text:
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LV The Book
He is Louis Vuitton's soul-mate. With his camera and his boyhood dreams slung over his shoulder, Jean Larivière crisscrosses the globe on a quest for the elusive ideal image – one that captures water, earth, sky… and the spirit of travel. Portrait of an alchemist and adventurer.
THE SIDE-CAR IN PATAGONIA
"The wilds of Patagonia, 1989. This was the first time I thought of introducing vintage toys in a photograph, which would become one of the themes of my work for Louis Vuitton. I shot the side-car in black and white on stony ground. Note, above all, that the products have disappeared from the image. All that is left is the LV on the side-car. It was very daring at the time. The photo is now in a museum, in the collection of the Pompidou Center."
THE DANCE OF THE OARSMEN
"This is one of my most famous images. Its originality comes from the fact that it seems to have no background, like a studio photo taken outdoors. I waited for days to find the right light to achieve that effect. It occurs when, on one side of Lake Inle in Burma, the sun comes out behind a mountain range, and then the sky and the water seem to merge. Once I had found the light, I needed to find the right oarsmen. Not to mention the boat. The one I had my eye on, a majestic craft used to transport the tooth of the Buddha, could not take a woman on board. So I had to go for something smaller."
THE MONKS AND THE HOT-AIR BALLOON
"On Lake Inle, Burma, in 1997, I photographed a hot-air balloon marked with the LV initials. I had it made in a small town in the region which specialized in paper articles. I invited monks from the monastery of jumping cats (yes, their specialty was training cats to jump through hoops!) to come along. They built a raft on which I set up a Shan orchestra, which played through the night as the team finalized its preparations. As dawn broke, we were ready, and the hot-air balloon took off."
THE LITTLE BOY AND THE COMET
"This photo was taken off Hong Kong in 1986. It is one of a series of nine works around the theme of Halley's Comet, for which I created a whole narrative, like a fairytale. Here, a young boy is waiting for night to fall so that he can see the comet pass."
THE PANORAMAS
"From 1978, I shot all Louis Vuitton campaigns in panoramic format, which seems to me to lend itself best to the ethos of travel, capturing vast spaces in all their grandeur. These five images are representative of my work for the House: shot all over the world, in Ladakh, Rajasthan, and Chile. The last photo is part of a series entitled 'The Expedition'. I wanted to depict a rocket landing on a planet in a solar system other than our own. We looked for a place with a real impact crater, like on the Moon. We found it in Chile after walking for five hours through rocky terrain. I put a pictogram of Monogram canvas on the toy rocket. On the left of the picture, just out of frame, are the ruins of an Inca habitat, since this site was close to the high trail of the Incas."
THE ASTRONAUT-PILGRIMS
"In Tibet, near a lake at altitude, I encountered a group of lamas. I explained to them with drawings and sign language that they came from the Moon! I have always been fascinated by Tibet – a country where people believe in reincarnation and practice levitation… They very kindly agreed to wear these astronaut helmets and small Louis Vuitton backpacks."
THE TRAVELS OF HALLEY
"Comets are, by their very nature, the greatest travelers of all. Just before Halley's Comet was due to appear, I was leaving the Louis Vuitton family home in Asnières by a back door, which was unusual, and I found myself in 'rue de la Comète'. That had to be a sign! The coincidence inspired me to create a series of works as part of an almost mythological narrative. I imagined the comet as a young girl traveling around the world with the LV logo in her arms. In one image, she bids goodbye to Planet Earth by leaving her LV on the side of a mountain. The shoot took place by moonlight on the Maïdo volcanic peak in Réunion."
THE GOLF BALL
"For ten years at the start of my career, I worked on a cinematic research project entitled Never/Always. In graphic terms, it contains everything I developed later on. I experimented with a whole range of techniques, mixing various methods, including photograms, photographs defined by line drawings, tracing etc. The idea was to capture the space-time between two images. So I was selling the time that had elapsed between one image and the next, as here."
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While mediation resolves disputes faster and more easily than litigation, it is not always possible or appropriate. Arbitration is another method of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) where a neutral third party hears the arguments and evidence presented from each side and decides the outcome of the case. This process is more flexible and often has more relaxed rules of procedure than a court proceeding. Christian Mediation in Phoenix has helped many clients resolve their issues using arbitration.
Call (602) 362-7360 now to learn more about the options available through arbitration using Christian Mediation.
If you're in the middle of a personal or business dispute and have already tried to resolve the issue through mediation, or if you think arbitration is more suitable for your case, contact the nationwide network of Christian professionals at Christian Mediation. With offices in most major cities, Christian Mediation can partner you with a mediation or arbitration expert near you.
Call our national headquarters in Phoenix at (602) 362-7360 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.


Portray.us would be a great domain name for a photography or a portrait painting studio, bringing your business to the next level.
Portray is well-searched on Google: 110,000 global searches per month and 60,500 local (US), and competition for adwords is highly competitive, which means that if you develop Portray.us into your business portal, you would most likely save money on adwords and advertising.
It is no secret that Google ranks developed websites higher than just web portals, so Portray.us (YOUR website) could very well sit at the top of the page for your photography or portrait-painting business.
While we cannot guarantee that you will garner the top spot (the search engines make those determinations), we can say that this premium piece of web real estate will help boost your business on a local level.
All starred information is required. Inquiries missing this info and ridiculously low-ball figures will not be acknowledged.


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Follow @vkuhn
I am a Professor in the Media Arts + Practice Division of the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California. My work centers on the ways in which communication and expression are impacted by digital culture, particularly with the addition to text of sound, images and interactivity as semiotic resources. My current research projects are: The VAT (video analysis tableau) applies computational analysis to the study of moving image media and the Library Machine which uses a gestural interface to conduct visual search of artists book and other artifacts from Special Collections in the USC Libraries. I direct the Honors in Multimedia Scholarship program and a graduate certificate in Media Arts and Culture and I teach a range of undergraduate and graduate courses, all of which marry theory and practice.
I joined USC in 2005 after successfully defending one of the first media-rich, born-digital dissertations in the United States, challenging archiving and copyright conventions (see this article in Academe for details). My dissertation, Ways of Composing: Visual Literacy in the Digital Age, challenged copyright and archiving conventions. Committed to helping shape emergent tools for scholarly endeavors, I published the first article created in the authoring platform, Scalar. "Filmic Texts and the Rise of the Fifth Estate," appeared in the International Journal of Learning and Media (Spring, 2011). After co-editing two peer-reviewed digital anthologies with Victor Vitanza (Kairos, 2006, 2010), I co-edited a print-based anthology with Vicki Callahan titled, Future Texts: Subversive Performance and Feminist Bodies (Parlor Press, 2015) and am currently working on a monograph.
I was the 2009 recipient of the USC Provost's award for Teaching with Technology, and I co-chaired the Scholarly Interest Group on Media Literacy and Pedagogical Outreach for the Society for Cinema and Media Studies for several years. I also currently serve on the editorial boards of Kairos: A Journal of Rhetoric, Technology, and Pedagogy, PRE/TEXT: A Journal of Rhetorical Theory, and the Journal of Interactive Technology and Pedagogy, [in]Transition, and REFRAME: Research in Media, Film and Music. Before joining USC, I taught in departments of Film, English, and Cultural Studies and I spent three years as a member of the writing program administration team at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where I earned my doctorate.
My author page at Amazon.
Article in the Chronicle of Higher Ed: Digital Dissertation Dust Up

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


It will take years before the tech company realizes its vision for the city's core. But a key City Council vote this week lays the groundwork.
Come Tuesday, San Jose's elected leaders will consider Google's offer to pay $111 million in exchange for 10.5 acres of public land—some owned by the city, some by the successor to the defunct Redevelopment Agency—with the option of buying 11 more acres in the future. That's $237.50 per square foot, or two-and-a-half times what neighboring properties appraised for in 2017, but well below what Google spent as part of its recent $1 billion office park purchase in Mountain View.
The memorandum of understanding going before San Jose's 11-member council Tuesday follows a year of contentious debate over Google's impact and the city's dealings with the multinational search-and-advertising giant.
Business boosters such as the San Jose Downtown Association, the Silicon Valley Organization and the Silicon Valley Leadership Group have held up Google as a way to correct the city's jobs-housing imbalance. Under California's municipal tax structure, commercial development generates more revenue than residential, which means San Jose's lack of jobs compared to housing translates to less money for public services. That's why, in the midst of a history housing shortage and affordability crisis, the city prioritizes new jobs over new homes.
Though surveys by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group indicate strong public support for Google's move to San Jose, a number of community groups have criticized the city over past closed-door talks with the company and decision to only broach the subject of public concessions until after finalizing land sales.
Two nonprofits, Working Partnerships USA and the First Amendment Coalition, sued the city last month for signing confidentiality agreements with Google. The MOU on Tuesday's council agenda includes the sale price and other details of the deal, but, according to the lawsuit, the non-disclosure documents signed by about a dozen city officials last year suggest that some details were kept from public view, according to the complaint filed last month in Santa Clara County Superior Court. The city maintains that the NDAs were legal and justifiable.
Meanwhile, Silicon Valley Rising, another nonprofit associated with Working Partnerships, has joined a chorus of activists in highlighting Google's potential to exacerbate displacement and housing costs unless it somehow mitigates its impact. The Affordable Housing Network of Silicon Valley, a group that advocates for the city's renters and 4,300-plus homeless people, set up a tent outside San Jose City Hall on Monday to call attention to Google's potential to displace San Jose's poorest residents.
In a press release Monday, Affordable Housing Network organizer Sandy Perry said the city would be wise to convert its public parcels by the Diridon Station into a community land trust instead of selling them to Google. "Public land should remain a public asset and should not be sold off to the highest bidder," Perry wrote.
The mayor and his allies, however, contend that Google could help solve some of San Jose's problems. Liccardo said he will push to have 25 percent of new housing by the Diridon Station below market-rate. Discussions about a commercial linkage fee, which would generate additional affordable housing revenue by imposing a new charge on developers, are ongoing as well.
Negotiations about a community benefits package will begin in earnest once the city sells its share of the development footprint. Though the city will give up valuable public assets in the transaction, Liccardo said San Jose will maintain significant leverage. For one, San Jose has the power to decide whether to approve taller buildings in the development zone, which would provide the biggest economic benefit to Google. Not to mention, the city still wields authority over basic zoning changes.
"Unless and until the city approves changes on the land use designations and zoning—after Google applies and obtains approvals in a public process that will likely culminate in 2020 or so—nothing gets built," he wrote in his Medium essay.
Just a thought, how many H1b's will be inhabiting all that affordable house and who going to be the land lord?
Are you interested in a Pulitzer prize?


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Q: How to get checkboxes values for JSP page? I can get a single value for an item in jsp page by id. But I can't able to get checkboxes value. How can I get checkboxes value by id or anything else. when i will click in order page it will collect all products name and product price
Screenshot

Code is:

                    ID
                    Choose Product
                    Product Name
                    Product Price
                    Action

                <%
                String Host = "jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306/shopbilling";
                Connection connection = null;
                Statement statement = null;
                ResultSet rs = null;
                Class.forName("com.mysql.jdbc.Driver");
                connection = DriverManager.getConnection(Host, "root", "");
                statement = connection.createStatement();
                String query = request.getParameter("q");
                String data;
                if(query != null)
                {
                data = "select * from products_tbl where product_name like '%"+query+"%' or product_price like '%"+query+"%'";
                }
                else
                {
                data = "select * from products_tbl";
                }
                rs = statement.executeQuery(data);
                while (rs.next()) {
                %>

                    <%=rs.getString("id")%>
                     <input type="checkbox" />
                    <%=rs.getString("product_name")%>
                    <%=rs.getString("product_price")%>

                       <a href='edit.jsp?u=<%=rs.getString("id")%>' class="btn btn-warning">Edit
                        <a href='delete.jsp?d=<%=rs.getString("id")%>' class="btn btn-danger">Delete

                <%
                }
                %>

       Order

A: Here you can use value tag of <input type="checkbox"> to put the data to user.Then you need to give a attribute 'name' to all of these check-boxes, which you can keep same and then you can grab all the selected values as an array.
Here is a changes you need to make in this code::

                    ID
                    Choose Product
                    Product Name
                    Product Price
                    Action

                <%
                String Host = "jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306/shopbilling";
                Connection connection = null;
                Statement statement = null;
                ResultSet rs = null;
                Class.forName("com.mysql.jdbc.Driver");
                connection = DriverManager.getConnection(Host, "root", "");
                statement = connection.createStatement();
                String query = request.getParameter("q");
                String data;
                if(query != null)
                {
                data = "select * from products_tbl where product_name like '%"+query+"%' or product_price like '%"+query+"%'";
                }
                else
                {
                data = "select * from products_tbl";
                }
                rs = statement.executeQuery(data);
                while (rs.next()) {
                %>

                    <%=rs.getString("id")%>
                     <input type="checkbox"  name="products" value ="<%=rs.getString("id")%>" />
                    <%=rs.getString("product_name")%>
                    <%=rs.getString("product_price")%>

                       <a href='edit.jsp?u=<%=rs.getString("id")%>' class="btn btn-warning">Edit
                        <a href='delete.jsp?d=<%=rs.getString("id")%>' class="btn btn-danger">Delete

                <%
                }
                %>

       Order

And while receiving the result you need to use something like this::
<%

    String products[] = request.getParameterValues("products");
    if (products!= null && products.length != 0) {
        out.println("You have selected: ");
        for (int i = 0; i < products.length; i++) {
             out.println(products[i]);
        }
    }
%>

Hope this helped you!!
Happy Coding:)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Plastic Adirondack Chairs have become a common sight and their demand is growing by the day. The Adirondack Chair has always found favor among people because it enhances and transforms the appearance of the outdoors. Over the years, these chairs attended a long way to achieve their contemporary look and design. While wood has traditionally been preferred material to produce these sets, new materials are gradually substituting it. Plastic is being certainly one of them.
While many want to own these traditional seating, the rising cost of wood has made them from the take many. Besides the first cost, wood chairs need regular maintenance to enhance their life and prevent them from rotting. If employed for outdoor purposes, the maintenance is even higher. Not everyone might have the time and energy to care for their furniture. Keeping because these various limitations and the corresponding great things about plastic, its use has been encouraged in the manufacture of Adirondack Chairs.
Though some can still prefer wooden Adirondack seating due to their conventional look, plastic has changed into a good substitute. These seats are more affordable in comparison to the wooden counterparts and therefore suited to every pocket.
These seats involve only one time cost and do not want any type of regular maintenance. Plastic-type undoubtedly comes with an edge over wood in regards to maintenance. It can survive harsh weather conditions without you needing to constantly worry about safeguarding and protecting them from the exterior weather. The material is also very durable and hence lasts long.
Unlike in case there is wood, you may not need certainty to take care of recycled plastic furniture by regularly applying coatings to protect it from ageing or insects. In case of outdoor use cleaning becomes a crucial issue. These chairs can be conveniently washed with water. Being lightweight, these could be easily carried or moved to other locations.
Utilization of recycled plastic to create Adirondack Chairs also causes it to be an environment friendly option. It helps save trees.
These Adirondack chairs provide some slack from its customary wooden look. The usage of plastic makes possible several interesting variations in the look that might not be possible with wood. Further, it allows for a wide range of color options. You can match your furniture along with your outside decor.
While offering these additional benefits, the fundamental section of an Adirondack Chair, namely comfort, remains intact in the event of Plastic Adirondack Chair.


For graduate students, the course number is LAW7071HF.
Note: This course will be offered every other year.
Children have a special legal status in society. Considered to be in need of protections, they also experience significant limits on their own agency and autonomy. This course will explore the legal status of children in Canada from their historical treatment as property of their parents or the state, to a more expansive child rights approach that is inconsistently applied today. Topics covered will include children within the family, with a particular emphasis on child protection, children and the Charter, indigenous children, and decision-making by children, along with key concepts such as the best interests of the child, the competency and developmental capacity of children and youth, and what is meant by child rights. Course readings will include major cases, legislation and critical analysis of the treatment of children and adolescents in our legal system. International and multidisciplinary perspectives will provide broader insights into child and youth advocacy and the approach to childrens rights stemming from the global recognition of child rights enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The seminar will include interactions with guests from professional disciplines who collaborate in the field of child advocacy including social workers, psychologists and child rights advocates. Students will learn how our society defines, upholds, advances and protects the rights of children, and what the role of the lawyer is when representing children in different legal contexts.
Understand basic concepts of the law related to children and youth.
Comprehend and appreciate the historical, socio-economic and cultural context in which child and family laws, policies and practices have been developed and implemented.
Understand and be able to apply a child rights perspective to legal advocacy, policy or analysis.
Develop a basic understanding of child and adolescent development and its impact on law, policy and practice.
Situate the law as it applies to Canadian children within the broader international perspectives of international treaties and diverse cultures.
Understand the unique role and ethical responsibilities of lawyers who represent child clients.
Term work (40%): participation, which includes attendance and meaningful input into discussion (10%); two written assignments, approximately 1000 words each, critically reflecting on the readings or guest lectures (30%) Final Project or Practicum (60%): 5000 word end-of-term paper or practicum. At least six students will be able to fulfil their final project requirement by working on a practicum, which will consist of working with a practitioner in a legal clinic, government office, or public interest group representing children and youth. Evaluation will be based on the work product (which will entail legal research and memo writing), an annotated docket sheet, as well as a reflective essay on the practicum experience.


Suspenders are not the kind of wardrobe item you would want to find in his closet. They usually make us cringe and we like to pretend that they do not exist really. There are a few men, though, who really know how to make them look good. See proof above.


text:
Home»Educating for Redemptive Community (Paperback)
Educating for Redemptive Community (Paperback)
By Denise Janssen (Editor), Mary Elizabeth Moore (Foreword by)
Jesus made claims about redemptive community throughout his ministry when he called people to extravagant grace. Even in the midst of the oppression of his day, Jesus preached and taught that redemptive community was possible if his followers would simply stop hoarding, hiding, and excluding. What a prophetic word for today in the midst of modern day oppression and fears of scarcity In this edited volume, in honor of religious education scholars Jack Seymour and Margaret Ann Crain, eight of their PhD advisees--each scholars in their own right--join Seymour and Crain to lay out their vision of redemptive community. Rooted in their own scholarship, each contributor proposes ways in which Jesus' vision of redemptive community can become reality in churches and congregations, and in our larger world. In addition to essays by Jack Seymour and Margaret Ann Crain, scholars contributing to this volume include Dori Grinenko Baker, Reginald Blount, Evelyn L. Parker, Mai-Anh Le Tran, Leah Gunning Francis, Carmichael Crutchfield, Debora B.A. Junker, and Denise Janssen. The foreword by Mary Elizabeth Moore and afterword by Seymour and Crain set the volume in the larger context of the church and academy. "Educating for Redemptive Community is a treasure of cutting edge scholarship on the ability of education within faith communities to address the world's most pressing issues. . . . There could not be a more fitting description of a faithful response to the needs of a world in crisis, nor for the deep and abiding values that flow through Crain's and Seymour's years of individual and collaborative work. This volume leads readers into an illuminating exploration of both." --Lucinda Huffaker, Executive Secretary, Religious Education Association, Director of Supervised Ministries, Yale Divinity School "The fabric of faith that has been woven in the lives of Crain and Seymour is visible in the themes of these contributors--how belief transforms individuals and communities for living together with a public face of faith. These essays reveal a patchwork quilt of hope and challenge for all who seek to live in response to God's call." --Elizabeth F. Caldwell, Professor Emerita, McCormick Theological Seminary Adjunct Professor, Vanderbilt University Divinity School "In this collection of essays, these scholar-practitioners of religious education . . . reflect upon what it means to educate for redemptive community. . . . This book is a testimony to their commitment to religious education and theological education." --Virginia Lee, Associate Professor of Christian Education & Director of Deacon Studies, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary "This book is a guiding light for all people committed to working for the common good. . . . Crain and Seymour's diversity of background, denomination, ethnicity, and nationality offer a dialogical approach to tackling issues that threaten the future of life on earth. . . . Crain and Seymour continue to make significant contributions to both the content and the processes that foster faithful and redemptive ways of living." --Linda J. Vogel, Professor Emerita, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary Denise Janssen is Assistant Professor of Christian Education at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University. She is the author of Fostering Faith: Teaching and Learning in the Christian Church (2014) and Reclaimed: Faith in an Emerging Generation (2015).
Publisher: Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication Date: October 1st, 2015
Christian Church - General
Christianity - Denominations
Christian Theology - General
Kobo eBook (October 1st, 2015): $22.00
Hardcover (October 1st, 2015): $40.00


text:
m3120 BC-MN-AppealsCourt-Minn 07-14 0245
By • Wire-Datastream
Appeals Court rejects challenge to Mpls. cab rule
Eds: APNewsNow.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A federal appeals court has turned back a challenge against a move by the city of Minneapolis to put more taxis on the streets.
The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by drivers of Minneapolis' largest cab companies challenging the city's decision to issue more taxi licenses.
Under the new rules, a taxi driver pays just $475 for a license. The Minneapolis Taxi Owners Coalition had said most of its drivers bought transferable licenses for as much as $25,000 and deserved compensation.
Scott Bullock, an attorney at the Institute for Justice, argued the case on behalf of smaller cab operators who supported the change. He says the decision is a victory for consumers and taxi entrepreneurs.
Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com


And for your dairy it`s on the 10th of May 2014, the actual meeting will start at 2 pm to allow you all to get there.
A first for us as it`s a 12.1/4″ line as opposed to the more usual 10 ¼" so unless some kind soul builds a converter wagon I am afraid there won`t be any visiting locos.
At our last AGM if you remember it was decided each year to either `come South` or alternate years to hold the thing `up North` to give everyone the chance of getting to the meeting at least every other year.
You will get formal notice a month from the meeting but Its always better to give the few like me a chance, us having noted it in the new year dairy you meant to keep up but forgot about well before February and now can`t find it at all!
So far on the agenda we have items on moving the date of the AGM to after the season, as at the moment the date always clashes with certain other older societies, which a fair number of our members are also part of causing a conflict of priorities.
The need for more input from the members, filling the available posts on the staff, there being a number of posts to fill, the election of officers and where do we go from here.
Whether you live close by or you are travelling some distance and intend to stay over, there is an open invitation from the Ingfield Light Railway (Private railway) to all society members to join them on Sunday 11 May, they will have several locomotives in steam, this is a very generouse offer and a rare chance to spend some time at this delightful railway.
The Ingfield Light Railway is in the Billinghurst area, about 25 miles (45 mins) from the AGM.
If you have anything for the meeting please let me know asap please.


text:
Keith Humphrey Sworn In As New Chief Of Little Rock Police Department
KUAR
Sarah Kellogg
Little Rock officially has a new police chief. Keith Humphrey gave his oath of office on Monday at Little Rock City Hall. Humphrey was one of four finalists for the position after former Chief Kenton Buckner left to become the chief of police in Syracuse. Each finalist held a public forum where they gave a presentation and took questions from the audience. Mayor Frank Scott Jr. announced his decision to hire Humphrey in March.
At Monday's ceremony, Scott called Humphrey a "man of integrity" and that Humphrey will help strengthen the department's connection to the public.
"He will strengthen for some and others what has been a city in need of making certain that we not only protect and serve its community, but the community understands that we are protecting and serving," Scott said. Scott also said safety is a priority for the city.
"As we work together, we will create the city of not only a great city of Little Rock, but for the city of Little Rock to be the safest city in the state of Arkansas, and the south in this great nation,' Scott said.
Judge Mark Leverett of the Little Rock District Court administered the oath to Humphrey. After the oath, Humphrey, formerly the police chief in Norman, Oklahoma said he initially offered to start in late April, but wanted to move the date up sooner.
"We got a lot of work to do. This is a great department, it really is. All of the research that I've done. I'm fortunate enough to know a lot of people here. We've visited this city on numerous occasions and let me tell you, whatever's fractured, we're going to fix. I can promise you that," Humphrey said. Calling the job a "dream come true" and that he was excited to get started, Humphrey also said he is not one to mince words.
"I'll never lie to you. I'll always be honest. You may not like some of the things I say, but I will do it in tact, I can tell you that. I will do it very professionally. I will listen," Humphrey said.
While Humphrey is now the chief, Little Rock will also conduct a change of command ceremony on Saturday, April 28 at the Robinson Center.
Local & Regional NewsLittle Rock Police Department


text:
Between omnipotence and mistrust, a look back at a pivotal year for the tech giants
December 18, 2020 by bold-lichterman
The Covid-19 pandemic, by accelerating the digital transition, has devoted the omnipotence of the tech giants to billions of daily users, but also sounded the awakening of States in the face of their grip. Meetings on Zoom, searches on Google, purchases on Amazon, exchanges on WhatsApp and parties in front of Netflix: already in a position of strength before the epidemic, the American Gafam (Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple and Microsoft) and the Chinese Batx (Baidu , Alibaba, Tencent and Xiaomi) have become ubiquitous during the year 2020. These "superstars" of platform capitalism "Gave the feeling, in this world where so many things which seemed solid are today weakened, to be above ground and even invincible", summarizes the economist Joëlle Toledano, professor at Paris-Dauphine.
Even more than economic (Google is suffering from a slack in the advertising market, Booking.com is suffering from the cessation of tourism, etc.) their triumph is financial. While states spend trillions to avoid serial bankruptcies and mass unemployment, the stock market value of Gafams continues to swell: they now weigh nearly 8 trillion dollars on the stock market – more than three times the GDP of France – against a little over 2,000 billion five years ago. Since January, their prices seem to have been boosted by the Covid: + 35% for Facebook, + 67% for Amazon, + 68% for Apple. What about Zoom, created in 2011 by a Californian engineer, whose shares jumped 600% in 2020? Airbnb whose share doubled in value on the day it was floated on the stock market? For their part, long confined to the local market, Chinese applications are beginning to spread throughout the world: TikTok, of course, but also SHEIN (clothing) or Likee (videos).
Take back power
But the year 2020 also marked the awakening of the States, which want to put a brake on the unbridled expansion, through hundreds of acquisitions, of these conglomerates of the new millennium. "Until 2017, we considered that the benefits provided, particularly in terms of innovation, outweighed the damage caused", but the tide has turned, explains Joëlle Toledano, author of "Gafa: let's take back power! "In addition to de facto controlling access to the digital world – the Google search engine holds 93% of the market share – these monopolies lock their users into" locked ecosystems ", underlines the economist.
Drawing lessons from the failures of the past – long and late procedures, fines not very dissuasive – Brussels has put on the job an ambitious set of new rules, ranging from competition to the fight against online hatred through the transparency of algorithms. The proceedings are also increasing in the United States against Google and Facebook for abuse of a dominant position. Summoned to account, the bosses of the sector have been summoned several times before Congress.
In China, the authorities have been tightening up the regulation of the content of various platforms for several months. They also announced new regulations for online commerce. And the in extremis suspension of the IPO of the online payment giant Ant Group has been interpreted as a warning from the Chinese government to a sector which has become extremely powerful, and which has generated considerable fortunes.
The power of "Big Tech" is also increasingly contested by civil society, without this anger having hitherto affected their economic performance, nor the enthusiasm of consumers or Internet users. "These are incredibly imaginative companies, extraordinarily well managed, and which offer a high quality of service", judge Jacques Crémer, of the Toulouse School of Economics, who warns against the temptation to make " scapegoats ".
In France, Amazon crystallizes discontent, between a call for a boycott of elected officials and a demonstration against each new installation of its huge robotic warehouses. This did not prevent the French branch of Jeff Bezos' company from achieving record sales for its "Black Friday". In the United States, Facebook suffered in July – there either without major economic damage – the boycott of a hundred brands which accused it of not doing enough against racist content, against a backdrop of "Black Lives Matter" mobilization . In California, VTC platforms Uber and Lyft, which refuse to hire their thousands of drivers as required by state law, succeeded in convincing voters to support them, in a crucial referendum on November 3 .
Their psychological hold is also singled out. Star of the documentary broadcast on Netflix "The social dilemma", which accuses the Gafa of leading adolescents to suicide and democracies to civil war, the American economist Shoshana Zuboff thus denounces a "Surveillance capitalism" based on the monetization of personal data. Hence the urgency to organize this "fourth space" where human activity is deployed, after land, sea and air, as described by Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton.


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can democrats take the senate?
Mitch McConnell Officially Losing His Shit, Because The Senate Is IN PLAY, AYUP.
Evan Hurst
Beto pics in this post taken from Beto's Sextagram, we mean Instagram
Joyful news, of the kind that should make you GET OFF YOUR ASS AND WORK. Pundits are finally coming around to what yr Wonkette has been suspectin' for quite some time now, and it is that, despite what looks on paper to be a really harsh landscape for Democrats in the Senate, the upper house is pretty obviously IN PLAY and we could wake up one Wednesday morning in November controlling the whole entire Congress if we GET OFF OUR ASSES AND WORK.
Wanna know how we know the Senate is in play, besides how we are smart? Because Mitch McConnell is freaking out:
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday sounded some of the most doubtful notes of Trump's presidency that Republicans will keep the upper chamber of Congress, telling reporters, "I hope when the smoke clears, we'll still have a majority."
Oh yeah? Well Wonkette hopes when the smoke clears, we'll be able to make out the sound of Mitch McConnell up inside his turtle shell, crying TURTLE TEARS OF SADNESS about how he's going to die a turtle loser minority leader who ain't got no turtle power no more.
Things had been looking pretty nasty, as the Democrats are defending a bunch of seats in states won by Donald Trump. (Those in the most danger would be Joe Manchin in WV; Joe Donnelly in Indiana; Claire McCaskill in Missouri; Heidi Heitkamp in North Dakota; and Bill Nelson in Florida.) Meanwhile Republicans are only defending one seat in a state won by Hillary Clinton, and that is Dean Heller in Nevada.
Thing is, all those races are going pretty OK for the Democrats at this point, some of course better than others. The Cook Political Report currently has the five red state Dems above still listed as toss-ups. Tester in Montana "leans Dem." The other red state Dems, like Bob Casey in Pennsylvania and Debbie Stabenow in Michigan? THEY'RE FINE, at least so far.
As for the Republicans, Dean Heller's seat is a toss-up right now. Oh yeah, and also Jeff Flake's seat in Arizona and Bob Corker's seat in Tennessee. Ted Cruz's seat is still listed as "lean Republican," but our gut says that rating "leans bullshit."
Let's look at a few numbers:
Joe Manchin is up in West Virginia by seven or eight points, according to the Real Clear Politics average.
Joe Donnelly in Indiana, who was supposed to be the easiest get for the GOP, is up about six points.
Heidi Heitkamp (ND) and Claire McCaskill (MO) are about tied in their races.
Jacky Rosen, who is running against Republican Dean Heller in Nevada, is a little bit ahead in the RCP average, but she needs your help. HELP HER!
In Arizona, Democrat Kyrsten Sinema is running just about even with Republican Martha McSally. HELP HER TOO!
At this point, Bill Nelson of Florida is considered the most vulnerable sitting Democratic senator, and the latest poll has Batboy impersonator and current GOP governor Rick Scott up a couple points. But people are wildly excited about voting for Andrew Gillum for governor -- even according to Republican-leaning polling outfits -- so maybe that will help keep Nelson in place. As always, it's about turnout, turnout, turnout, and how do you make that happen? By knocking on doors and making phone calls and giving money! Hit up the Nelson campaign to help here.
Also, there have been some surprises! First of all, there is BETOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
We've slobbered over written about Beto O'Rourke's race against Ted Cruz in Texas quite a bit lately, because the GOP is shitting its pants and hemorrhaging resources, due to how everybody hates Ted Cruz and his foreign-born face, and Texans secretly have been wanting to get off that ride for ages. Well, there's a new ride in town, and his name is BETOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
RIDE HIM! WITH VOTES!
Texas is blanketed with Beto signs, conservative Texans seem confused as hell, and people are fired up and ready to go. The polls still show Beto down a few points, but they're getting closer, and the right amount of enthusiasm and voter participation could really give Texans some Beto O'Rourke in their stocking this Christmas.
Here, watch a video about Karen Collins, a retired quilter in Texas who wasn't really involved in poltiics before President Dipshit got elected, but is now involved at every level, and let her fire you up to help Beto cross the finish line:
But it's not just Beto!
Down here in Tennessee, there's beloved Democratic former governor Phil Bredesen, who is fired up and ready to kick Marsha Blackburn's lunatic ASS this November. And he's up in the polls! We've been watching the national media get all confused about this race, sure of itself that all these polls (every one of 'em) is an outlier, but Tennesseans know the truth, which is that everybody loves Phil Bredesen and everybody hates Marsha Blackburn. (She's kind of our Ted Cruz.)
Tennessee and Texas are clearly All Hands On Deck situations for Democrats (help Beto and Bredesen!), but if we work, and we work for all these incumbent Democrats and we work for Kyrsten Sinema in Arizona and we work to kick Dean Heller's ass in Nevada ... this is DOABLE.
And that is why Mitch McConnell and the GOP are so freaked out.
Oh yeah, and let us just briefly mention to you what might be a sleeper for the Democrats, and it is Mississippi. HEAR US OUT. We are not talking about the regular Mississippi Senate election in November. Roger Wicker is considered SOLID to win re-election. But there's also a Senate primary for Thad Cochran's seat on November 6, to see who will go up against Democrat Mike Espy in the special election November 27. Will he face bugfuck insane Chris McDaniel, or the slightly less insane Cindy Hyde-Smith, whom the governor appointed to fill out Cochran's term? We just don't know, but a recent poll shows Espy beating BOTH OF THEM.
So keep that one in your back pocket, especially if Mississippi selects McDaniel, who, again, is bugfuck insane. We could be looking at a HELLO, DOUG JONES situation in the state next door to Alabama.
The point of this post is DON'T BOO, VOTE, and FIRED UP, READY TO GO, and also more sexxx jokes about riding Beto O'Rourke, because we are gay like that.
Also it is your open thread.
Follow Evan Hurst on Twitter RIGHT NOW, DO IT RIGHT NOW!
Help Wonkette LIVE FOREVER! Seriously, if you can, please hit the nifty donation widget below! Didn't that feel so good?
[Washington Post]
Evan Hurst is the managing editor of Wonkette, which means he is the boss of you, unless you are Rebecca, who is boss of him. His dog Lula is judging you right now.
Follow him on Twitter RIGHT HERE.


Your guests and visitors would simply say, "WOW to this chandelier the moment it catches the eye. And this is what the chandelier is made for – catching ones eye. This traditional 4 light smoked acrylic chandelier is perfect as a general lighting piece in a dining room, entry hall, living room, bedroom, kitchen or bathroom. It features acrylic prisms with chrome accents and uses four 60-watt capacity bulbs. This wonderful chandelier is a perfect addition to any décor. Your room will look like one of those in a palace or castle of Medieval Europe. This beautiful chandelier will bring elegance, freshness and coziness into your house. Everyone will love such a gorgeous chandelier and you'll be happy to receive thousands of compliments on it from your guests. Its installation can take your precious time and patience, but the result is definitely worth all your great efforts. By the way this beautiful chandelier is surprisingly cheap and looks gorgeous and elegant at the same time, so we are sure you can afford it and make your home a special place to live or your working place – a special place to work. You can use it in the interior of classic restaurant, cloth, souvenir shop – it would look original and sophisticated. This chandelier definitely has style.


Crushed aggregates are used in the production of ready-mixed concrete, precast concrete elements and prestressed concrete. Since ancient times the Pantheon in Rome has served as a classical example of a concrete structure. The architects of this building used concretes with different densities to suit the respective structural requirements.
Thanks to its angular grain shape, broken stone achieves an excellent interlock within the concrete, and that helps concretes to achieve particularly impressive final strengths.
Quality chippings are grain sizes that satisfy enhanced specifications regarding shape of grain, oversize and undersize, mechanical resistance and freedom from contamination. Not every stone can fulfil the requirements of a quality chippings specification. Basalt-Actien-Gesellschaft produces quality chippings from various types of rock, including granite, diorite, gabbro, gneiss, quartzite, rhyolite, andesite, basalt, diabase, kuselite or greywacke. The range of quality chippings shows that a stone is not simply a stone!
For many years Deutsche Bahn AG and numerous contractors involved in permanent way works have been putting their faith in Basalt-Actien-Gesellschaft as a competent partner and supplier of high-quality railway ballast. Just-in-time deliveries in this industry, like many others, have become the norm, and are now standard practice in the Basalt Group. The large network of plants allows Basalt-Actien-Gesellschaft to respond flexibly to customers' needs, and the proximity to those customers ensures that adequate supplies are available at all times. These advantages simplify planning and coordination for our customers, even in the case of major construction projects.
Wherever roads, railways or structures need a firm foundation, graded aggregates, prepared to optimised grading curves and compacted in situ, can achieve the necessary load-bearing capacity. The specification regarding load-carrying capacity, water permeability or frost resistance determines the best type of aggregate for macadam, sub-bases, etc. Less critical applications can utilise aggregates such as stony soil, screenings, backfill material or ungraded blasted rock, which are not covered by quality-control measures.
Basalt AG was originally founded to supply stone for coastal protection projects in the Netherlands. Rocks of various sizes and weights (up to several tonnes) are still supplied today for strengthening banks and dykes. Hard rocks with particularly high density, strength and frost resistance are ideal for such purposes.
The German public became all too aware of the importance of flood prevention schemes again in recent years following the severe flooding along the Elbe, Mulde and Oder rivers.
Ensuring secure transportation by rail isn't just about providing good quality locomotives, waggons and running gear, but also a matter of ensuring that the rails that these carriages run on is of a good standard.


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The JCC's Bulletin dates back to the 1930s, when it was a premier source of news for the local Jewish community. We are proud to continue this tradition of keeping our JCC community informed via our virtual Bulletin.
The bulletin circa 1974
COVID 19 Services
Family Solutions To Memory Loss
ITeens
40th Annual Golf & Tennis Classic raises over $125,000!
On Monday, October 19th, we held our 40th Annual Golf & Tennis Classic. Over 120 people joined us for a day of golf, tennis, and socially distant fun! Check out some photos from the day below! Best of all, we raised over $125,000 for JCC Kids in Need programs! Without your support, this wouldn't have been possible.
To see more pictures and learn more, click here.
40th Annual Golf & Tennis Classic to take place on October 19th
On Monday, October 19th, the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island will hold its 40th Annual Golf & Tennis Classic, presented by IDB Bank. The event, which was pushed back from its original July date, will take place at the Richmond County Country Club and adhere to COVID-19 safety protocols.
Funds raised at this event allow the JCC to award scholarships to children who are desperately in need. Some of these scholarships go to children with special needs, offering them a joyous and safe summer led by highly experienced staff at no cost to their families. Scholarship recipients are the children of working mothers and fathers, including single parents, who cannot afford to send their children to camp and other JCC programs due to financial issues.
"With everything changing around us, one theme has stayed consistent—the JCC remains committed to helping children in our community," said Orit Lender, JCC CEO. "Your support will directly impact Staten Island families who need our help the most. We hope you will join us for a fun day out on the course and courts!"
Golf and tennis players will receive a continental breakfast and lunch, along with the chance to win contests and prizes. Tennis players will have access to a clinic, hosted by a tennis pro. Following the event, the winner of a $10,000 raffle will be drawn virtually.
To learn more or register, click here!
Students design mural at Gerard Carter Center
On Friday, September 25th, staff from the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island joined with representatives from the Mayor's Office and NYCHA to unveil a new mural at the Gerard Carter Center. The mural was created by 30 high school students from the V.I.B.E. and A.G.V.E.P. summer program, which is run through the JCC's Cornerstone program at the Carter Center.
The students worked on the project for seven weeks and were tasked with creating a mural that represents their "ideal community."
"We talked about advocacy and art, and how one individual can make an impact in the community," noted Kayla McGoy, a college student who worked with the youth on the project. "This means so much to me. We worked very hard to make sure these young people can make an impact."
The mural represents the students' aspirations for the future of the Stapleton community. The themes represented include health, economic prosperity, family, diversity, and an end to drugs and gun violence.
"Over the past few months, we've experienced so much pain and tragedy. That's why seeing a project like this come to life gives me so much hope. We often look toward our young people to lead the way, and there's no better example of that than this mural. Seeing our kids' aspirations for a better community is the light we need in these dark times. I am so proud of our kids for the work they've done and continue to do to make our community a better place for everyone," said JCC CEO Orit Lender.
To learn more about our Cornerstone programs, click here.
Dine Out For Sunrise to take place September 24-27
On Thursday, September 24th through Sunday, September 27th, sixteen local restaurants will participate in a Dine Out For Sunrise fundraiser. The fundraiser will support the Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island, a free camp for children with cancer and their siblings. Patrons who dine at participating restaurants during this time can add on a donation for Sunrise to their bill.
The restaurants that will participate are Brioso, Casa Belvedere, Italianissimo, Jimmy Max Restaurant, Joyce's Tavern, La Fontana, Marina Café, O'Neill's Irish Pub, Reggiano's (both locations), The Richmond, The Stone House, Sofia's Taqueria, Violette's Cellar, W's Bar and Grill, and the West Shore Inn. Dine Out For Sunrise is sponsored by A-List Janitorial Supplies.
The event is part of the Sunshine Sunday Series, a four-month long fundraising series that will take the place of the Sunshine Sunday event that is traditionally held in-person every January. Other virtual events in the series include a fall-themed kids party, a Thanksgiving cooking class, and a holiday-themed mixology class and happy hour. The events will culminate with a journal, called the Sunshine Pages, which will allow businesses to highlight their community work, new initiatives launched during the pandemic, and their involvement with Sunrise.
"This is a wonderful way to support our local restaurants, which are so important to our community, and Sunrise Day Camp at the same time," said Orit Lender, CEO of the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island. "We hope you will enjoy a delicious meal and add on a donation to help give summer back to children with cancer and their siblings."
Jessica Caracciolo, Event Co-Chair, noted, "I am so excited to kick off the Sunshine Sunday Series with our September Dine Out! I think our committee did an amazing job pivoting our fundraising efforts to meet the current restrictions in place. I can't wait for the rest of the series and, as always, am so thankful to be a small part of the fundraising efforts for Sunrise Day Camp."
Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island recently celebrated its fifth year, concluding its virtual camp season in August. Recognizing the extraordinary financial demands that a child's chronic illness can have on a family, Sunrise Day Camp and its year-round and in-hospital programs are offered completely free of charge to all children being treated for cancer and their siblings, on a non-sectarian basis.
A member of the Sunrise Association, Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island is one of several camps in a growing network dedicated to providing safe, fun summer camp experiences for children with cancer and their siblings. Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island is the only day camp for children with cancer in New York City and serves families from Staten Island, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and New Jersey. The JCC raises funds for the camp through donations and community events, including the annual SunriseWALKS.
For more information on the Sunshine Sunday Series or to donate to the fundraiser, click here.
Sunrise Circle of Friends to feature children's entertainment and wine deliveries
We are proud to annouce that we will host Sunrise Circle of Friends, a virtual interactive show for kids, on Wednesday, July 29th from 5-6 pm. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp Staten Island, a free camp for children with cancer and their siblings.
The event will feature performances and demonstrations by Brian Wild & His Interactive Animals, Steve the Magician, Tiger Schulmann's Martial Arts, and Music with Patrick. The event is being produced in collaboration with JMT Media and is chaired by Ilana French.
As a special treat, the Staten Island Wine Fairies will deliver a wine basket for mom and dad to enjoy during the show for an additional fee. Basket deliveries are open to Staten Island residents only, and sign-ups for the wine deliveries close Wednesday, July 22.
"The JCC is thrilled to be able to provide virtual entertainment for families while also raising much needed funds for Sunrise Day Camp," said Orit Lender, CEO of the JCC. "We are so grateful to our volunteers and performers who are donating their time and talents to put this special afternoon together."
Recognizing the extraordinary financial demands that a child's chronic illness can have on a family, Sunrise Day Camp and its year-round and in-hospital programs are offered completely free of charge to all children being treated for cancer and their siblings, on a non-sectarian basis. The camp, which is celebrating its fifth year of service to children with cancer and their siblings, has been running virtually this year due to the campers' health concerns.
Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island is the only day camp for children with cancer in New York City and serves families from Staten Island, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and New Jersey. The JCC raises funds for the camp through donations and community events, including the annual SunriseWALKS.
A member of the Sunrise Association, Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island is one of several camps in a growing network dedicated to providing safe, fun summer camp experiences for children with cancer and their siblings.
The virtual event costs $10 per household, with the option to add on a $25 wine delivery. Tickets and wine deliveries can be reserved here. For more information, contact Evett Shulman at eshulman@sijcc.com or 718.475.5256.
Local photographer hosts porch photo fundraiser for JCC
On Monday, May 4th and Tuesday, May 5th, Sweetest Smiles Photography will host a porch photography fundraiser benefitting the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC's Families in Need, a special COVID-19 emergency fund. The fundraiser, which takes place in conjunction with Giving Tuesday Now, a national campaign to raise emergency funds for non-profit organizations, will support the JCC's social service programs.
Any Staten Islander who signs up and donates to the JCC will receive a brief family photography session on their front porch. Time slots in the afternoons of Monday and Tuesday are available to book here.
Sweetest Smiles Photography has already raised over $1,000 for the JCC over the past few weeks through their front porch photography campaign.
"We are incredibly grateful to Sweetest Smiles Photography and all of the families who participated in this fundraiser so far," noted JCC CEO David Sorkin. "This is a great way to get a beautiful family photo taken while also helping families in need across our community."
Since the coronavirus crisis began, the Joan and Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island has stepped up to ensure that Staten Islanders in need had resources and support during this difficult time.
Annual Nancy Avis L'Dor V'Dor Event goes virtual to help those hurt by COVID-19
The Nancy Avis L'Dor V'Dor Awards, which are held every spring, are taking a different form this year to help those negatively affected by the coronavirus crisis on Staten Island.
This year, the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island is turning the event virtual to raise funds for its Families in Need campaign, a COVID-19 emergency fund. Rather than an in-person event, funds will be raised by mail, online, and via text to help those affected by the loss of wages, food insecurity, and isolation. Individuals are encouraged to express their sentiments to the honorees by placing an ad in the digital journal, which will be posted on the JCC website for the duration of 2020.
The event, which is held annually and usually takes the form of a brunch, honors extraordinary women who have worked to improve the Staten Island community. This year, the honorees are:
Marcia Klein – First Generation Award
Yolanda Rudich – First Generation Award
Jennifer Straniere – First Generation Award
Flair Shalem – Next Generation Award
Dr. Gracelyn Santos – Bridge to the Community Award
The event is named in memory of Nancy Avis, the JCC's first woman President of the Board of Trustees. Avis had a hand in many philanthropic causes that improved the quality of life on Staten Island.
"This is such a fitting tribute to Nancy's legacy," said Event Chair Kim Avis. "If she was still here, she would have been leading this campaign."
"We're all looking for ways to make a difference in our community. We appreciate that in honor of our five honorees who have done so much for our community, and in honor of our mom, we hope you'll participate and help Families in Need," said Dr. Victor Avis.
Families in Need supports the JCC's social services, which have not stopped running since the crisis began. Staff have been distributing thousands of meals to seniors, as well as helping others who suffer from food insecurity through the JCC's Kosher Food Pantry. JCC social services have gone completely virtual, with staff members providing access to health insurance navigation, mental health services, legal support resources, and other COVID-19 resources over the phone and email.
"Every year, the JCC serves over 6,000 people in crisis. This year, that number will grow as Staten Islanders experience hardships related to COVID-19. Without the help of the JCC, many people would not have food, legal services, health insurance, mental health services, and other critical services. With your support of our virtual L'Dor V'Dor campaign, together we can help Families in Need in our own Staten Island community," said JCC CEO David Sorkin.
To learn more and support the event, click here.
Purim Celebrations at the J
Our members and staff recently celebrated Purim at several fun events!
First was the Café Europa Purim Celebration for Holocaust survivors. Children from the JCC's after school program performed Purim songs and made baskets for the survivors. Everyone also celebrated Rabbi Romi Cohn's 94th birthday! It was a touching event dedicated to keeping the light glowing.
On March 8, we had our Under-the-Sea-themed Purim Carnival. Kids had a fin-tastic time dressing as their favorite sea creatures, doing arts & crafts, making hamentaschen and more! Check out some pictures from our shell-ebration!
Last Tuesday, JCC staff members dressed to impress with their Purim costumes! The costume contest winners were the ECE staff, who dressed as "Tired Workers in PJ's," and the Marketing department, who sported their best country-western wear!
We hope you had a happy Purim!
Save the date for these upcoming special events!
We've got several great upcoming events in January and February!
First is Sunshine Sunday, our annual event benefitting Lucille and Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp! This year, we are proud to recognize Marie DiTommaso; Rosemarie Stazzone, RN, MS, CNE; and our Sunrise Walk Basket & Event Committee: Dawn Petermann, Debbie Monello, Andria O'Leary, and Joanne Vitale. The event will take place on Sunday, January 26th at the Old Bermuda Inn from 1-5pm.
Learn more and buy tickets here
We will also host the #RememberMe Brunch on Sunday, February 23rd from 10am-1pm at the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC. At the event, which benefits the JCC's Family Solutions to Memory Loss, we will honor Cherine Hanna, Adele McMahon, LCSW-R, Jackie Reiter, LMSW, and Rabbi Stephen Stern, PhD.
We hope to see you at our events this winter!
Tree of Life One Year Memorial
On Sunday, November 17th, we joined with several community and faith-based organizations to hold a memorial ceremony honoring the lives of those we lost in the shootings in Pittsburgh and Poway. We are especially grateful to Rabbi Chuck Diamond, the former rabbi from Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, who spoke about his former congregants who were killed just over a year ago.
We will never forget their memories and continue to honor them by fighting against Anti-Semitism and hate of any kind.


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Markiplier Bio: Girlfriend, Married, Family, Net Worth
American YouTube star Markiplier, whose real name is Mark Fischbach, gained popularity through his YouTube channel named Markiplier. He has been uploading videos of him and his friends playing different genres of video games that connects the audiences with live commentary. Mark has accumulated more than 20 million subscribers in the digital platform.
Date of Birth Jun 28, 1989
Profession YouTube Star
Girlfriend/Dating Amy Nelson (2015-)
Net Worth $24 Million (Estimated)
Social Media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube
Height 5 Feet 10½ Inches (179 cm)
Education University of Cincinnati
Siblings Jason Thomas Fischbach (Brother)
Blissful Love Life; Supportive Ex-Girlfriend
The 24-year-old YouTuber is dating graphic designer Amy Nelson since 2015. The pair kept their relationship private until they debuted as a couple on the red carpet of VidCon in 2016.
Amy is also equally famous on the Internet and is recognized as Markiplier's girlfriend. The lovebirds, who are not yet married, are not hesitant to flaunt their relationship on social media. Recently, Mark shared a picture with his girlfriend Amy on Instagram in May 2018 with a caption, 'I'm a lucky dooooood.'
Mark Fischbach with his girlfriend Amy Nelson on 20 May 2018 (Photo: Instagram)
The YouTuber was previously dating a girl named Jess. Mark admitted his relationship with Jess through his Facebook Post on 13 August 2015. The Internet celeb posted a personal matter that needed to be said conveying people not to pass unfair judgments on Jess. In the post, Mark said that Jess is his best friend and the most influential person involved in his YouTube career. He described his former girlfriend as an incredibly talented individual that deserves many opportunities in life. David lastly urged his followers to support and encourage Jess for her new YouTube channel named SaucyCosplays.
Diverse Family Background; Brother's Profession
The family of Mark consists of his mother and a brother named, Thomas Fischbach. His father of German descent was a US air force pilot who passed away when Mark was 18 years old. Mark became aimless in life after his father's demise. He then worked at a mind-numbing co-op job where he used to spend eight hours to complete a task of two hours. Meanwhile, he was kicked out of his mother's house as his mother did not approve of his then relationship with a woman.
Mark's parents' names are hidden from his bio. His mother is of Korean ancestry, so Mark belongs to multiracial ethnicity. Mark's brother, Thomas is an author who makes very limited appearances on his brother's YouTube videos. Thomas is also known as the creator of 2015 comic Two Kinds.
What Is Mark Fischbach's Net Worth?
As a YouTuber, Mark has been enjoying a net worth of $16 million. According to SocialBlade, his monthly earnings from his Youtube channel is between $42.3K - $676.2K and his yearly income ranges from $507.2K to $8.1M.
He is mustering income from his gaming videos that are viewed in millions. His channel was a massive hit in 2014 with his first video on well-known phenomenon Five Nights at Freddy's that made 66,000,000 views. It is the most viewed videos of Mark.
Mark Fischbach was born on 28 June 1989 in Honolulu, as per wiki. The artist went to the University of Cincinnati to complete the course of biomedical engineering. However, he left the university early to shift his career in YouTube. Mark stands at the height of 179 m (5 ft 10½) and weighs around 174 lbs. His birth sign is Cancer.


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← NYC Events,"Only the Best" (10/31) + Today's Featured Pub (Greenwich Village)
NYC Events,"Only the Best" (11/02) + Today's Featured Pub (Upper West Side) →
NYC Events,"Only the Best" (11/01) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan's 5th Avenue
Today's Elite 8 NYC Events > THURSDAY/ NOVEMBER 01, 2018
For future NYC Events, check the tab above:"NYC Events-November"
Ken Peplowski: The Great American Songbook (Nov.1-4)
Dizzy's Club / 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $40
"The clarinet basically died out as a leading jazz instrument after the bebop onslaught of the mid-forties, but a player like Peplowski makes you wonder why. With a tone like finely woven silk, wondrous technical agility, and an itching curiosity that encompasses the stylistic breadth of mainstream jazz, Peplowski can take his outsider horn in any direction he cares to. (He plays a galloping tenor saxophone as well.) Here, Peplowski lands himself in luxury by approaching both classic and overlooked work from the heyday of American popular song." (Steve Futterman, NewYorker)
>> Melissa Errico Sings Sondheim
>> Hungarian State Opera and Ballet
>> Joseph Keckler
>> RON CARTER
Melissa Errico Sings Sondheim (Nov.01-03)
Feinstein's/54 Below / 7PM, $40+
"Errico is a smart-edged musical-theater leading lady whose silvery voice has brightened such shows as My Fair Lady, Amour and the Off Broadway revival of Passion. In this set, she sets her mind on songs by show-tune deity Stephen Sondheim, from the comic neurosis of "Getting Married Today" and "Everybody Loves Louis" to the despair of "No More." (TONY)
Hungarian State Opera and Ballet (select dates thru Nov.11)
NYS Theater, Lincoln Center / 7:30PM, $10+
"The Hungarian State Opera of Budapest makes its Lincoln Center debut with a rich variety of ballet and opera productions to choose from. It will present Hungarian iconic historical opera pieces: Erkel's Bánk bán (The Viceroy Bank), Goldmark's The Queen of Sheba, world-famous 20th century one-act operas Vajda's Mario and the Magician and Bartók Bluebeard's Castle, but also beloved classical ballets: Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, and Petipa and Minkus' Don Quixote. Those who prefer more modern ballet pieces can also see Hans van Manen's 2017 triple bill LOL."
Joseph Keckler
Atrium at Lincoln Center / 7:30PM, FREE
"Recently hailed by the New York Times as a "major vocal talent whose range shatters the conventional boundaries," singer and writer Joseph Keckler folds mesmerizing storytelling and sharp wit into a rich vocal range spanning over three octaves. He's performed his work at the Centre Pompidou (with Cabinet Magazine), Miami Art Basel, PEN American Center, and many other international venues, and has been featured on BBC America and WNYC. Keckler recently made his Off-Broadway debut in the critically acclaimed play Preludes at Lincoln Center Theater."
XENOS (U.S. premiere)
Bonus NYC events– Jazz Clubs:
Many consider NYCity the Jazz capital of the world. My favorite Jazz Clubs, all on Manhattan's WestSide, feature top talent every night of the week.
Hit the Hot Link and check out who is playing tonight:
Greenwich Village:
(5 are underground, classic jazz joints. all 6 are within walking distance of each other):
Village Vanguard – UG, 178 7th Ave. So., villagevanguard.com, 212-255-4037 (1st 8:30)
Blue Note – 131 W3rd St. nr 6th ave. bluenotejazz.com, 212-475-8592 (1st set 8pm)
55 Bar – basement @55 Christopher St. nr 7th ave.S. 55bar.com, 212-929-9883 (1st 7pm)
Mezzrow – basement @ 163 W10th St. nr 7th Ave. mezzrow.com,646-476-4346 (1st 8)
Smalls – basement @ 183 W10th St. smallslive.com, 646-476-4346 (1st set 7:30pm)
Cornelia Street Cafe – UG, 29 Cornelia St. corneliastreetcafe.com, 212-989-9319 (6pm)
Outside Greenwich Village:
Dizzy's Club – Broadway @ 60th St. — jazz.org/dizzys / 212-258-9595 (1st set 7:30pm)
Birdland – 315 W44th St.(btw 8/9ave) — birdlandjazz.com / 212-581-3080 (1st 8:30pm)
Smoke Jazz Club – 2751 Broadway nr.106th St. — smokejazz.com/ 212-864-6662 (7pm)
Caffe Vivaldi – 32 Jones St. nr Bleecker St. — caffevivaldi.com / 212-691-7538 (1st 7pm)
a classic, old jazz club in the Village, Caffe V often surprises with a wonderfully eclectic lineup. It's my favorite spot for an evening of listening enjoyment and discovery.
WHAT'S ON VIEW
These are My Fave Special Exhibitions @ MUSEUMS / Manhattan's Fifth Avenue
(See the New York Times Arts Section for listings of all museum exhibitions,
and also see the expanded reviews of these exhibitions)
Hilma af Klint : Paintings for the Future (thru 02/03/19)
"Convinced that the world was not ready for her artistry in 1906, particularly as an underrepresented female in her field, af Klint of Sweden kept her work private. Her paintings anticipated by years "breakthroughs" by Kandinsky, Mondrian and others and were unseen before 1986. The Guggenheim rediscovers her."
"Recognized as one of the art world's earliest abstract painters, Hilma af Klint was a steadfast believer that her work was inspired by the spiritual. The new Guggenheim exhibition, "Hilma af Klint: Paintings for the Future," showcases the work of this groundbreaking Swedish artist (1862-1944), whose work was rarely seen until the 1980s." (Newsday)
'SCENES FROM THE COLLECTION' "After a surgical renovation to its grand pile on Fifth Avenue, the Jewish Museum has reopened its third-floor galleries with a rethought and refreshed display of its permanent collection, which intermingles modern and contemporary art, by Jews and gentiles alike — Mark Rothko, Lee Krasner, Nan Goldin, Cindy Sherman, and the excellent young Nigerian draftswoman Ruby Onyinyechi Amanze — with 4,000 years of Judaica. The works are shown in a nimble, non-chronological suite of galleries, and some of its century-spanning juxtapositions are bracing; others feel reductive, even dilletantish. But always, the Jewish Museum conceives of art and religion as interlocking elements of a story of civilization, commendably open to new influences and new interpretations." (Farago) 212-423-3200, thejewishmuseum.org
NY AT ITS CORE (ongoing)
"Ten years in the making, New York at Its Core tells the compelling story of New York's rise from a striving Dutch village to today's "Capital of the World." The exhibition captures the human energy that drove New York to become a city like no other and a subject of fascination the world over. Entertaining, inspiring, important, and at times bemusing, New York City "big personalities," including Alexander Hamilton, Walt Whitman, Boss Tweed, Emma Goldman, JP Morgan, Fiorello La Guardia, Jane Jacobs, Jay-Z, and dozens more, parade through the exhibition. Visitors will also learn the stories of lesser-known New York personalities, like Lenape chieftain Penhawitz and Italian immigrant Susie Rocco. Even animals like the horse, the pig, the beaver, and the oyster, which played pivotal roles in the economy and daily life of New York, get their moment in the historical spotlight. Occupying the entire first floor in three interactive galleries (Port City, 1609-1898, World City, 1898-2012, and Future City Lab) New York at Its Core is shaped by four themes: money, density, diversity, and creativity. Together, they provide a lens for examining the character of the city, and underlie the modern global metropolis we know today. mcny.org" (NYCity Guide)
and you should be sure to check out these special exhibitions at that little museum on Fifth Ave., The Metropolitan Museum of Art
(open 7 days /week, AND always Pay What You Wish for NewYorkers)
Delacroix (Now-1/6/19)
"This is the first comprehensive U.S. retrospective of the work of French artist Eugene Delacroix (1798-1863). The Met has teamed up with The Louvre, showcasing in chronological order some 150 pieces, including paintings, drawings, manuscripts, and prints." (cityguideny)
'CROWNS OF THE VAJRA MASTERS: RITUAL ART OF NEPAL' (through Dec. 16). "Up a narrow staircase, above the Met's galleries of South and Southeast Asian art, are three small rooms of art from the Himalayas. The space, a bit like a treehouse, is a capsule of spiritual energy, which is especially potent these days thanks to this exhibition. The crowns of the title look like antique versions of astronaut headgear: gilded copper helmets, studded with gems, encrusted with repoussé plaques and topped by five-pronged antennas — the vajra, or thunderbolt of wisdom. Such crowns were believed to turn their wearers into perfected beings who are willing and able to bestow blessings on the world. This show is the first to focus on these crowns, and it does so with a wealth of compressed historical information, as well as several resplendent related sculptures and paintings from Nepal and Tibet. But it's the crowns themselves, the real ones, the wisdom generators, set in mandala formation in the center of the gallery, that are the fascinators." (NYT-Holland Cotter)
Museum Mile is a section of Fifth Avenue which contains one of the densest displays of culture in the world. Eight museums can be found along this section of Fifth Avenue:
• 105th Street – El Museo del Barrio (closed Sun-Mon)*
• 103rd Street – Museum of the City of New York (open 7 days /week)
• 92nd Street – The Jewish Museum (closed Wed) (Sat FREE) (Thu 5-8 PWYW)
• 91st Street – Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum (open 7 days /week)
• 89th Street – National Academy Museum (closed Mon-Tue)
• 88th Street – Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (closed Thu) (Sat 6-8 PWYW)
• 86th Street – Neue Galerie New York (closed Tue-Wed) (Fri 6-8 FREE)
Last, but certainly not least, America's premier museum
• 82nd Street – The Metropolitan Museum of Art (open 7 days /week)*
*always Pay What You Wish (PWYW) for NewYorkers
Although technically not part of the Museum Mile, the Frick Collection (closed Mon) (Wed 2-6pm PWYW; First Friday each month (exc Jan+Sep) 6-9pm FREE) on the corner of 70th St. and Fifth Avenue and the The Morgan Library & Museum (closed Mon) (Fri 7-9 FREE) on Madison Ave and 37th St are also located near Fifth Ave.
Now plan your own museum crawl (info on hours & admission updated June 2, 2015).
For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar dated 10/30 and 10/28.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged BALANCHINE: THE CITY CENTER YEARS, Festival Albertine, Hungarian State Opera and Ballet, Joseph Keckler, Ken Peplowski: The Great American Songbook, Melissa Errico Sings Sondheim, new york events, new york events today, NYC Events, NYC Events Today, Ron Carter. Bookmark the permalink.


text:
Q: GlassFish on Windows vs RedHat Wondering if it matters (reliability wise) choosing Redhat or Windows 2003 Server?
Assume equal skills in both.
Thanks

A: I think you'll find most people will argue Redhat over Windows for reliability.  Glassfish itself should run the same on either.
You should probably ask this on Server Fault

A: If you check the glassfish source, specifically ./appserv-commons/src/java/com/sun/enterprise/util/io/FileUtils.java, you'll see all of the contortions that Glassfish goes through in order to delete/rename files and directories on Windows.
This is a Windows problem, with its restrictions on deleting and renaming open files.
There are all sorts of tricks in there, including requesting a GC from the JVM multiple times in the hope of closing the file stream, "pseudo" renaming, sleep-try loops.
Some examples:
/**
 *Attempts to delete files that could not be deleted earlier and were not overwritten.
 *<p>
 *On Windows, the method requests garbage collection which may unlock locked
 *files. (The JarFile finalizer closes the file.)

/*
     *On Windows, as long as not all leftover files have been cleaned and we have not
     *run the max. number of retries, try again to trigger gc and delete
     *each remaining leftover file.
     */

/**
 * Windows has BIG issues renaming a directory that is open somnewhere -- e.g. if
 * a DOS box is opened anywhere in that directory.
 * This method will try to do a "virtual renaming" if there are problems
 * I.e. it attempts to do a simple rename, if that fails it will copy everything under
 * the original directory to the renamed directory.  Then it will delete everything
 * under the original directory that the OS will allow it to.

In practice this sometimes translates to borked deployments or redeployments on Windows, as some files cannot be deleted or moved and end up being left behind. Of the 50 or so Glassfish instances I run I've never had a problem on Solaris 10 and always have problems relating to this on Windows.
In short, any *NIX will be better for this reason alone, other platform admin considerations aside.


text:
UCL's Arts and Culture Journal
Our Showcase
Dethroning Queen B
by Savage February 27, 2014 February 25, 2016
HANNAH BEER writes about why Beyonce should not be considered as the feminist role model she appears to be.
99% of the world's population believes that Beyoncé can do no wrong, and as such, hearing anything to the contrary might make them feel uncomfortable. If you consider yourself part of that demographic, then I'm sorry for any upset this article may cause you.
I am part of the (what feels like) the 1% that not only doesn't really get the hype around Beyoncé, but actually feels pretty angered by it. May I remind you, first of all, that this is the woman who was paid millions in 2009 to sing privately for Gaddafi and only announced two years later, when the rest of the world found out, that she conveniently gave the money to charity. Kinda shady, don't you think? Queen B (a title that, for me, will always belong to Blair Waldorf in Gossip Girl) is presented as the ultimate independent woman, her songs are the megaphone through which the feminist manifesto is blasted, preaching gender equality and female empowerment to every corner of the world, a reputation I cannot understand.
Now, whilst I can't dispute the quality and the message of Beyoncé/Destiny's Child classics like 'Single Ladies' and 'Independent Woman', I can remind you all of Destiny's Child's 'Cater 2 U' which includes lines like "When you come home late tap me on my shoulder, I'll roll over/ I'm here to serve you". These lyrics don't exactly chime with the message of 'Independent Woman', do they? Furthermore, 'Drunk in Love', the lead single from the "feminist anthem" that is Beyoncé's self-titled 5th studio album, is a duet with her husband that glorifies the horrific domestic violence, such as that seen in Ike and Tina Turner's marriage. When they performed the song at the Grammy's, Beyoncé mouthed the line "eat the cake, Anna Mae" along with Jay-Z (the line is a reference to a scene in the Tina Turner biopic, in which Ike force feeds his wife cake and then hits her). However, instead of picking up on this, most of the world at the time talked about how great Beyoncé looked on that chair, with only The Guardian questioning her. The aftermath was reminiscent of when the world applauded her for her single 'Run the World' and overlooked the fact that it's on the same album as the song 'Dance for You', whose lyrics describe giving a man a lap dance to say thank you for being nice to her, whilst calling him 'Daddy'.
Beyoncé is the music industry's ultimate puppet, a true propaganda machine making everyone believe what it wants us to believe. Sure, she sings songs about girls running the world, and when you look at the pop world you'd think that's true: Rihanna, Katy Perry, Beyoncé herself, all female, all dominating the music industry; but it's a façade. A quick glance at their Wikipedia pages show that they're all managed by men, sing songs written by men and writhe around in skimpy outfits in videos directed by The Man, Terry Richardson, notorious for publishing photographs of the models he directs giving him head.
What about that 'feminist essay' Beyoncé wrote? It was bland and superficial, a very short two and a bit paragraphs of facts and figures dressed up like an argument, written as part of the Beyoncé Inc. feminism-as-a-marketing-device. In it, she reminded us that women 'make up half the U.S. workforce' and that 'we must demand that we receive 100% of the opportunities'. The exceptions, of, of course, are the opportunities she creates; out of the 39 people involved in the production of 'Beyoncé' (the album), only 4 of them (except for herself) were women. That's 10.2% of the company she owns. The emerging pattern is that Beyoncé uses feminism to sell records when it suits her, and the world puts her on a throne and bows down to her (as she instructs us to do) as a result. It's clever, I can't deny that, but if she's going to do it, she should at least do it with some consistency and conviction.
Even if you look past the questionable song content and hyper-sexualised dance moves, you can't ignore the 'Mrs Carter World Tour'. How can a woman who claims to be a spokesperson for female empowerment and success independent from men perform under a title that basically attributes her success to the fact that she is 'Mrs Carter'; i.e. the wife of someone important? It was a move that is totally contrary to the autonomous woman she made the world believe she was, a move that, for me, pulled the curtain up on her whole façade. Yet because the world is so utterly convinced by Beyoncé's brand of sound bite feminism, it was pretty much swept under the carpet and B's reign continued.
For as much as she talks about independence, at the end of the day she is still constantly trying to be what is undoubtedly a man's idea of sexy, because she knows that is what will secure her place at the top; case in point being that she wouldn't let any unofficial photos of her tour be released, in case they showed her in an unflattering light. When you consider this in contrast to Lady Gaga, who is just as successful as Beyoncé but seen by men the world over as 'ugly' and 'not sexy in the slightest', it's clear that Beyoncé is playing everyone, and winning. At the end of the day, Beyoncé wants to be queen. And to be queen, it's not enough to be nice: as our good friend Regina George taught us in the ever-relevant Mean Girls, the queen is always pretty. Everything Bey does, from her music videos to her philanthropy is geared towards self-promotion. Which is fine, truly. But everyone, especially Beyoncé herself, needs to stop pretending otherwise – she's a great singer, and she's enormously talented, but she's also a Beautiful Liar, and it's time someone challenged it.
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Reading: Dethroning Queen B


This article is part of our Vision for Scotland series, where business for Scotland members share their ideas for a better Scotland in order to stimulate intelligent debate and discussion.
The independence debate is providing the nation a rare chance to more thoroughly debate new ideas and fresh thinking as we seek to consider what tailored innovative Scottish solutions could be devised and successfully executed to overcome the challenges and seize the opportunities of our time.
What follows is a summary of a proposal to create a new pensions system for an independent Scotland which simultaneously creates a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) that serves as a major source of finance to support the transition to a new fairer, greener, more prosperous, more environmentally sustainable economy which benefits the nation as a whole.
The proposal is to collectivise into one "super fund" all the occupational pension schemes which have members who are employed in Scotland (whether the employer is headquartered in Scotland or not). This includes private and public sector schemes as well as defined benefit and defined contributions schemes.
Employers and employees will pay contributions into the fund based on a fixed percentage of payroll. The employer will contribute at least half of the contributions with the apportionment of the other half being a matter for collective bargaining. The state will pay the contributions for the unemployed and others who are unable to work due to a disability, caring responsibilities, etc.
The fund will be invested in accordance with strict principles which include the requirement for the fund to be invested in a manner which supports the development of a fairer, greener and environmental sustainable independent Scottish economy and also facilitates the transfer of political and economic power to communities.
The fund will be managed by a National Board of Trustees whose responsibilities will be to protect the long term viability and financial sustainability of the fund so that it is able to provide a decent level of pension provision for all into the future as well as fulfil the investment principles of the fund.
The investment model adopted will be a stewardship model whereby the fund acts as a long term committed investor in enterprise and infrastructure in exchange for binding agreements regarding the cash flows returning under agreed conditions to the fund over time. The investment practices of the fund will avoid speculative trading of assets.
This model offers solutions to several major challenges.
It provides a sovereign wealth fund which can support the development of a new economy, including a rapid scaling up of renewable energy, and the expansion of community owned enterprise. Scotland's responsibility to contribute to tackling climate change will shorten the life of its North Sea fossil fuel reserves and, therefore, those reserves cannot be the source of revenues to build a sovereign wealth fund.
It provides a defined benefit pension scheme for all citizens, thereby collectivising investment risk across the whole of society and removing that burden of risk from sponsoring employers of defined benefit (DB) pension schemes and from the beneficiaries themselves in defined contribution (DC) schemes.
It relieves businesses from the responsibility of funding pension deficits in DB schemes, thereby freeing up their capital to be dedicated to the real purpose of the enterprise.
Any "deficit" in a collectivised scheme is highly unlikely ever to be realised….such a scheme is highly unlikely to become insolvent – the state is capable of bolstering the fund if ever the deficit were to present a real risk to the pension system and/or the economy.
The provision of a large fund for the payment of future pensions reduces the inter-generational burden of pension provision. In a state pay-as-you-go pension system funded out of current taxation the current working population funds the pensions of the retired generation of pensioners. That will not be the case in the proposed model except so far as the pay as you go (PAYG) state scheme may be called upon as a "top up" scheme where pensions paid from the SWF fall under a specified national minimum.
Whilst the "deficit" in this model is not such a critical factor as it is in the present pension landscape we have today, it remains a desirable objective to maintain the solvency of the SWF. There will remain a requirement for an actuarial approach to the determination of contribution levels and the benefits structure. Unless this is done the long term viability of the fund could be weakened, thereby increasing the risk of the state being called upon to make good the deficit. Such a scenario would result in an increase in the inter-generational burden. The design of the contributions and benefits structure and any changes to it will be a matter of public consultation, informed by expert actuarial advice.
Full details of the proposed model for a new Scottish pension system and sovereign wealth fund are set out in the paper "A New Pensions System for Scotland", which will be submitted to the Common Weal project. I believe this is exactly the kind of opportunity that independence brings, which business, government and the broader population could and should be debating in the lead up to the referendum next year.
Jim has 28 years of working experience in the general insurance industry with Allianz Plc as a claims investigator/negotiator, involved in the handling of a wide range of claims; domestic, commercial and industrial. In the last decade or so I specialised in personal injury claims relating to road traffic and industrial accidents.
He also spent 6 years as a member nominated pension trustee to Allianz staff pension scheme.
Jim is a volunteer member of the Bute Renewable Energy Project Steering Group and a founder member of Jordanhill Community Initiatives Group.
Sounds an excellent concept. What about Scots who work abroad for a while? Would there be provision for them to continue paying into the fund while abroad – or for the fund to have pension payments in another fund transferred on return to Scotland?
It would depend on who the employer is. If a Scottish company with an overseas operation, I can see a possibility that contributions continue to be made in to the Scottish national scheme. If they work overseas for a non-Scottish company they would need to join that company's scheme and if later return to work in Scotland arrange a transfer into the Scottish national scheme…..there are provisions in the paper for repatriating citizens. None of these arrangements create a cross border scheme so dont fall foul of the EU IORP Directive, if it ever gets implemented.
Having read the full paper, I realise this is one alternative from a range of possible options but I am very impressed by Jim's proposal.
I like the aspiration behind it, the redistributive element, the way it will encourage people to take responsibility for their retirement, the living wage basis, the creation of sovereign wealth fund, (and the way it makes cross border requirements redundant!).
From a social justice perspective it's spot on IMHO and would define Scotland as one of the countries that leads the way with regard to the provision of retirement income.
I may have my wires crossed here but am I correct in saying that the EU dropped plans for solvency requirements earlier this year (Solvency II)?
If they have, it's extremely galling that this scare story is trotted out regularly with no correction. Only this week at Westminster Scottish Questions we had an MP from Milton Keynes respeating the doom mongering about this requirement for solvency and how it will "affect" Scottish schemes.
There is another important feature of this model which addresses a key issue that critics of independence have made regarding pensions….the implications of the EU Directive in respect of funding of cross border DB pension schemes.
The proposed scheme will not be a "cross border" scheme and the requirements under the EU Directive requiring companies to fully fund cross border DB pension schemes would not arise. It is not a cross border scheme because it covers only Scottish employees (employed in Scotland) of Scottish or overseas companies. The employees of both Scottish and overseas companies, who are employed outside Scotland, would be covered by separate schemes sponsored by their employer and established in accordance with the pensions regulations of the overseas country in which they operate.
e-mail me at [email protected] and I will send it to you.
Where can I access the paper "A New Pensions System for Scotland" mentioned in the conclusions?