necessarily an exclusive category, and it is reserved for those occupying the females sex class. One cannot refuse to be in said sex class, nor can others somehow magically identify into it. Patriarchy, whether you believe it exists or not, defines men and women into correspondingly dominant and subservient roles in society based on the immutable factor of which sex class you happen to be born into.
The embrace of this bastardized intersectionality leads to a great deal of confusion, as Andrew Sullivan illustrates in this excerpt.
"But now I'm confused, and I don't think I'm alone. Slowly but surely, the term "sex" has slowly drifted in meaning and become muddled with gender. And that has major consequences for what homosexuality actually is, consequences that are only beginning to be properly understood. Take the Equality Act, the bill proposed by the biggest LGBTQ lobby group, the Human Rights Campaign, backed by every single Democratic presidential candidate, and passed by the House last May. Its core idea is to enhance the legal meaning of the word "sex" so it becomes "sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity)."
The Act provides four different ways to understand the word "sex," only one of which has any reference to biology. Sex means first "a sex stereotype"; secondly "pregnancy, childbirth, or a related condition"; thirdly "sexual orientation or gender identity"; and last "sex characteristics, including intersex traits." Yes, at the end, we have "sex characteristics" in there — i.e., biological males and females — qualified, as it should be, by the intersex condition. But it's still vague. "Sex characteristics" can mean biologically male or female, but can also mean secondary sex characteristics, like chest hair, or breasts, which can be the effect of hormone therapy. So in fact, the Act never refers to men and women as almost every human being who has ever existed on Earth understands those terms.
The definition of "gender identity" in the Equality Act is "the gender-related identity, appearance, mannerisms, or other gender-related characteristics of the individual's designated sex at birth." Notice that this views "sex" as merely "designated" at birth. It seems to have no deeper meaning than a provisional social label attached by others. (That's why the current trans-friendly terms for babies are not "male" and "female," but "AMAB" — assigned male at birth — or "AFAB" — assigned female at birth.) It is as if we have redefined all of humanity around the tiny minority that is trans or intersex, so that the exception no longer proves the rule, but completely redefines it.
For a glimpse of what this means in practice, here's a Canadian website, Sex-Ed School, relying on the resources of The Sex Information and Education Council of Canada. In this clip from their web series, the sex educators ask the elementary-school kids if "everyone born with a vulva is a girl." Most of the kids say yes. But they're wrong. The correct answer is that "our genitals don't determine our gender and people born with vulvas can be boys." Gender, the young kids are told, is "how you feel on the inside about whether you're a boy or a girl, a man or a woman, if you're nonbinary, feel like neither or both. People can also be fluid, feel more like female, more like a male based on the day or time. It's all individual." This is being taught to school kids ages 9 through 12 as fact by people who say they are sex researchers and educators.
And notice how "boy" and "girl" are in the very same category with the very same status as "fluid" and "nonbinary". In the sex-ed course, the first lesson is not on the differences between men and women and how they make babies, as one might naïvely imagine. No, it's on consent, not sex, and then there are episodes for gender and orientation, but still no lesson on sex itself, on the natural reproductive differences between boys and girls, which is how humans exist at all. The dolls they use for reference are sex-free, Ginger and Blue. The teacher tells us that one of them uses "they" as a pronoun. One lesson has the kids attaching toy versions of penises, vulvas, boobs, balls, which the kids assign at random. The teachers almost never say "boys" and "girls," it's always "people." So some people have breasts and some people have penises.
In these lesson plans, here's the definition of homosexuality: "a person's sexual identity in relation to the gender to which they are attracted." Homosexuality is thereby redefined as homogenderism. It's no longer about attraction to the same sex, but to the same gender. I'm no longer homosexual; I'm homogender. But what if the whole point of my being gay is that I've always been physically attracted to men? And by men, I mean people with XY chromosomes, formed by natural testosterone, with male genitals, which is what almost every American outside these ideological bubbles means by "men." I do not mean people with XX chromosomes, formed by estrogen, with female genitals, who have subsequently used testosterone to masculinize their female body — even though I would treat them with the respect and dignity they deserve in every context."
How can we fight against sexism if we cannot define what a woman is, or what sex is? Reasonable people have to stand up against gender ideology, as it serves only to erode the rights, boundaries, and spaces of women.
Portrait found in gallery walls verified as missing Klimt masterpiece January 17, 2020
Trump responds to Iran's supreme leader, says he should be 'very careful with his words' January 17, 2020


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2011 Extending the NSLOT Model Wavelength Range Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Frederickson, Paul A. View
2010 Multi-Scale Observational Analyses Within the "Marsupial Pouch" of Pre-Depression Tropical Disturbances Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Bell, Michael M. View
2021 CA Smoke Mission Analysis Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Bucholtz, Anthony View
2011 Climatology of Electromagnetic Propagation Conditions in the US West Coast Region Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Frederickson, Paul A. View
2012 NASA Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel (HS3) Observation for Testing Environmental Control of Hurricane Formation and Intensification Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Elsberry, Russell L. View
2021 Advancing understanding, analyses, and predictions of tropical cyclone rapid intensification from new-generation geostationary meteorological satellite Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Powell, Scott View
2011 Exploiting Advanced Environmental Intelligence to Optimize the Effectiveness of Missions Involving Persistent Surveillance Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Guest, Peter S. View
2011 Next Generation EM/EO Performance Prediction Systems Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Frederickson, Paul A. View
2013 Improvement of NRL's COAMP Model by Improving the Radar Data Assimilation System and Model Physics Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Chang, Chih-Pei View
2021 Radar and Electro-optical Ducting in the Stable Atmosphere over Water (REDSAW) Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Wang, Qing View
2010 State-Space Analysis of Model Error: A Probabilistic Parameter Estimation Framework with Spatial Analysis of Variance Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Hacker, Joshua P. View
2012 Environmental Support for the Radar Drift Project Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Frederickson, Paul A. View
2013 Transition of the 32-Day and 15-Day Forecasts of Tropical Cyclone Events to Operations in the Western North Pacific and Extension to Other Global Basin Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Elsberry, Russell L. View
2021 In-situ Meteorological and Turbulence Measurements Supporting Solid State Laser Technology Maturation Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Yamaguchi, Ryan T. View
2012 Meteorological Measurements in Support of a Passive Imaging System Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Frederickson, Paul A. View
2012 RFC/HWDDC Environmental Data Collection at Wallops Island Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Frederickson, Paul A. View
2011 Probabilistic Ceiling and Visibility Prediction Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Hacker, Joshua P. View
2010 Meteorological Support for a Passive Imaging System Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Frederickson, Paul A. View
2012 ACAF: Electromagnetic Ducting Climatology Enhancements Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Frederickson, Paul A. View
2011 Probabilistic Ceiling and Visibility Predictions for the Air Force Weather Agency Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Hacker, Joshua P. View
2011 Evaluation of JSAF EM Propagation Prediction Methods for NCTE/Fleet Synthetic Training Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Frederickson, Paul A. View
2013 Evaluation of Mesoscale Ensemble Prediction Suite for the Joint Precision Airdrop System Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Hacker, Joshua P. View
2011 Mountainous Terrain Atmospheric Modeling and Observations Program Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Hacker, Joshua P. View
2011 Improved Environment Characterization for AREPS EM Performance Predictions Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Frederickson, Paul A. View
2013 Tropical Cyclone Intensity and Structure Changes in Relation to Vertical Structure and Upper-Level Outflow Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Harr, Patrick A. View
2019 Implementing NAVSLaM with the NRL Digital Optical Channel Program (DOC-P) Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Frederickson, Paul A. View
2011 Western North Pacific Tropical Cyclone Formation and Structure Change in TCS08 and TCS08 Experiment Support Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Harr, Patrick A. View
2012 CNMOC Independent Review Panel (CIMPREP) for the Voice of America Coverage Analysis Program (VOACAP) Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Guest, Peter S. View
2013 The Probabilistic Nature of Extended-Range Predictions of Tropical Cyclone Activity and Tracks as a Factor in Forecasts of Tropical-Extratropical Interactions Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Harr, Patrick A. View
2019 Collaborative Research: Processes that regulate vertical accelerations in supercell updrafts Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Peters, John M. View
2007 CMG: Analysis of Transport, Mixing, and Coherent Structures in Hurricane Intensity Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Montgomery, Michael T. View
2011 Further Analysis of Tropical Cyclone Formation in the Western North Pacific Region as Part of the TCS08 DRI Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Montgomery, Michael T. View
2013 NASA Hurricane and Sever Storm Sentinel (HS3) Observations for Testing Environmental Control Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Harr, Patrick A. View
2019 Collaborative Proposal: Improving Understanding of the Internal Structure/Dynamics of Deep Convection Using ARM Observations and Large Eddy Simulation Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Peters, John M. View
2007 Wave Dynamics in Tropical Cyclones Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Montgomery, Michael T. View
2011 Use of NASA Observations and Numerical Model Simulations to Understand the Hurricane 'Fuel' and 'Anti-Fuel' Problems Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Montgomery, Michael T. View
2012 Continued Analysis on Multiscale Aspects of Tropical Cyclone Formation, Structure Change and Predictability in the Western North Pacific Region Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Montgomery, Michael T. View
2019 The Effects of Optical Turbulence in the Coastal Atmospheric Boundary Layer on Electro-Optical Systems Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Wauer, Benjamin J. View
2008 Pre-Depression Investigation of Cloud-Systems in the Tropics (PREDICT) Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Montgomery, Michael T. View
2012 Research and Development of New Theories on Hurricane Intensity and Structure Change Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Montgomery, Michael T. View
2020 Secondary eyewall formation in hurricane vortices: Application of the rotating convective paradigm in a controlled numerical experiment framework Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Montgomery, Michael T. View
2010 METOC Metrics Scorecard Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Murphree, James T. View
2009 Smart Climatology: Operational Implementation Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Murphree, James T. View
2013 A Multiscale Study of Tropical Cyclone Formation, Structure Change, and Predictability in the Western North Pacific Region and TCS08 Experiment Support Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Montgomery, Michael T. View
2011 Long Range Forecasting Support Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Murphree, James T. View
2012 Adapting the General Minefield Evaluation Tool (GAMET) for NPS Student Thesis Work Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Scandrett, Clyde L. View
2012 Exploiting Advanced Environmental Intelligence to Optimize the Effectiveness of Missions Involving Persistent Surveillance Monitoring of Known Threats Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Murphree, James T. View
2009 Lightning Launch Commit Criteria Climatology (LLCCC) Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Murphree, James T. View
2009 Evaluation and Improvement of High-Resolution Mesoscale Models on Boundary Layer Simulations Using Ground-Based Observations Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Wang, Qing View
2012 Weather Forecast Support for Ft. Ord Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Nuss, Wendell A. View
2010 Ft. Ord Weather Forecasts for Prescribed Burns Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Nuss, Wendell A. View
2010 Understanding Air-Sea Coupling Processes and Coupled Model Predictions Using GOTEX Measurements and COAMPS/NCOM Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Wang, Qing View
2013 High Frequency in Joint Semi-Automated Forces and Development of Training Materials Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Nuss, Wendell A. View
2020 Characterizing Atmospheric Ducting through Data Analyses and Modeling Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Wang, Qing View
2009 Quantifying Sensible Weather Forecast Variability Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Nuss, Wendell A. View
2010 Shipboard Measurements of Flux and Near Surface Profiles and Analysis of Surface Flux Parameterizations Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Wang, Qing View
2008 Collaborative Research: Physics of Stratocumulus Top (POST) Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Wang, Qing View
2019 Advanced Climate Analysis and Long Range Forecasting (ACAF) Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Murphree, James T. View
2017 Improved Characterization of the Environment for EM/EO Performance Predictions Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Frederickson, Paul A. View
2018 Collaborative Research: Basic Studies in Three-dimensional Tropical Cyclone Intensification Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Montgomery, Michael T. View
2018 Quantifying and Understanding Atmospheric Turbulence Affecting Optical Propagation Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Wang, Qing View
2021 Coupled Air-Sea Processes and EM Ducting (CASPER) Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Wang, Qing View
2021 HELIOS Optical Turbulence and Extinction Measurements - Surface Combat Systems Center Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Yamaguchi, Ryan T. View
2013 Improved Radar Modeling and Environmental Integration for Accurate Electromagnetic Assessments Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Frederickson, Paul A. View
2014 Advanced Climate Analysis and Forecasting Electromagnetic Quality Control Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Frederickson, Paul A. View
2013 Quantifying the Role of Atmospheric Forcing in Ice Edge Retreat and Advance Including Wind-Wave Coupling Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Guest, Peter S. View
2014 Environmental Data Collection and Verification Using Autonomous Wave Gliders Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Hermsdorfer, Kathryn View
2008 On the Marsupial Theory for Tropical Cyclogenesis within Tropical Wave and Monsoon Trough Environments: A Multiscale Observational, Modeling and Theoretical Study Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Montgomery, Michael T. View
2013 Fundamental Studies in Secondary Eyewall Formation Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Montgomery, Michael T. View
2012 Advanced Climate Analysis and Long Range Forecasting Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Meteorology Murphree, James T. View
2015 Personal Protective Materials Based on Carbon Nanofiber Foams and Shear Thickening Suspensions Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Osswald, Sebastian View
2015 Characterization of Particles Formed Via Laser-Driven Hydrothermal Processing Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Menon, Sarath K. View
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text:
An Alternative Leadership Perspective: Analyzing the Headwinds and Tailwinds for Women Leaders in Finance and Accounting
Kuhlman, 2020.pdf (357.5Kb)
Kuhlman, Shelby
Graduate Certificate in Women's Leadership
Significant progress has been made in women's rights and equality since Abigail Adams compelled her husband to "Remember the Ladies". The former first lady joins a voluminous list of other trailblazers in the fight for women's rights and equality. Some glass ceilings have been shattered; however, many still exist for women. These obstacles and barriers are constructed and reinforced by the deeply ingrained stereotypes and misconceptions of women, women leaders, and diversity. Where does the finance and accounting industry stand when it comes to gender and equality? To answer this question, this poster analyzes the headwinds women face in this field, gathers insights from personality tests and talent DNA, and reviews the opportunities for men and women to create a conducive environment for all. While many organizations have adopted diversity and inclusion efforts, achieving diversity in an organization is no longer the challenge creating parity at all levels must be the goal to generate tailwinds in the advancement for women.
Leadership in women; Finance; Accounting


Everybody should try to have a grandmother, especially if you don't have television because they are the only grown ups who like to spend time with us.
They know we should have snack-time before bedtime and they say prayers with us every time and kiss us even when we've acted bad.
GRANDPA IS THE SMARTEST MAN ON EARTH! HE TEACHES ME GOOD THINGS BUT I DON'T GET TO SEE HIM ENOUGH TO GET AS SMART AS HIM!
It's funny when they bend over, you hear gas leaks and they blame their dog."


text:
Chinese species of Carinostigmus Tsuneki (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae), including three new species and a new record to China
Bashir N H, Ma L, Li Q, pensoft (2020). Chinese species of Carinostigmus Tsuneki (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae), including three new species and a new record to China. Plazi.org taxonomic treatments database. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.987.55317 accessed via GBIF.org on 2022-01-18.
This dataset contains the digitized treatments in Plazi based on the original journal article Bashir, Nawaz Haider, Ma, Li, Li, Qiang (2020): Chinese species of Carinostigmus Tsuneki (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae), including three new species and a new record to China. ZooKeys 987: 115-134, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.987.55317, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.987.55317
Nawaz Haider Bashir
Li Ma
Pensoft Publishers
Prof. Georgi Zlatarski Street 12
email: info@pensoft.net
homepage: http://www.pensoft.net
pensoft


text:
Zane Wong
Games Done Quick Is Holding Event for COVID-19 Relief
Corona Relief Done Quick
Games Done Quick is one of the biggest and most popular gaming events for charity. Every year they host a couple of events raising money, usually for Doctors Without Borders or Prevent Cancer Foundation. While those organizations are always worthy causes, there is one problem that is staring us all right in the face: COVID-19. This pandemic has ravaged every industry, including the video game industry. Pretty much every event, conference, and convention has been cancelled, Summer Games Done Quick included. However, Games Done Quick has put together a more immediate plan to provide COVID-19 relief.
Corona Relief Done Quick is currently underway, donating proceeds to Direct Relief. Usually, a Games Done Quick event would break the rules of social distancing by gathering a bunch of gamers and audience members into a convention hall, but during this event, speedrunners are playing from home, like the GDQs of old, before they reached the success and popularity of today. The first game played during this event was Donkey Kong Country and the last game scheduled for Sunday will be Kingdom Hearts II.
A few hours into the first day of Corona Relief Done Quick and they have raised over $35,000 for Direct Relief. Today, tomorrow, and Sunday, the event will run until about midnight Eastern Time. You can check out the schedule on their website.
Which speedrun are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments below.
Source: Twitch
Dragon Ball FighterZ Championship Event Cancelled Due to COVID-19
Insider Expects Many Game Delays This Year
AGDQ Makes Multi-Million Dollar Donation to Fight Cancer, its Biggest Ever
Capcom Cup 2021 Is Cancelled For the Same Reason Everything Else Is
Call of Duty League 2022 Returns To In-Person Schedule From January
Resident Evil 2 Voice Actor Passes Away at Age 56
San Diego Comic-Con Officially Cancelled


text:
Prevalence of multiple birth in Isfahan, Iran
Ahmad Yazdekhasti1, Alireza Firouzfar2, Parisa Hajheidari2, Arash Havaei3, Golchehreh Tavakol2, Fereshteh Karbasian4
1 Pediatrician, Amin Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2 Medical Student, Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
3 School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
4 Pediatrician, Mofid Children Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Date of Submission 25-Nov-2016
Date of Decision 03-Jul-2017
Date of Acceptance 28-Aug-2017
Date of Web Publication 27-Mar-2018
Dr. Alireza Firouzfar
School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan
Background: According to increasing rate of using assisted reproductive technology (ART) which result in higher rates of multiple birth and natal difficulties, we aimed to determine the prevalence rate of multiple birth pregnancies. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study evaluating birth files in 2009–2010 of main hospitals of Isfahan, Iran. Results: Among 31640 files' studies, 614 cases of multiple birth pregnancies were investigated. The product of these pregnancies were 1286 (50.2% females) infants including 557 twins (17.6/1000), 56 triplets (1.8/1000), and one case of quadruple (0.03/1000). Infants weigh <2500 g were 84.9% of all. Mothers had a mean age of 27.9 ± 4.9 which 30.4% of them had a positive history of using ART. Conclusion: The prevalence of multiple birth pregnancies is growing. The need for more mother and child care is important. Using ART world wide is leading more multiple birth which could be a cause for more complicated pregnancies.
Keywords: Epidemiology, multiple birth, prevalence, triplet, twin
Yazdekhasti A, Firouzfar A, Hajheidari P, Havaei A, Tavakol G, Karbasian F. Prevalence of multiple birth in Isfahan, Iran. J Res Med Sci 2018;23:25
Yazdekhasti A, Firouzfar A, Hajheidari P, Havaei A, Tavakol G, Karbasian F. Prevalence of multiple birth in Isfahan, Iran. J Res Med Sci [serial online] 2018 [cited 2019 Jul 16];23:25. Available from: http://www.jmsjournal.net/text.asp?2018/23/1/25/228591
Each of two or more individuals of the same pregnancy period of the same mother is called twins or multiples.[1] Multiple pregnancies are high-risk pregnancies which about 14% of neonatal mortalities are related to.[2] The prevalence of twins and triplets is due to multiple factors such as racial factors (e.g., 6% in Nigeria, 10% in Brazil, and 1% among whites), mother individual characteristics, and also using assisted reproductive technology (ART).[3],[4],[5],[6] Meanwhile, the mean prevalence rate in the world is reported 3%.[2]
A considerable issue is the recent growing trend of this prevalence rate, which requires more intensive care units and more prenatal and maternal care. This increasing trend is shown in United States, Spain, and Beijing.[7],[8],[9]
Due to use of the ARTs in Iran, which is the most leery in this issue, we aimed to calculate the recent prevalence rate of multiple birth pregnancies in Isfahan, in 2009–2010.
In this descriptive cross-sectional study, all files related to births in 2009–2010 of main hospitals in Isfahan were evaluated and applicable data were collected. Finally, data were classified and released by SPSS statistical software(version 16.0; Chicago, INC., IL) presented as mean and standard deviation.
A total of 31,640 files were gone under study. Of which 614 were cases of multiple birth pregnancies. The products of these pregnancies were 1286 infants including 557 twins (17.6/1000), 56 triplets (1.8/1000), and just one case of quadruple (0.03/1000) [Table 1].
Table 1: Characteristics of multiple neonates born in 2009 and 2010
Mothers had mean ages of 27.9 ± 4.9 (17–46 range). In this regard, 34.3% of mothers were 30 and above. The mean gestational age at birth time was 34.3 ± 3.5 weeks which only 27.2% of them were term pregnancies (>37 weeks). Mothers with a history of infertility and ART used were 30.4% of total. In relation to delivery mode, there were just three cases of natural vaginal delivery – which were for twins – and the rest were cesareans section deliveries.
A total of 646 (50.2%) infants born in 1286 were females. 52% of first offsprings were male and 52% of the second were female. In a case of quadruple, the first was male and the rest were female. The mean birth weight of infants from the first to the fourth was 2253.9 ± 1091, 2213 ± 667.8, 1750.9, and 600 g, respectively [Table 2]. Most of these neonates weigh <2500 g (84.9%).
Table 2: Body birth weight categories splitted by the order of neonate
In our study, the prevalence of multiple birth pregnancies in Isfahan in the years 2009 and 2010 were 19.4/1000 births. Low birth weight neonates were 84.9% of all 1286. Furthermore, about one-thirds of these mothers accounted for receiving ART for any reason. Again about one-thirds of these mothers were older than 30 years old. These two latter factors are playing important role in high multiple birth rate. This prevalence rate comparing with previous studies in Iran shows significant increase. So that in the years 1996–2000, the twin and triplet delivery rates were 6.7 and 0.15/thousand births, respectively, in Mashhad, Iran, which have been obtained by Hamedi and Akhlaqi.[10] Despite the location, a developing trend is seen in the last two decades. A trend that has also been observed in advanced countries. In the United States, there have been a growth of 59% in the years 1980–1999,[9] 63% and 217% increase in twins and triplets, respectively, in Spain [8] and in Beijing.[7]
In this study, the prevalence of multiple birth in 2009–2010 with elevated health risks and accompanying greater healthcare costs.
I want to acknowledge all major hospitals for accompany including Alzahra, Beheshti, Saadi, and Sina except Mehregan Hospital who did not allow us to review their files although we had permission paper from the ethical department of Isfahan university.
Cunningham F, Leveno K, Bloom S, Spong C, Dashe J. Multifetal pregnancy. Williams Obstetrics. 24th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education; 2014.
Collins J. Global epidemiology of multiple birth. Reprod Biomed Online 2007;15 Suppl 3:45-52.
Knox G, Morley D. Twinning in yoruba women. J Obstet Gynaecol Br Emp 1960;67:981-4.
MacGillivray I. Epidemiology of twin pregnancy. Semin Perinatol 1986;10:4-8.
Matte U, Le Roux MG, Bénichou B, Moisan JP, Giugliani R. Study on possible increase in twinning rate at a small village in South Brazil. Acta Genet Med Gemellol (Roma) 1996;45:431-7.
Myrianthopoulos NC. An epidemiologic survey of twins in a large, prospectively studied population. Am J Hum Genet 1970;22:611-29.
Chen F, Teng H, Teng Y, Wang W, Zhao J, Wu M, et al. Trend and outcome of multiple pregnancies in Beijing, 1996-2010. Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi 2014;35:276-9.
Herrera RJ, Torres MO, Santos RF, Flores RC, Sánchez GF. Multiple pregnancies prevalence: Its raise on last decade. Ginecol Obstet Mex 2008;76:507-11.
Russell RB, Petrini JR, Damus K, Mattison DR, Schwarz RH. The changing epidemiology of multiple births in the United States. Obstet Gynecol 2003;101:129-35.
Hamedi A, Akhlaqi F. A Survey of multiple birth in Mashad, Iran. J. Pediatr. 2003;12:46-49
Yazdekhasti A
Firouzfar A
Hajheidari P
Havaei A
Tavakol G
Karbasian F


An audio tape surfaced Saturday where Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan is purportedly heard saying that he wanted to resign as his views on candidate selection were not being heeded by the leadership. When asked by reporters, Chavan said he was not aware of such a tape, but conceded that there was discontent in the party regarding the choice of Vinayak Bangade as Congress candidate for the Chandrapur Lok Sabha seat. In the audio clip which went viral, a party worker named Rajurkar from Chandrapur is heard complaining about the choice of candidate when the party is sure to win in Chandrapur. Chavan is heard telling him to speak to Mukul Wasnik, the Congress s Central Election Committee head. Nobody is listening to me and I am in a mood to resign, Chavan is purportedly heard saying further. He is also heard telling Rajurkar to ask Bangade not to contest. In the end he is heard asking Rajurkar to share Bangade s contact number. At a press conference here where the ..