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Category Archives: Elections
What Happened in the Minutes Before the Knesset Was Dissolved and New Elections Were Called for
(May 31, 2019 / Reprinted from JNS) Just one month after the inauguration of the 21st Knesset, parliamentarians voted to disband the government and send the country into national elections for the second time in six months.
The Knesset vote came after a tension-filled last-minute effort by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to formulate a majority ruling coalition of at least 61 Knesset members before the midnight deadline between Wednesday and Thursday. But that effort came up short. Netanyahu's political nemesis, Avigdor Lieberman, refused to bring his five-member Yisrael Beiteinu Party into the government, despite recommending Netanyahu as prime minister, leaving the coalition just one Knesset member shy of a clear majority.
When it became clear that Netanyahu would not form a government, he told the media, "We are heading to new elections. I did everything possible to create a governing coalition, but it is clear that from the beginning Lieberman never planned to join my government."
Lieberman claimed that his refusal centered on a proposed law that would increase the number of haredi conscripts drafted into the military. Lieberman's secular Russian party wanted the proposed law to pass, while two religious parties who were critical to the formation of Netanyahu's government wanted to reduce the numbers.
Lieberman told the Knesset that his party "refuses to join a halachic government," implying that the religious parties would run the country based on Jewish law.
In the run-up to the fateful vote, Netanyahu feverishly attempted to devise compromises, as well as woo opposition members into the government to gain a parliamentary majority.
The most dramatic moment of the night took place at around 7 p.m. when the prime minister offered Knesset member Avi Gabay, chairman of the Labor Party, the deal of a lifetime. He offered the Labor Party control of the finance ministry, plus three other ministries, if they would join his government. Knowing that Labor would not support him if he continued pursuing legislation granting him immunity from prosecution and laws curtailing the power of the supreme court (bills that Likud had already been preparing for this Knesset term), Netanyahu promised to shelve both of those agenda items. Gabay and Labor's six mandates would provide the prime minister and Likud with a comfortable 66-seat majority.
While Gabay seemed to take the offer seriously, four Labor MKs rejected immediately. Itzik Shmuly told JNS that he immediately objected to the deal "because at the end of the day, I have to be able to look at myself in the mirror. Yes, Netanyahu said no law for immunity, but he did say he would require our support for immunity via the Knesset House Committee. I cannot accept giving the prime minister immunity in return for ministries and power."
At around 7:45 p.m. after meeting with the Knesset members in his party, Gabay announced that he refused the prime minister's offer.
Another dramatic turn came when Likud offered Druze member of Blue and White Gadeer Mree (the first Druze woman yet in the Israeli Knesset) a position in the government, alongside changes to the Jewish Nation-State Law that the Druze community finds offensive. She turned down the offer.
There were rumors throughout the evening that the haredi parties could cave and give in on the enlistment legislation because of their concern that they would lose votes in the new election. In addition, the haredim do anything to avoid elections revolving around religion and state issues that generate significant negativity towards their community. And sure enough, at around 11 p.m., the word got out that the leading rabbi in the ultra-Orthodox community instructed the haredi MKs to do whatever they could to prevent new elections. But those efforts were to no avail, as they simply could not accept the legislation Lieberman was demanding as a condition for entry into the government.
At approximately 11 p.m., the prime minister's motorcade pulled up to the Knesset, and as he entered the building, Netanyahu told the media: "We are heading to new elections."
And that is exactly what happened.
As the clock struck 12, the secretary of the Knesset called out the names of each Knesset member in alphabetical order, and the MK replied either "in favor" or "against." In a wild twist, 45 Knesset members from the parties that did not support Netanyahu and should have been anxious to support new elections voted against the law. They argued that new elections prevented the president from giving Benny Gantz, leader of the Blue and White Party that tied the Likud with 35 MKs, with the mandate to try to form a government following Netanyahu's failure to do so.
But 74 MKs—the 60 seats from parties supporting Netanyahu, Lieberman's five MKs and the 10 Arab MKs—voted in favor of the law.
And that is how, at the end of an immensely intense day and exactly one month after it was inaugurated, the 21st Knesset came to an end.
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Tags: campaign politics, Israel
New Technology and Attacks on Democracy
Free expression, transparent information, and trustworthy and reliable elections are the hallmark of a decent democracy. And although the open and available nature of the Internet is democratizing, it is also easily manipulated in the service of inaccuracies, fake news, and inaccurately represented information. Russia's full-on assault on American media and democracy is designed to weaken democratic processes and sow confusion. They have engaged in a sophisticated campaign designed to influence the operation and political processes of not only the United States but the Ukraine, the Netherlands, and Western Europe. Their goal is to shake the confidence of democratic institutions, exaggerate differences and divisions amongst groups, and use new technology to underscore a Russian frame and perspective.
This is a form of asymmetric warfare organized around weaker states using their available resources to combat stronger states. Theoretically anyway, it is the same principle as a less powerful ethnic group (e.g. Palestinians, Tamil, Rohingyas, Basques) using terrorist and guerrilla warfare techniques to combat a dominating ethnic group. The United States must now consider these threats as typical and persistent threats to its political existence. And, it is only a matter of time before other countries adopt these techniques and deploy them against other states.
Russia boldly used proxies to set up phony webpages, Facebook accounts, and Twitter messages designed to influence the public discourse surrounding the election between Trump and Hillary Clinton as well as social issues. The perpetrators of these phony web accounts met with little resistance and had their faith in their own hacking skills reinforced. The Russians would find a division in society and then try to exaggerate it for their own purposes. Such instability is very debilitating and contributes to what is most damaging which is a loss of confidence in the electoral process. Few things are more damaging to a democratic system than a widespread belief by participants that elections are not fair. Of course, the Russian goals were not to facilitate rigorous debate but to challenge confidence and maintain social strife. They had ability to manipulate voting patterns and electoral results.
The cybersphere is a perfect environment to operate an anonymous and clandestine project such as this one. Even if they fail to achieve desired results they can still do damage to the confidence and institutions as well as spread distrust and cynicism.
First, the electoral process must be reviewed for security breach possibilities with checks and double checks that contain a complete review of the electoral process including access to machines, software, and computer security. This might include the use of paper ballots along with computers to ensure material backup systems.
Second, there needs to be more transparency with respect to funding elections and the nature and integrity of businesses hired to provide electoral services including machines and software.
Third, the tracking of foreign actors and their involvement in US companies should include more monitoring and oversight. This might include attention to various "media buys" and who is supporting them along with an examination of rules and regulations governing foreign control and ownership with respect to financial limitations and elections.
And finally, the detection of deception must be improved. This includes stories containing inaccurate information that seem to be designed to sow discontent and manipulate information. Twitter and Facebook are working on these issues trying to improve their ability to recognize questionable story structures including techniques for "re-informing" the public. Cyber attacks are a new form of threat in an asymmetric conflict that has revealed vulnerability in our democracy. It will require a concerted effort and some thinking "outside the box."
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Tags: democracy, Elections
Trump Has the Keys to the Candy Store: Suicide is Painless
Sung to the theme of M*A*S*H
Through early morning fog I see
visions of the things to be
the pains that are withheld for me
I realize and I can see…
[REFRAIN]:
that suicide is painless
it brings on many changes
and I can take or leave it if I please.
What madman or anguished society would give the keys to the candy store we call the United States to Donald Trump? No candidate in history has been less prepared and, moreover, does not seem to be bothered by it. His cabinet and advisor appointees make for a ghoulish monster's ball of Wall Street billionaires who have no experience in government, business executives who think running the government is the same thing as running a business, and ideologues with an agenda that is ironically counter to the mission of the office they are running.
Trump's election has been regularly compared to populist movements in history and currently around the world. It is in line with populist and nationalistic parliaments in Hungry, Poland, Greece, and the rise of the right in France. And the rhetoric of populism is consistent across cultures. Such rhetoric is often an early indicator of unstable and vulnerable democracies. Truly consolidated democracies are the most resistant and stable forms of government and most likely to be immune to the siren call of nationalism and populism. But less established democratic political cultures, especially those with charismatic strongmen as leaders, are more susceptible to the political discourse that constitutes populism.
That is, the modern populist praises tough and decisive leadership, belittles and distrusts elites and specialists in an effort to alienate the average person from the truly competent, and is critical of institutions. Trump, interestingly, has some new wrinkles for this pattern because although his rhetoric strikes a chord with the struggling and downscale demographics, he has successfully convinced them that he will improve their lives. Curiously, Trump traffics in elitism. And he will soon go about the business of using his own appointees as loyalists who will compromise the media, silence the opposition, and create a threatening discursive environment. He has already begun to undermine trusted institutions such as the CIA (taking the unprecedented position that the CIA is wrong about Russian cyberhacking), the media (a regular flow of criticism and delegitimization that cast even more doubt on quality sources of information), the legislative history of conflict of interest policy (refusal to release tax forms, challenges to his own business interests), and foreign policy traditions (a more volatile and aggressive foreign policy such as breaking the nuclear treaty with Iran, harsh challenges to China, and name-calling).
The United States' record of promoting liberalism and generally making the right decisions is strong enough. We commit our military when necessary; typically pass legislation that protects the rights of individuals (whether it be guns or abortions); we continue to make progress on due process and equal protection under the law; and we have a decent history of widening the circle of citizen inclusion with respect to rights and opportunities.
But we momentarily lost our minds when we voted for Trump. It was a reckless mistake that requires a "do over." Clinical research explains that for successful suicide victims there is only a few seconds in which they will actually pull the trigger or jump. The rest of the time they are holding back but there remains some moment – some brief period when the window is open – in which all of their stress, pressures, and cognitive distortions conflate and they actually step off the ledge or pull the trigger.
So we have the United States and Trump. The American citizenry momentarily lost its mind and pulled the trigger. It's going to be a crazy few years riddled with mistakes resulting from Trump's lack of preparation, his long and embarrassing record of bad behavior and misogyny, his refusal to listen to security briefings because he can lone wolf-it, his knee-jerk congenital lying (his loss of the popular vote by almost 3 million was from people casting illegal votes; Russia had nothing to do with hacking or influencing the American election), and his naïveté about world leaders.
I fully expect Trump to expand his control and throw the population a bone or two on occasion, all the while converting the presidency into a postmodern spectacle designed to continue Trump brand recognition.
Posted in Elections, Media and politics
Tags: democracy, Trump
One Final Attempt at Quality Information before Voting
Dear blog follower:
During this election, more than any other, trying to get some facts right is difficult. The below is from ProCon.org a nonpartisan educational organization, that helps everyone to make informed decisions regardless of how or for whom you vote. The degradation of the political process, the volume of ignorance floating around, polarization, and the incivility and impertinence of the candidates is of historic proportions. Most of us never imagined Trump as a Republican candidate and we certainly didn't imagine the debates – which were supposed to be an informed and intelligent portrayal of the candidates – as a showcase for marital and sexual indiscretions paraded in front of the opponent and the world.
So, I offer the below as the clearest and most objective side-by-side comparison of the candidates and their stance on issues. You may have made up your mind already but at least check your thinking against the information presented.
1. Compare 2016 Presidential Candidate Positions: A Side-by-Side Comparison Between Candidates on Key Issues
2. 2016 Presidential Election Candidate Quiz – Find Your Match!
3. Should Abortion Be Legal?
4. Top Pro & Con Quotes on Abortion
Felon Voting
5. Should Felons Who Have Completed Their Sentence (Incarceration, Probation, and Parole) Be Allowed to Vote?
6. State Felon Voting Laws
7. Number of People by State Who Cannot Vote Due to a Felony Conviction
8. Should More Gun Control Laws Be Enacted?
9. Top Pro & Con Quotes on Gun Control
10. US Gun Deaths, 1999-2014
11. Should the Government Allow Immigrants Who Are Here Illegally to Become US Citizens?
12. Illegal Immigration, Population Estimates in the United States, 1969-2014
13. Demographics of Immigrants in the United States Illegally
14. Should Marijuana Be a Medical Option?
15. 25 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC
16. Ranking 20 Drugs and Alcohol by Overall Harm
17. Should the Federal Minimum Wage Be Increased?
18. Top Pro & Con Quotes on the Federal Minimum Wage
19. State-by-State Minimum Wage Levels
20. And, just for fun, Top 10 Most Surprising Things in the 2016 Presidential Candidates' Online Stores
Posted in Communication and Conflict Resolution, Elections
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Tags: Elections
The Problem of False Equivalencies
One of the most egregious reasoning fallacies is false equivalencies; that is, the claim the two things are equal when they are not. All those who claim there's nobody to vote for or these are two pathetic candidates for the presidency have fallen into the trap of false equivalencies. By any sensible measure Hillary Clinton is far superior to Donald Trump. That does not mean she's a perfect candidate but clearly the better of the two choices. In fact, one may disagree with Hillary on political grounds but Trump is just plain dangerous. The below is reprinted from the Forward-Progressive website.
There's this notion concerning the 2016 presidential election that both choices are terrible and that we're all simply trying to choose "between the lesser of two evils." While I know that's a popular belief among many, the reality of that couldn't be further from the truth. Look, I'm not here to claim that Hillary Clinton is a flawless candidate. Just because I proudly support her campaign doesn't mean that I'm not realistic about the fact that she has flaws like any other human being — especially politicians.
That being said, to claim her flaws are on the same level of Trump's is not only completely inaccurate, but it's absolutely ridiculous. To prove my point, I thought I'd compare some of the top "controversial scandals" surrounding the two candidates. Let's start with Hillary Clinton:
Her emails: While her use of a private server was definitely a bad idea, she's admitted to that fact and has apologized for it, repeatedly. Furthermore, the FBI carried out an extensive investigation that ultimately concluded that she did nothing illegal. The only reason this became a "story" again is because while looking into the Anthony Wiener sexting allegations, the FBI found emails that may (keyword: may) need to be reviewed to determine whether or not they contain classified material. Though at the end of the day, not only was Clinton not charged with a crime, but there's been absolutely no evidence where her use of this private server led to any sort of national security issues.
The Clinton Foundation: While many have tried to make the foundation seem like some international crime syndicate linked to a pay-for-play criminal empire, ultimately, the foundation has an A-rating from a respected charity watchdog group and spends 88 percent of all the money it raises on charitable causes. Oh, and the Clintons don't actually make any money from the foundation — as they don't receive a salary.
Paid speeches: Considering it's not remotely uncommon for former presidents or politicians to give paid speeches, I'm not sure why this is a big deal. Again, there's been absolutely no credible evidence that any paid speech her husband gave was linked to any sort of "pay-for-play" scheme while she was Secretary of State.
"She gleefully helped a child rapist go free": Nope, she sure didn't. Not only was she ordered by a judge to defend him (she tried getting out of it), but the guy actually went to prison on a plea deal the victim's mother pushed prosecutors to offer of 5 years — only to have the judge reduce it to one. The audio of Clinton laughing about the case actually came years later when she was discussing how, even though the guy was guilty, he passed a polygraph — and that forever ruined her faith in the test. She was not mocking or laughing at the victim.
Benghazi: Here's another "scandal" that numerous investigations have ultimately concluded wasn't her fault. Though if you don't believe me (or the investigations), then ask the family of the late Ambassador Chris Stevens, who've publicly said that it's unfair to blame her for the attack.
She called "half" of Donald Trump's supporters "deplorable": Not only did she immediately apologize for saying this, but she wasn't really wrong. In fact, "half" is probably underselling how many of his supporters fit into the "basket of deplorables" she mentioned (racists, bigots, sexists, Islamophobic, homophobic, xenophobic). Now if you think I'm going to entertain the absurd conspiracies about her having multiple people killed, or that I'm going to hold her husband's issues against her, you're sadly mistaken. If you're someone who actually believes that insanity, then you're clearly someone who can't be reasoned with. But those are the main attacks I've seen Republicans and the media obsess about throughout her campaign.
Now let's move on to Donald Trump: Mocked a man with disabilities. Attacked the parents of a fallen American hero. Belittled POWs and the war record of Sen. John McCain. Lied about how much money he raised for veterans. Called a former Miss Universe "disgusting" and fat, telling his Twitter followers to find her non-existent sex tape. Accused an American-born federal judge of being unfit to do his job because of his Mexican heritage. Likely avoided paying taxes for nearly two decades. Called most Mexican immigrants rapists and criminals, even though that's not remotely factual. Lied about seeing "thousands and thousands" of Muslims celebrating in New Jersey on 9/11. Lied about getting a letter from the NFL complaining about the debate schedule. Tried to exploit the death of an African American woman in Chicago to say that's why black voters will support him. Found the "bright side" to tragedies because his poll numbers tend to go up. Settled with the Department of Justice after his company was found guilty of racially discriminating against minorities. Has cheated on at least one wife. Was discovered on video admitting that he not only tried to cheat on his current wife, but he attempted to do so with another married woman. Had his first wife publicly say that he did nothing when it came to raising their children until they were old enough to talk business. Tweeted that women should have expected to be sexually assaulted when they mixed males and females together in the military. Said he wants to target the families of terrorists. Stated that he wants to ban an entire religion. Praised a Russian president who obviously hates the U.S. and Americans. Encouraged the Russian government to commit espionage against Americans. Insinuated that another Republican's wife was ugly. Tried to implicate another Republican's father in JFK's assassination. Sought out the help of former Fox News CEO Roger Ailes after he was fired following multiple allegations that he had sexually harassed women for years. Made Breitbart's Steve Bannon one of his top campaign people. Had a former campaign manager abruptly resign after a report came out linking him to pro-Russian groups that were directly trying to undermine U.S. policy in eastern Europe. Called Carly Fiorina ugly. Has said climate change was a hoax created by the Chinese — then denied saying it. Was a leading conspiracy theorist when it came to the racist-driven birther conspiracies against President Obama. Dismissed nearly eight years of accusing the president of not being an American with a less than 30-second statement where he didn't apologize for any of it. Re-tweeted anti-African American propaganda created by a white supremacy group. Played dumb about knowing who former Grand Wizard of the KKK David Duke was. Skipped a presidential debate because he was scared of a moderator. Called a husband doing things like changing diapers and helping with the children, a man "trying to be the wife." Has said he wants more countries to have nuclear weapons. Said he can't release his tax returns because they're currently being audited — even though the IRS said that's a lie. Feels he has the right to sexually assault women. Is currently battling a fraud lawsuit where victims allege he created Trump University to scam them out of tens of thousands of dollars. Used funds raised by his charity foundation to pay his personal legal fees. Said that one of the women accusing him of sexual harassment wasn't attractive enough for him to have assaulted. Has a long history of not paying contractors for doing work they had already completed. His bankruptcies benefited him, while ultimately leaving many people to which he owed money out to dry. Outsources most of his company's manufacturing jobs to other countries. Has said that all the women accusing him of sexual assault are liars. Refused to say if he would concede the election if he loses on November 8th. Allegedly asked military advisers why we can't use nukes since we have them. After being told that our security experts know that Russia is behind the hack of the DNC and American citizens, continued to deny that they knew anything, effectively defending and taking the word of Russia over believing and trusting our own intelligence agencies. Once said that women who have abortions should be "punished." Alluded to the size of his penis during a presidential debate. Mocked the looks of Ted Cruz's wife. Was accused of planting a fake story in the National Enquirer concerning Ted Cruz having multiple affairs. Currently has a court date set for allegations he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old. Claims he's donated millions to charity but refuses to prove it. Called Hillary Clinton a "nasty women" when she factually called him out for tax evasion. Evidence seems to indicate that he bribed the Florida attorney general to avoid the state joining the fraud lawsuit against Trump University. Has admitted to trying to buy off politicians. Following his meeting with the Mexican president, he lied about being told that there was no way Mexico would pay for his wall. Has repeatedly advocated for committing war crimes. Said he knows more about terrorism and the Middle East than our generals. Has repeatedly said that our NATO allies are going to have to "pay up" for our protection. Said more countries should have nuclear weapons — then denied saying it. Has, on several occasions, suggested he finds his daughter attractive. Tried to blame Hillary Clinton for his racist birther propaganda. Said, with a straight face, that nobody has more respect for women than he does. During an interview said that "a flat-chested woman can never be a 10." Asked how stupid the people of Iowa could be for supporting Ted Cruz.
But, please, tell me again how "both candidates are the same" and they're "equally as flawed." Because if that's what you really believe, then you're choosing to ignore reality and believing whatever the hell you want to believe.
Tags: Elections, Hillary Clinton, Trump
How the Trump Monster Slouched toward the Republicans
Note the data in the table below from the Pew Foundation. There have been more than a few stories written about how Trump is a monster created by the Republican Party. Let's take a closer look at just what the Republican Party has created and why. There are lots of reasons but let's focus on two. First, the Republicans have simply failed to appeal to Hispanics and minorities even though their after action report from the 2012 election recognized this problem. They did little or nothing about it. 86% of Republicans or those leaning that way are White where only 57% of Democrats are White. Curiously, the Republicans should be able to appeal to Latinos who are family oriented, religious, and patriotic to the extent that they oppose leftist regimes. There are two prominent Republicans in Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio who could be electable if conditions were right. The Democrats have begun to include minorities more into the family tent and these minorities recognize their own progress – Donald Trump's claims that their schools and inner cities are a mess notwithstanding.
Moreover, the Republicans began to run more on moral and social (guns, God, and gays) issues then on economic ones. The angry less educated white male strand of Republican has countered any genuine Republican attempts to include minorities because of their racism and general rejection of the argument that immigration is good for America rather than bad. The foreign-policy hawks in the Republican Party are an attractive appeal for many Americans, and can resonate with American strength, but this group has essentially been co-opted by Hillary Clinton.
Bill Clinton moved to the party to the center and brought in more professionals leaving working-class whites to find a place in the Republican Party. These working-class whites have been frustrated by the Republicans who promised to look after their interests but haven't done so very successfully. So this group had one more reason to radicalize and movements such as a Tea Party began to emerge and differences between minorities and whites and Republicans and Democrats began to polarize even further.
The table below strongly illustrates this polarization. The blue dots represent Clinton supporters and the red dots Trump supporters. Look at the differences between the two on a few key issues that are ideological in nature. Statements about how wasteful government is and should be smaller are dramatically associated with Republicans (83% and 87% agree). And statements about how government should help the needy and regulate business (most associated with Democrats) are strongly supported by Democrats over Republicans (72% and 70%). These patterns in the electorate are the reason Donald Trump was so successful in the primaries. Moreover, rather than finding a candidate who genuinely coalesced around cultural and economic issues Trump represents fear and nationalism. How is a political party supposed to get anything done when they express such disdain for government?
Trump's populist nationalism makes us particularly vulnerable because the public currently has so little confidence in many American institutions such as the courts, the presidency, public schools, and banks. When the golden haired man comes on TV and tells you that nothing is your fault – it's all the fault of immigrants, elites, and the media – there's plenty of people who will listen.
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Tags: campaign politics, Trump
Trump and "Muted Eloquence"
In the classical literature on rhetoric there is a concept called "muted eloquence." The term is attributable to Rousseau and is part of the common distinction between reason and emotion or appeals to rationality versus attempts to arouse interests and stir passions in order to induce conformity. There's always been this argument between those who champion the unadorned use of reason – as if humans were all mind – and persuasion that induces change through baser and more primitive appeals to passions. We can see this distinction borne out between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump with Hillary more oriented toward (although not completely) defensible reason and Trump who was almost completely consumed by stirring tribal emotions as opposed to reason-based policy analysis.
The distinction is also one made between "persuading" and "convincing." Again, persuasion is affecting change through typical appeals to emotions, passions, and the like; and convincing is the act of completely reconstituting the psyche and will of the other by giving them new content and reconstituting their consciousness. Classical scholars argue this point because they were deeply divided with respect to the primary avenue of change that citizens were capable of. Some argued that the highest form of reason was convincing which led to the purest and most accurate formation of preferences and opinions. Others challenge the ability of humans to be reasonable in the purest sense and argued that legislators and leaders needed to find a way to "persuade without convincing" because the only way to effect change was through appeals to the passions on an equal level with reason. Most people were deeply flawed, as the argument went, with respect to their ability and receptiveness to "pure" reason. Persuasion could be musical and non-rational even at the risk of potential fanaticism. Charismatic leaders aroused deeper and more immediate passions in listeners, and their oratory was musical in the same way that chanting could be prophetic of charismatic religious figures. They did not use rationality to convince but persuasion to move. Mohammed and Moses are examples of the link between reason and passion and illustrations of how stirring the passions can lead to fanaticism.
I certainly would not call the oratory of Donald Trump musical but it does function the same way in that it is processed holistically and produces a gut pre-rational passion. "Muted eloquence" is when a visual sign has a sense of immediacy and impact. It is when some physical object or image communicates with a powerful effect. So, for example, The King cuts down the tallest flowers in the garden as a message to kill his enemies. In the movie "the Godfather" when a smelly fish wrapped in newsprint arrives at the door the character Tessio explains "it means Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes." The message that Luca Brasi is dead and his body dumped in the ocean is semantically ratified by the dead fish. It is a mute wisdom that speaks clearer and more powerfully than a long discourse. These visual signs are a form of persuasion that differs from the ideal of reasoned discourse.
We pivot to Donald Trump surrounded by three women who have accused Bill Clinton of sexual assault. They were then seated in the audience for the debate. The presence of these women was supposed to attenuate Trump's behavior and signify sexual malpractice in Hillary's case in addition to Trump. And even though these women are accusing Bill Clinton not Hillary just the image of sexual impropriety is supposed to be a form of muted eloquence designed to associate blame and shame with Hillary, and as a piece of evidence that Trump is no different than anyone else. Even though Trump is the sexist perpetrator here he sought to bathe himself in the victimhood of other woman.
The alleged rapist of one of the women, Kathy Shelton, was defended by Hillary and acquitted. Hillary was little more than the court-appointed attorney and she was fulfilling his constitutional right to legal counsel. But such argument seeks conviction rather than persuasion. Her innocence in the Kathy Shelton case is logically and rationally undeniable, but the muted eloquence of Trump's debate has closed off appeals to conviction.
The brazen and stunning stunt struck at the core of our unhinged national consciousness, a consciousness increasingly reason-free.
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Tags: Argument, Trump
What To Watch for Monday Night in the Clinton – Trump Debate
Word around the campfire is that the debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump this Monday night the 26th might be the most watched television program in history. Both candidates have an appeal to the various audiences that make up the United States (not to mention the world) beginning with Trump's narcissistic populism and rank self-aggrandizement, and including Hillary's "bitch persona" as Andi Zeisler explains in the New York Times.
The debate will devolve into two general strategic thrusts. One, we will at least fantasize about meeting our expectations on policy and issue stances. There will be some attempts to win debate points by a rather straightforward exchange of a few facts and arguments. But don't expect this to last long and while this clearly favors Hillary it could work against her. Hillary Clinton is soaked in policy issues and Donald Trump doesn't stand a chance. She is the grown up version of the high school debater carrying around a large suitcase of information and just waiting to pull out a little 3 x 5 fact card. I'm sure, bless her heart, she still thinks this form of discourse matters much. Somewhere in her soul she still believes that if she has one better fact than Trump, or makes the slightly better argument then she will "win."
The problem is people don't pay much attention to this form of communication any longer. Most of the population is incapable of taking part in such argument and, more to the point, don't want to. Paradoxically, Hillary's superior control of the substantive issues will do little more than classify her as "boring" or a "Washington policy wonk" who doesn't understand the needs of real people. Moreover, Trump can escape this aspect of the debates unscathed because the expectations for him on these matters are so low. Even when it turns out he doesn't know the difference between Turkey and his Thanksgiving meal he will emerge undamaged.
I suppose it is possible that Trump will pull an all-nighter and study for his big exams but I doubt it. This would be too against character. In fact, it might not serve him well because it would be contrary to his authenticity image which is based on a lack of fancy knowledge. Trump will do well if he just maintains some sense of equanimity. Then again, this too is against character.
But the name calling, personal attacks, and bullying will be the real fun. Both candidates have been wounded often enough that they take the shots pretty well. Trump will clearly try to bully Hillary but she's also capable of being tough. This worked for Trump in the primaries and I'm sure he will continue to do "what got him here." Trump will be at some disadvantage because of the moderator system rather me rabble rousing crowds. This is likely to subdue him which does not work to his advantage.
Hillary has to continue to drive home the theme that Trump lacks the manners and temperament to be president. Following the convention when she unleashed an aggressive series of ads around this theme was the time in which she had 10 point leads in the polls. These leads began to dissipate as soon as she scaled back that message. If Trump is calm on Monday night and even slightly appears presidential then that will be the best argument against Hillary's claim that he is unfit for the job.
Unfortunately, the only way for Hillary Clinton to gain ground during the debate is to cause Trump to lose his temper or say something so outrageous that it reinforces Hillary's claim that he is unfit for the job. Considered policy analysis and reasonable arguments that take place in the shiny and clean debating halls of justice are Hillary's strength, but she'll have to play outside in the dirt to beat Trump.
Tags: campaign politics, Elections, Hillary and Trump
Change Hillary's Campaign Slogan from "I'm with Her" to "She's with Me."
The results of the most recent Washington Post-ABC News Poll are in and the news is certainly good for Hillary. She leads Trump by double digits and he seems to be declining precipitously. In a head-to-head matchup Clinton leads Trump 51% to 39% among registered voters.The results are informative and the poll also shows some interesting data that should be useful for Hillary.
If you are a Republican hoping to defeat Hillary Clinton in the fall you must be pretty dispirited. I mean Hillary is beatable – or at least it appears she was beatable. Her high negatives coupled with all the people who dislike her for reasons justified or not seemed at one point insurmountable. But then along comes the Republican Party and they behave the way the Democrats usually do. That is, when they want to form a firing squad they get into a circle. No political party choice has been so tin-eared about the temperament and qualifications of a candidate since McCain chose Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate. Let's take a closer look at the numbers and what they probably or potentially mean.
The most troubling data in the survey for Hillary is the net "new direction" data which indicate that 56% of those polled would like to set the nation on a new direction. This makes it difficult for Hillary to identify herself with the President and as a candidate that will continue Obama's policies. But on the other hand, President Obama's approval ratings at 56% are higher than since the killing of Osama bin Laden in 2011. Obama is more popular than Bush was during the last days of his presidency. So using the President during the campaign – dependent of course on audiences and context – will generally be a safe bet for Hillary.
Just about two thirds of Americans think Trump is unqualified to be President. They believe his temperament is insufficiently stable and his comments about ethnic groups and women are unacceptable. It doesn't matter if such comments are defined as racist or "politically incorrect" because his comments are considered inappropriate. The intensity of criticism for an opponent does not have to rise to racism; inappropriate is good enough. It marks the user as insensitive at best and incompetent at worst with no facility for basic civility or contextual awareness.
The majority of the populace considers Trump unqualified and astounding 64% do not believe he has the credentials to be President. Still, there's a group of people who consider Trump unqualified for the job and disapprove of his comments about women, minorities, and Muslims but they plan to vote for him anyway. These are the people composed of two characteristics: extreme Obama hate which means they'll vote for anybody who isn't Obama or is associated politically with Obama, and those who want the country to move in a new direction. Hillary can probably safely pay little mind to one of these groups. The Obama haters are probably tinged with a little racism (at best) and it would be difficult to make progress with them.
But she has to convince the electorate that things are going to change for the better and new directions are in the offing. Hillary is the establishment candidate and easily defined as just "more of the same." She shares an elite form of discourse with Obama and those of her politically competent generation which stands in contrast to Trump's populism. Then again, she has Trump's bumbling verbosity working to her advantage; that is, Trump could capitalize on the populist message if he knew how to communicate it. But my guess is Trump will continue to fail his party and his supporters by refusing to understand the difference between himself and his message. He will substitute authenticity for communicative effectiveness. And for Hillary to move toward stronger identification with supporters she should convince them that "she is with them" rather than "they are with her."
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Tags: campaign politics, Elections
How Group Membership Distorts Political Thinking and the Impossibility of Quality Political Communication
Watching citizens yell at one another during debates and political discussion has reminded me of something more than the loss of civility. It prompts me to recall the distorted communication that occurs so often during political conversation. These distortions in meaning and argument result from the ingroup mentality of belonging to a particular political party. People cling to their own beliefs as driven by reasoned analysis of the real world while the beliefs of others are the result of ideology, emotions, and biases. We easily divide political rivals into simplistic binary categories: red states or blue states, Democrats vs. Republicans, liberals and conservatives. Add to this the combustible mix of bloggers, talk radio hosts, and TV pundits and political discourse becomes hot and hostile rather than deliberative and respectful. Actually, labeling oneself as a member of a preferred group (e.g. "I am a conservative" or "I am a Democrat") is dangerous and results in information distortions.
Party identifications are the result of people categorizing themselves as a member of an ingroup defined by certain characteristics. By categorizing myself as say "a Republican" I adopt characteristics of similar others, and embrace a list of appropriate beliefs and behaviors. I start to speak and behave in ways that I believe are consistent with my membership in this group called "Republicans." When my group membership is coupled with motivations to enhance my own group's self esteem, then I will produce favorable judgments and evaluations about my own ingroup, and unfavorable evaluations about outgroups. Thus, as a Republican I would consider myself a patriot and Democrats as socialists. This is a dangerous situation that produces serious errors and failings in political discourse. Let's examine a few.
One thing that happens with strong group identification is that the social norms of that group become overly influential. If I identify as a "Democrat" then I will be more than usually influenced by how I imagine Democrats think and behave despite the merits of an issue. I will be more influenced by party membership than policy. In one research study Democrats and Republicans were given a policy statement and told that the policy was supported by either a majority of Democrats or Republicans. Subjects in the study disproportionately favored a policy when it was identified with their own political party. This means that political judgment is too influenced by group identification and not sufficiently the result of objective consideration and analysis.
Secondly, being a member of a political party causes partisans to make biased conclusions. People explain and judge political behavior on the basis of their own political worldviews. Hence, a conservative when confronted with someone from poor economic circumstances will easily attribute this to laziness or lack of ability where a liberal will cite unfavorable social circumstances. Again, the explanations for political events should be based on deep consideration of issues and more complexity (many things explain poor economic circumstances), not simply on consistency with my own group's ideology.
Excessive suspicion and negativity toward politicians is a third bias of political party membership. During the healthcare debate Obama was called a socialist and even likened to Hitler (a strange confluence of political ideologies!). These extreme negative judgments about a politician's character result when a politician from the other party (the outgroup) presents a position inconsistent with your own group's position. Under these circumstances there is a tendency to exaggerate differences and attribute personal blame to the other.
Finally, political party favoritism has a strong emotional reaction because partisans are so motivated to favor their own group. For Democrats, their strong negative emotional reaction to George W. Bush diminished their ability to arrive at logical conclusions. If Bush was for something, Democrats were against it.
The healthcare debate, for example, has to be won on its merits. The above problems can be overcome by increased communicative contact with members of the other party and a widening of goals such that people see themselves more interdependently. Proper political communication is difficult and challenging but given the alternative it is a challenge we must meet.
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Tags: bias, campaign politics, Elections
How to Reframe the American-Israeli Alliance in a New Age of Great-Power Competition
During a meeting with a U.S. China expert, an Israeli speaker asked, "We keep hearing from you what we should not be doing with China. Why don't you tell us how we can be of help?" In that question lie both the key to avoiding a bilateral crisis and a useful pointer for taking U.S.-Israel relations to the next level. Given their mainly regional priorities, I […]
Round Three in Israel: Domestic Dynamics and Foreign Policy Implications
With the Knesset dissolving itself last week and declaring a third election within a year, Israel seems paralyzed and polarized. The country has been stuck in a transitional government since December 2018, and the new vote will not take place till March 2, making for an immensely durable impasse. During this time of stalemate, the government has avoided majo […]
What Happens When Everyone's Trying to Get Nukes?
For more than 50 years, Israel's national security has been guided by the Begin Doctrine, named after the country's sixth prime minister. It holds that no regional enemy committed to destroying the Jewish state can be allowed to obtain weapons of mass destruction. To that end, Israel's air force destroyed Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor in 1981 and Syria's al […]
Hiding in Plain Sight:
In summer 2006, the United Nations passed Security Council Resolution 1701 with the goal of ending the war between Israel and Hezbollah and preventing a recurrence. Among its terms was an expansion of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, a multinational peacekeeping body created in 1978. UN reports over the past thirteen years have emphasized the general calm in […]
Podcast: Decision Points: The U.S.-Israel Relationship
"Decision Points" is a new Washington Institute podcast that provides fresh insights into critical moments in the U.S.-Israel relationship from prominent historians and policymakers. The series is hosted by Ziegler Distinguished Fellow David Makovsky, a renowned expert on U.S.-Israel relations, including territorial solutions to the Israeli-Palesti […]
Do Quarantines Even Work? January 27, 2020
The dirty history behind isolating the sick.
Howard Markel


Around my 29th birthday I began to think about what I might want to do to make my 30th year feel a little different, something a little special to mark a new decade. (At the time I didn't know our little girl would be coming along shortly after my birthday. I have a sneaking suspicion she'll be providing plenty of change and excitement :D).
I wanted whatever I picked to be something I'd genuinely look forward to, something specific to my own interests and not just what other people might find fun or illuminating or worthwhile. I wanted it to be simple enough, but I also thought it would be nice to figure out a way to spread the joy through the year. So what did I come up with?
I decided to pick out 12 classics that I hadn't yet read: one for each month of my 30th year. I had so much fun reading through lists of classics, asking bookish friends their favorites, browsing bookstores, debating with myself over the many titles I encountered. Some books came to me right away, while others were more serendipitous finds or ones that slowly won me over. The key? Making sure that they were books that I was genuinely wanting to read, whatever my own personal reason might be: no sense of obligation, just my own anticipation.
The books have mainly been collected over the year from different local bookstores on our various trips and outings. I get so much pleasure seeing them stacked up and thinking about what lies ahead. Notice that there are only 11 books there, though? I need your help and I need it soon, since I'll be 30 at the beginning of July!
You'll notice that there's no book for January. I need your help! Some titles I've been considering are The Count of Monte Cristo, Middlelemarch, Strong Poison, and O Pioneers. I'm hoping you might all be able to help out by weighing in on those or making other suggestions. I'd also love to hear which of these books you've read and what you thought of them, or if you have any projects or challenges like this for yourself.
I'll be posting about the books through my 30th year and you'll be able to follow via the hashtag #goingclassicat30. I'm also always happy to buddy read, so let me know if you want to join in at any point. Here's to a great year of reading ahead!
Yes, length will definitely be taken into account! I have heard, though, that, despite its length, The Count of Monte Cristo ends up being relatively fast since it's such a page turner. Did you find that to be true?
I really love this idea. I did something similar last summer and finally tackled a stack I'd wanted to read for years. My favorite classic is still Rebecca. What a treat you are in for! As for January, I'd go with The Count of Monte Cristo. It is fast-paced and exciting.
It must have felt so satisfying to get to that stack! I've heard such great things about Rebecca and am particularly excited about that one. I think I have ended up deciding on Count of Monte Cristo- I just need to purchase it now. Thanks so much, Christine!


I now can not have a relationships with my children or my grandchildren because of the depression and the anger. Where are the NRT studies mentioning suicidal thoughts, our current drug approval process is upside down. There you'll see a hidden comment sharing the original link, i stopped taking chantix and got better. 2011 website visitor traffic count data from Compete.
Prior to excluding them, i don't think I will ever get it back. Be sure and make a copy of both your receipt and letter prior to sending it.
Among them were "272 cases of completed suicide, 323 cases of suicide attempt and 63 cases described as suicidal behavior. Speak with your doctor about quitting. Common culprits and what you can do.
Any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. I absolutely feel like I have to write this: my experience on this was frightening.
Thankfully, with this last hospitalization, my MD was aware of the recent reports of bad side effects from Chantix. Escalating concerns regarding varenicline side-effects are just now beginning to generate risk assessment papers for some excluded groups. I observed the downward emotional spiral first hand. However, I slipped up and started smoking again at the beginning of week 3.
Pfizer asserts, "It is important to note that a vast body of medical literature has shown that smoking cessation, with or without treatment, is associated with nicotine withdrawal symptoms and has also been associated with the exacerbation of underlying psychiatric illnesses. What we do know is that when health care providers or quit smoking counselors learn of depressive type symptoms in any quitter, they do not encourage relapse or emotional suffering but immediately refer them to physicians for treatment. Responsive Channel Content 3 Column Template_091e9c5e813ec926_tmodules_css_551. Chantix study users relapsed within a year.
The article shares the insights of Dr. I do not want to be around anyone or talk to anyone. I started taking Chantix three and a half weeks ago.
Chantix Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. Impacting truckers and bus drivers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced that, "medical examiners should not certify a driver taking Chantix because the medication may adversely affect the driver's ability to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle.
One member voting in favor of removing the warning and six favored slight changes to the label. Search as you might, I doubt you'll locate any. Also one user experienced a "severe psychological reaction likened to a bad LSD trip, including anxiety, paranoia, confusion and impaired motor control.
My daughter is one of the Casualties of taking Chantix for 12 weeks. I hated myself, then I felt sorry for myself. My faimly talked me into quitting the chantix and i did.
All I want to do is sleep and cry. I have extreme mood swings, nightmares, and impatience I can't describe. Until then, NRT was allowed to hide behind an intensity-rich clinic experience which nourished quitting motivations far longer than normal.
Chantix Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc. Body fluids were not tested for either nicotine or cotinine, a longer lasting nicotine metabolite. That's at least 25 provider counseling sessions, each lasting up to 10 minutes in length. The health and medical information provided here is intended to supplement and not substitute for the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacists or other health care professional.
Then ask yourself, who authored the FDA announcement? Tell your doctor if you continue to smoke after a few weeks of treatment. In fact, according to the study, "use of NRT during the 9 months of follow-up did not disqualify a subject.
For example, Pfizer's studies excluded those with mental health issues. Given proper treatment relief from depression, freedom from nicotine is within their grasp too. I ended up being admitted to a psych unit with "major depression" on July 22. Varenicline ranked highest in proportional reporting among the 31 drugs for which violence was reported.
I took myself off the drug and within 2-3 days it was so much better. The nausea, stomach pain and constipation are so bad it's been a chore to function. With absolutely no memory at all of what she'd done, Karen says her daughter's account of what had happened was like hearing about another person.
Adverse outcomes were identified in five of 17 live births: one baby had birth asphyxia and recurrent chest infections, one had gastro-oesophageal reflux, one was diagnosed with ankyloglossia and two had feeding difficulties. I was concerned about taking Chantix because it is a mind altering drug. We won't even begin to address my aggression and hostility issues.
How many would have grown frustrated at recognizing their placebo assignment, so frustrated that they would have throw in the towel and relapsed? My behavior is erratic and out of control. Besides the over paying I have to do without groceries til the end of the month. What it fails to alert patients to is the fact that varenicline's "Full Prescribing Information" sheet lists 160 additional potential adverse events.
I quit smoking but I have been hospitalized 3 times during this period for depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and actions. Does Chantix Tablet, Dose Pack interact with other medications?
According to December 30, 2011 website visitor traffic count data from Compete. The warning states, "there have been reports of depressed mood, agitation, changes in behaviour, suicidal ideation and suicide in patients attempting to quit smoking while taking Champix. 5,000 patients treated with varenicline.
Additionally, upon being commanded to quit, how much higher would the extended Chantix group's 75 percent Chantix assignment belief have climbed upon discovery that their normal and expected withdrawal syndrome had significantly changed or was absent? According to the Aubin study, "Counseling also occurred during every subsequent telephone and clinic visit.
I really have no feelings about anything or anybody. Cessation pharmacology history has never before seen the frequency and severity of the adverse events now being attributed to Chantix and Champix, with many lingering long after use ends, some permanent or fatal. 12 weeks, when that figure is really rather meaningless. Rare: Bradyphrenia, Euphoric mood, Hallucination, Psychotic disorder, Suicidal ideation.
This is my 3rd week on Chantix, and I plan to quit taking it. 36 hours after my last dose. Looking for a deadly serious and highly focused education oriented support group? There are several ways to use varenicline.
He had taken Chantix and went off it in the spring, then we found out he had started retaking it 7 days before his suicide. According to his brother, "He's got no history of depression and was never the sort of person you would see feeling sorry for himself. WHY DIDN'T MY DOCTOR TELL ME THIS COULD HAPPEN! I am a soft-spoken, kind person.
Click to find International Shipping charges at our pharmacy. Soon after that, I started feeling severely depressed and 2 days before Christmas, I attempted suicide by overdosing on muscle relaxants. Chantix should be observed for serious neuropsychiatric symptoms, including changes in behavior, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal ideation and suicidal behavior.
There, it was correctly hypothesized that in Chantix trials that "failure of the blind was likely greater in the active than placebo group. There is also no debate but that some unknown percentage of smokers have both untreated and undiagnosed organic depression that can become pronounced and beg treatment once nicotine's contribution to brain dopamine pathway stimulation ends. I thought, well I'll give it another try, maybe it was a fluke.
I was on Chantix for 6 months. It scares me that this drug is even available. Pfizer purchases full page ads in U. CHANTIX in the post-marketing experience.
Thinking the love of his life had gone forever, he hung himself. The second patch versus Chantix study was published April 2010. I was angry, sad, disgusted and somewhat suicidal. This is no way to live your life.


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Darlin hired as executive editor at Kaiser Health News
by Chris Roush · September 21, 2018
Damon Darlin
Damon Darlin has been hired as executive editor of Kaiser Health News, a nonprofit news service that provides in-depth coverage of health care policy and politics.
Darlin will start next month.
For the past year, Darlin has been at Reuters as editor, money and politics, in its Washington bureau.
He previously was at The New York Times, where he spent the previous three years at the policy, economics and politics site The Upshot. Before that he worked for several years as technology editor and personal finance columnist at The Times.
Earlier in his career, Darlin was a reporter at the The Wall Street Journal in Cleveland, Detroit, Tokyo and Seoul, as well as senior editor at Forbes and managing editor at U.S. News and World Report.
Tags: Health care coverageJob changesThomson Reuters
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I'm omniano developer Hyonga. Sheon.
It's long time what write a thread!
I made digital compass! her name is "OMPASS"
This app made by Samsung windows mobile sdk version 2.0!
I'll release this application when it works good performance!
original omnia does not have hardware compass so even if sheon made the app for qvga screen it will not be functional for your omnia. the compass will always point to north no matter which direction you move.
does it deppend on gps or any other hardware inside?
OK we will see the running app. I will have an eye on the thread..
right! old omnia model does not have 3Dorientation sensor.
so it's not possible! thank you Nik, rvn88!
Really nice application. Is there any way you can put the Mediafire link here to download. Im using the Omnia II. Use your Omniano and im a fan.


The Teaneck film festival featured survivors and family members affected by mass shootings. They talked about their fight to end gun violence.
Sam Zeif and Jenna Yuille were brought together onstage in Teaneck on Sunday from opposite sides of the nation, bound together by tragedy and a drive for change.
Zeif, 18, lost a best friend during the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School earlier this year, and his emotional plea for gun reform at the White House days later tugged at hearts even if it fell on deaf ears in the nation's capital.
Yuille, 29, has spent years rallying for change after her mother was one of two people killed in a shooting rampage at the Clackamas Town Center, a mall near Portland, Oregon, in December 2012.
At the annual Teaneck International Film Festival, they spoke to an audience after a screening of the film "101 Seconds," which documents the struggles that the families of the mall shooting victims faced as they went from grieving survivors to gun safety advocates. They implored the audience to make gun reform a priority and vote on Election Day.
"For me it's not Democratic or Republican. It's whoever will not take money in exchange for putting people's lives at risk. Get everyone to vote and make sure you stand up for what you believe in, because you never know when it will be your last day," said Zeif, who was joined onstage by his father, Doug. They both have become committed activists since a gunman stormed the high school in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14.
Zeif said he has given about 20 similar talks across the country and planned to give another the next day at the University of Miami. He's among a group of student-activists who have pushed for gun reforms since the shooting and who have inspired a generation of peers — including high school students in North Jersey — to become politically active.
As shown in "101 Seconds," Yuille became an organizer for gun control after her mother, 54-year-old Cindy Ann, was killed when a shooter opened fire in the mall's food court, slowing only when his AR-15 rifle jammed. Most Americans and gun owners want measures like background checks for gun purchases, but the outsized influence of the National Rifle Association has kept politicians from acting, Yuille said.
While federal reforms have stalled, a number of states, including New Jersey, have passed laws on background checks and magazine limits. The film itself shows that, despite obstacles, Oregon also passed a law requiring criminal background checks for private gun sales in 2015.
More recently, in March, Oregon's governor signed a bill expanding a ban on guns for domestic abusers and people under restraining orders.
The film likens the struggles for gun control to those that activists encountered from the tobacco industry and the hospitality and restaurant lobby when trying to pass laws on smoking and drunken driving.
"It's important not to give up," said Yuille, who now lives in Washington, D.C. "I do believe this will be an incremental wave of change across the nation. And that's what we're seeing happen now.
She highlighted two ways she believes reforms can happen: changing the conversation, so people don't believe the gun lobby's claims that government wants to ultimately take away all guns, and holding candidates accountable by making gun reform a voting issue.
The Teaneck International Film Festival, now in its 13th year, featured more than 30 films over four days. The National Council of Jewish Women, the Bergen County Brady Campaign and the Teaneck public school district sponsored the screening of "101 Seconds." The film was picked because it was the best that highlighted the current national debate on gun reform, said Jeremy Lentz, the festival's executive director.
Dennis Hirschfelder of the Bergen County Brady Campaign, a gun reform organization, praised the Parkland students who have invigorated the movement as he appeared onstage alongside Zeif, his father and Yuille.
Zeif said he never thought a shooting would happen at his school. He was in class when shots rang out, and he frantically texted family members, including his younger brother, who was in the same building. He learned later that his best friend, 17-year-old Joaquin Oliver, had been killed.
In a tearful speech one week later at the White House, Zeif implored officials including President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to do something to curb gun violence.
"How is it that easy to buy this type of weapon? How did we not stop this after Columbine? After Sandy Hook? It's still happening," Zeif said, weeping and placing his hand on the shoulder of Nicole Hockley, whose son Dylan died in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
Despite reluctance from federal lawmakers to pass gun restrictions, Zeif believes persistence and commitment to the cause will lead to change. Today, he still flinches from the sound of cars driving by, checks for exits and repeatedly looks over his shoulder to scan the room. He doesn't want others to experience the same fear or the same pain he has felt, he said.


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Thirty-seven candidates will contest Oyo state governorship seat comes 2019 general elections, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Oyo state displayed the list of the 37 governorship candidates at its headquarters in Ibadan on Friday.
Speaking with NAN correspondent on the display of the candidates' list, Mr Mutiu Agboke, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo state, said "display of the candidates' list is part of the electoral processes.


This year spring officially begins on March 20th so, with less than a month to go, it is time to start bringing some spring sunshine back into your home.
Waking up when it is dark makes it so much harder to get out of our warm, comfortable beds, but during those darker months, what are you supposed to do instead? The Sad Shop has the solution with these amazing natural sunlight alarm clocks, starting from just £25.95. They mimic a real sunrise so you can wake up gently and naturally, making it easier to get up and on your way during the winter.
Mobiles make a beautiful finishing touch to a baby's nursery, but did you know they can also be a wonderful addition to the rest of your home as well? For example, this gorgeous Luxury Bird Cage Mobile, priced at £69 from Notonthehighstreet.com would look amazing in any conservatory, sunroom or bedroom.
What better reminder that spring is on its way than seeing migrating birds flying across the sky? With the Swallow Clock from eastern designer Haoshi, you can bring that wonderful sight right into your home. The unique design makes it look as though the swallows around the clock are actually in flight! For UK stockists of the Swallow Clock, on sale for £132, check out Object&line.
You don't necessarily have to have a garden to enjoy the beautiful sounds of a wind chime – you can hang it anywhere you like! This delightful sunshine mobile from Gardens2You, priced at just £7.99, would look lovely in your kitchen or bathroom and will add a musical touch to your home.
Spring lambs are one of the best things about the lighter nights and warmer weather – they are so cute and full of energy! Having a lamb bouncing around your home is not really practical but these soft and stylish lamb's wool cushions are the next best thing. Available from The Sofa Throw Company from £45, they will make a classy addition to your home décor.
Spring just wouldn't be spring without some daffodils in your home. But they don't last forever and sometimes you want that beautiful, bright colour in your home for longer. The solution is one of these super Daffodil print blinds from Roman Blinds Direct. Depending on your preference and budget, you can get blinds or curtains made to fit any room.
The best thing about spring is that we start to get longer days with more sunshine, chasing away those winter blues. If you have been longing for the sunlight to come back into your home, give it a boost with a beautiful decorative mirror to reflect more light back into your home. This unusual design from Graham and Green, on sale at £225, is particularly eye-catching.


Transport for London has published its report in response to the consultation on Old Street - but LCC is concerned the plans aren't going to provide the safe space for cycling (or walking) that this location needs.
Old Street roundabout should be a London landmark with a distinct sense of place, but it's currently an inhospitable environment for cycling and walking. There have been numerous collisions in the vicinity of the roundabout. Despite the hostile road conditions Old Street junction is one of the busiest for cycling in London, with cyclists making up almost a third of all traffic in the morning rush hour.
We welcome the ambition to make it safer for cycling, but we have concerns that the plans are not safe enough and will not provide the safe and inviting space for cycling that this location should offer. Current levels of motor traffic are unacceptably high, and the proposals make no attempt to address this. At the same time, the planned cycle tracks will not offer enough space to accommodate current numbers of cyclists, let alone future. Cycle tracks that don't offer sufficient capacity will force cyclists onto the busy road - a daunting prospect for the majority of cyclists.
The proposals are also bad news for pedestrians: they'd mean a reduction in pedestrian space, potentially leading to people choosing to walk on the cycle lanes because the pavements would be so narrow. The absence of pedestrian crossing on the east side of the junction will also drive pedestrians to cross using the cycle lane across the road or make other risky crossing choices. The relocation of bus stops will also inconvenience the numerous bus users wishing to access Old Street station.
We'd like to see the roundabout replaced with crossroads, with more space for cycling reallocated from the road, not the footway. Crossroads would make it a much simpler layout and make it easier to provide protected space and improve the area for pedestrians and cyclists.
Download our response to the consultation.


We study the relationship between exporters' organizational structure and output quality. If only input quantity is observable, theory predicts that vertical integration may be necessary to incentivize suppliers to increase input quality. Using data on suppliers' behavior, supplier ownership, supply transactions, and manufacturers' output by quality grade and exports from the Peruvian fishmeal industry, we show the following. After integrating with the plant being supplied and losing access to alternative pay-per-kilo buyers, suppliers take more quality-increasing and less quantity-increasing actions. Integration consequently causally increases output quality, and manufacturers integrate suppliers when facing high relative demand for high quality grades.


Immunology encompasses the study of all parts of the immune system. The study of immunology is clinically important as an increased understanding of how the immune system works which enables researchers to develop improved treatments for both psychiatric and infectious disorders by the use of elisa kit company.
Immunological research can also be geared toward discovering ways to exploit the immune system by making use of gdnf elisa kit to protect against the development of various cancers.
Numerous proteins, such as cytokines, chemokines, interferons and interleukins, are involved in the several pathways connected with the immune system.
Cytokines are composed of two main subfamilies, chemokines and interleukins, which act as chemotactic cytokines and mediators of leukocyte communicating, respectively. Chemokines are a family of cytokines that have the ability to induce directed chemotaxis in neighboring cells.
These chemokines also take part in immune defense by directing lymphocytes into the lymph nodes.
Chemokines can be divided into four classes depending on the arrangement of the conserved cysteine residues of the mature proteins.
The CXC group includes two N-terminal cysteines separated by one amino acid and is included in the migration of neutrophils and lymphocytes. C chemokines, the next group, comprise one N-terminal cysteine and a single downstream cysteine.
Members of the group bring T cell precursors into the thymus. These proteins are synthesized and released by host cells in response to pathogens or tumor cells. In addition to their ability to interfere with viral replication, IFNs also activate immune cells and up-regulate antigen presentation to T lymphocytes.
Ten different IFNs have been identified in mammals and are categorized among three IFN classes, Sort IFN, Type II IFN and Form III IFN. Interleukins exhibit a wide spectrum of biological activities including cell activation, differentiation, proliferation and motility.
Nearly all interleukins are produced by T helper cells, as well as by monocytes, macrophages and endothelial cells. ILs foster the growth and differentiation of T-, B- and hematopoietic cells.
A deeper comprehension of the several purposes of cytokines, chemokines, interferons and interleukins in the human body's defense against germs, as well as the development of autoimmune diseases, may one day lead to the development of improved treatments and even cures for an assortment of ailments.
Antibodies against these various factors are vital to the study of immunology, and antibody manufacturers are designing merchandise lines to cover the demands of this developing research field. You can also visit this website to know more about antibodies used to study immunology. .
Why Aged Care Services At Home Are Boon For Aging Adults?


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All posts tagged: Nikolas Ventourakis
Best of 2018: Lars Willumeit, independent curator, author, and art educator
Lars Willumeit
Lars Willumeit, an independent German curator, author, and art educator based in Switzerland, recommends five photographic projects that caught his eye over the last year
Broader than a border: questioning notions of British territory in Cypriot land
Gemma Padley
Nikolas Ventourakis hit on the idea for Defining Lines while shooting in Cyprus, not far from the Akrotiri and Dhekelia Sovereign Base Areas, two military sites under British jurisdiction. He'd taken a few shots on his iPhone and, when he uploaded them on to his laptop, discovered that some of the images had been geotagged United Kingdom and others Republic of Cyprus, despite being shot metres apart. It got him thinking about the notions of territory and borderlines. "I'm attracted to the abstract concept of a border, which is arbitrary in every sense," he says. "There are no border barriers or custom posts between the SBA lands and the Republic. Normal civilian day-to-day life takes place along the peninsula, right next to and inside the border. It is hard to tell if you have crossed into UK land. [But] using devices such as iPhones and services like Google Maps, the border becomes apparent and real." Ventourakis shot for about a month in August 2014 but spent two years before that planning and researching the area. Using Google Maps …
Landscape / Projects
Dan Wood shoots life in Welsh former mining communities
Bastard Countryside by Robin Friend
Obituary: Jacqueline Hassink, photographer 1966-2018
Edward Burtynsky: The Anthropocene Project
Q&A: Climate change in Iran by fast-emerging...
EyeEm announces this year's 100 award finalists
Rémy Artiges' 27893NC, a vision of Wilson, North...
An index of inequality in St Louis, USA
Going beyond the borders with Another Europe
Kristine Potter's portraits of masculinity


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"There is a need for financial reform along ethical lines that would produce in its turn an economic reform to benefit everyone. This would nevertheless require a courageous change of attitude on the part of political leaders. I urge them to face this challenge with determination and farsightedness, taking account, naturally, of their particular situations. Money has to serve, not to rule!"
~ Pope Francis, Vatican City, May 16, 2013.


(PRLEAP.COM) Beyond the Milky Way: Thoughts About Heaven, a new book by Rev. Oliver H. Hance, has been released by Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc.
Beyond the Milky Way is about how God's Word is still alive and relevant in the modern world. It shows how humanity's knowledge of the world is part of, not counter to, the Word of God by discussing the Biblical truth of the Garden of Eden and the Creation of Man. Also highlighted is how the only way to Heaven is by faith in Jesus Christ and belief in God and His creation.
You must accept God's message, as it is presented in His word by faith to be truly content and complete.
Beyond the Milky Way: Thoughts About Heaven is a 90-page paperback with a retail price of $12.00. The ISBN is 978-1-4809-9918-3. It was published by Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For more information, or to request a review copy, please go to our virtual pressroom at www.dorrancepressroom.com or our online bookstore bookstore.dorrancepublishing.com.


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Subject: GrubHub (NYSE: GRUB) Stock Surges After IPO; How It Can Keep Climbing
URL: http://mney.co/1gWNI5d
GrubHub (NYSE: GRUB) Stock Surges After IPO; How It Can Keep Climbing
By Kyle Anderson, Associate Editor, Money Morning • @KyleAndersonMM • April 4, 2014
GrubHub Inc. (NYSE: GRUB) is the latest initial public offering (IPO) to take the market by storm in 2014, opening at $40 today (Friday), or 54% higher than its offer price. Through the IPO, the company raised $192 million, which easily beat previous projections.
The money raised in the IPO gives GRUB a valuation of approximately $2 billion.
GrubHub priced its shares at $26 on Thursday, which was above its proposed range of $23 to $25 per share. The GrubHub IPO had been gaining momentum for weeks, as the company revised its range last week from an initial range of $20 to $22.
When GrubHub set its offer price at $26, it also increased the number of shares it offered. The company had initially planned to sell 7.03 million shares, but upped that total to 7.4 million.
In early trading, GRUB stock hit a high of $40.79, but has since settled. The stock was trading near $36 at 12:00 p.m.
GrubHub allows users to place pick-up and delivery orders from restaurants either online or from their mobile devices.
At the end of 2013, GrubHub reported working with nearly 29,000 restaurants and had a customer base of 3.4 million active users. In 2013, it averaged 135,000 orders processed daily, making it the largest food delivery services provider in the United States.
GrubHub reported revenue of $237.1 million last year, which was a 67% increase from 2012. Its net profit was down on the year - from $7.9 million to $6.7 million - but the company attributed that drop to increased spending on sales and marketing. In August 2013, GrubHub acquired competitor Seamless for $422 million, which also contributed to the company's bottom line.
Those profit margins, even though they shrank in 2013, are part of what made GrubHub an attractive IPO investment. According to the Wall Street Journal, nearly 75% of the companies that have gone public in the United States this year were unprofitable at the time of their initial public offering.
Today's $40 opening price shows how attractive GRUB stock was to investors. But where the stock goes from here is contingent on this major factor...


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Great looking double cell honeycomb shades with balloon valance. What a great way for privacy and light control to cover these windows with a cordless honeycomb shade. Double cell shades help with sun and keeping the elements out of a room.


The event is from 7:00-10:00pm. We would like the band to arrive for loading around 6:00pm. Contact Mark from University Programs for parking and loading information.
University Programs is hosting a Latin Heritage Festival at the University of Alabama. We are looking for a Latin band that can compliment the atmosphere with traditional Latin music that is culturally appropriate.
They will need to set up at 12 or 1130 am and the set up should be completed by 1215. The event starts at 1230 and the performace part ends at 2. But you will only perform for 10-20 mins of the performamce time. You are more than welcome to stay for the free foods offered at the end from 2-3. If there is anything that we can help with set up please let me know and we will do our best to provide. Also if you need to bw there earlier than 1130 to set up feel free to let me know and I will make that happen for you.
I am a student in the social work program at The University of Alabama. We are hosting a multicultural event in the west side of Tuscaloosa on April 28th. We are trying to use this day to promote cultural awareness, and provide opportunities of advancement and open up different networking opportunities for families. We were wondering if your organization would help reach that goal in volunteering your time in sharing those resources for the community.
Arriving on the music scene in the late 19th century, Mariachi Bands brought an upbeat yet traditional sound to Mexican culture. With a blend of guitars, violins, trumpets, the guitarron, and the vihuela, Mariachi music can truly liven up a party! The upbeat authentic Mexican folk music is the perfect accompaniment for wedding receptions, Cinco de Mayo parties, and so much more. Search for Mariachi Bands in Tuscaloosa, Alabama above.
Please note that these Mariachi Bands may also travel to Coker, Peterson, Duncanville, Buhl, Cottondale, Fosters, Coaling, Ralph, Moundville, Brookwood, Samantha, Echola, Elrod, Vance, Kellerman, Knoxville, and Gordo.


Quality throughout as only Tiara can do it, this Tiara 4300 Open can sleep 6 below deck in total comfort. Fishing is not just a suggestion, but a recommendation, with all the amenities to make a tournament seem like a luxurious cruise with some fishing thrown in for good measure. The electronically controlled engines are quiet and efficient and are matched perfectly to the hull for optimum performance and handling in any sea condition.


Early evening at a disused lead mine in Derbyshire.
Lumsdale Falls near Matlock, Derbyshire.
Available on the App Store from today, programmed by Mixed Reality, the Glossop Times App has been produced as part of an AHRC Digital Transformations project called Affective Digital Histories – Recreating De-industrialised Places, 1880s to present. The project was a collaboration between the University of Leicester (lead partner) and De Montfort University. It has involved the 3D reconstruction of key mill buildings from Glossop (a former mill town in North Derbyshire), the development of this iPad App mapping Glossop from the 1880s to the present, the recording of oral histories, as well as the production of animations, creative writing and video material.
The App itself documents the transformation of Glossop from the 1880s, through the 1950s, 1970s and 1990s to the 2010s. The App does this by providing a range of digital content that is accessed through either a series of virtual newspapers or historical maps for each of the five time periods.


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Non-Nutritive Sweeteners: Researchers Look At Their Impact On Children
The AAP policy statement suggests that the amount of these no or low-calorie sweeteners should be mentioned on product labels.
Edited by Deeksha Sarin (with inputs from ANI) | Updated: October 29, 2019 19:31 IST
Artificial or non-nutritive sweeteners are a growing part of US diets.
Consumed by at least one out of four children, artificial or non-nutritive sweeteners are a growing part of US diets. A new American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement sheds light on how these non-nutritive sweeteners may affect children's weight, taste preferences, the risk for diabetes, and long-term safety. The AAP policy statement 'The Use of Non-nutritive Sweeteners in Children', published in the Journal November 2019 Pediatrics, suggests that the amount of these no or low-calorie sweeteners should be mentioned on product labels so families and researchers can better assess as to how much children are consuming and any possible health effects.
"Looking at the evidence, we found there's still a lot to learn about the impact of non-nutritive sweeteners on children's health," said Carissa Baker-Smith, MD, MPH, FAAP, lead author of the AAP policy statement and an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
"We need more research into the use of non-nutritive sweeteners and the risk for obesity and Type 2 diabetes, especially in children. Considering how many children are regularly consuming these products - which have become ubiquitous -- we should have a better understanding of how they impact children's long-term health."
To mimic the taste of sucrose (table sugar) without adding calories, non-nutritive sweeteners were introduced into the food supply more than 60 years ago. There are about 8 non-nutritive sweeteners that are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame-potassium, sucralose, neotame, and advantame are approved as food additives, while stevia and Luo Han Guo (monk fruit) are approved under the 'generally recognized as safe' (GRAS) designation. These products are 180 to 20,000 times sweeter than sugar.
As per the AAP, the majority of short-term studies suggest that substituting a non-nutritive sweetener for sugar may promote small amounts of weight loss in children and reduce weight gain. But at the same time, the data is limited.
There are also some studies that suggest links between the use of non-nutritive sweetener and changes in the gut microbiome, as well as in the taste preferences and appetite, which may affect blood sugar levels and lead to insulin resistance, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and weight gain. However, findings remain inconsistent.
Since these sweeteners are now so widely available and consumed, the AAP recommends manufactures to report non-nutritive sweetener content on labels, rather than just listing them among ingredients.
"It is currently hard to know how much non-nutritive sweetener is in a product since manufacturers aren't required to specify," Dr Baker-Smith said.
"Listing the amount of non-nutritive sweetener a product contains would help families and researchers understand how much is actually being consumed by individuals and populations and further evaluate potentially related health effects," Dr Baker-Smith said.
Knowing the amounts of non-nutritive sweeteners in products would also help ensure children's consumption remains below acceptable daily intake levels, Dr Baker-Smith said.
If you want to ditch refined sugar and looking for alternatives, here is a list of 4 natural sweeteners:
(Note: The list of natural sweeteners is not part of the study.)
Tags: Non-nutritive SweetenersSweetenersArtificial SweetenersArtificial Sweeteners And ObesitySweeteners And KidsKidsChildren And Sugar
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Kentucky is nationally popular for horses, bourbon, wealthy average assets, and regrettably, hindered via a poor academic method. notwithstanding its popularity isn't constantly justified, in nationwide ratings for grades K-12 and better schooling, Kentucky always ranks one of the lowest states in schooling investment, literacy, and scholar achievement.
In A History of schooling in Kentucky, William E. Ellis illuminates the successes and screw ups of private and non-private schooling within the commonwealth on the grounds that its payment. Ellis demonstrates how political leaders within the 19th century created a tradition that devalued public schooling and refused to properly fund it. He additionally analyzes efforts through academics and coverage makers to enact important reforms and determine enough, equivalent schooling, and discusses ongoing battles regarding non secular guide, integration, and the Kentucky schooling Reform Act (KERA).
A heritage of schooling in Kentucky is the one updated, single-volume background of schooling within the commonwealth. delivering greater than mere coverage research, this complete paintings tells the tale of passionate scholars, academics, and leaders who've labored for development from the 1770s to the current day. regardless of the present pessimism approximately schooling in Kentucky, Ellis recognizes symptoms of a colourful academic surroundings within the country. through advocating a greater knowing of the prior, Ellis seems to the longer term and demanding situations Kentuckians to prevent historical mess ups and construct on their successes.
Now again in print with a brand new essay, this vintage of Iowa historical past specializes in the outdated Order Amish Mennonites, the state's such a lot detailed spiritual minority. Sociologist Elmer Schwieder and historian Dorothy Schwieder begun their study with the biggest crew of outdated Order Amish within the country, the neighborhood close to Kalona in Johnson and Washington counties, in April 1970; they prolonged their reviews and friendships in later years to different outdated Order settlements in addition to the marginally much less conservative Beachy Amish.
This publication surpasses so much nearby reports, which regularly examine merely payment styles or trade, and investigates other kinds of interplay corresponding to intermarriage and the unfold of non secular practices. The authors concentration specially on knowing the social tactics that underlie archaeological proof of interplay.
Pueblo, Hardscrabble, and Greenhorn have been one of the first actual white settlements in Colorado. of their time they have been the main westerly settlements in American territory, and so they attracted a full of life and sundry inhabitants of mavericks from extra civilized elements of the world-from what turned New Mexico to the south and from as some distance east as England.
3 Roads to the Alamo is the definitive publication in regards to the lives of David Crockett, James Bowie and William Barret Travis—the mythical frontiersmen and warring parties who met their future on the Alamo in a single of the main recognized and tragic battles in American history—and approximately what relatively occurred in that conflict.
Elections were to be held every two years rather than every year, and nearly all county officials as well as judges were to be elected by popular vote. The balloting, voting by voice, would now be limited to one day. While no major change was made in the governorship, the judiciary was now to be elected for fi xed terms, and financial controls were placed on the legislature. 5 million on the books, the state was deeply in debt and found it increasingly difficult to borrow money in the East. Now, by law, the Sinking Fund could no longer be expanded outrageously; there was a provision for oversight by the people.
The classic one-room school, which dotted the landscape from early American history well into the twentieth century, served as the center of community life for thousands of Kentuckians. As the community grew, the school might be expanded into two rooms or more, and establishment of a high school could be considered. 89 The academy and the seminary fi lled an important void as Kentucky struggled to found and sustain a public school system. From 1792 to 1850, Kentuckians founded approximately 85 academies and 58 seminaries, according to a 1926 master's thesis at the University of Chicago.
The General Assembly could not contract for more than $500,000 unless it imposed a tax increase to pay the interest each year, after first gaining the electorate's approval. 67 Although increased popular controls were imposed on government power, protecting the "peculiar institution" was the first order of the day. Ominously, slavery was given even more protection than in the previous constitutions. " The statement Creating a Public School System 27 on education followed the language of a document adopted earlier in New Hampshire.