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neljapäev, jaanuar 31, 2008
suusakultuur
Yesterday on my way into the center of Tartu, I met a younger relative of my wife's named Ken who was walking up Jakobi street towards his school.
Ken is about 12 years old and he keeps changing every time I see him, getting older, wiser, et cetera. He and I stopped to chat, and he informed me that he was on his way to a school field trip, a school field trip to Otepää, the 'winter capital' of Estonia, where he and his classmates would be forced by their instructors to ski and enjoy themselves.
Can you imagine? Skiing as part of the curriculum? Another cousin, a few years younger than Ken, also must fulfill physical education requirements by going skiing right here in Tartu. It's almost a chore. Something she has to do, no matter how badly she wants to stay at home watching Pokemon, or whatever kids are into these days. Estonian kids must ski, even if there's no snow.
Every winter I have spent here, save this one, has been polar. It's been freezing and the ground has been continuously covered with thick dark ice and fresh snow well into March. But this winter has given credence to rising global anxiety about 'climate change'. It has snowed several times -- most of November saw Tartu blanketed with a rich layer of white stuff -- but January has been more like an darker and very moist incarnation of October.
But that doesn't mean that the Estonian kids get a free pass. Instead they just keep the snow machines at Otepää working at night to ensure that every bus load of Estonian boy and girls has the opportunity to enjoy their homeland's bounty of winter sporting activities.
Epp -- my wife -- says that being forced to ski has killed her desire to go skiing again in the future. Every morning during the winter season the children of Karksi-Nuia, the community in southern Estonia where she grew up, would have to board the bus with their skis, school bags and other accessories just so that Estonia could be the land that skis.
And to think, I was going to buy Marta -- our eldest daughter -- a pair of cross country skis to take advantage of our proximity to Otepää. But with unseasonal weather like this, snow machines or no snow machines, I am starting to think it's better to rent than to buy.
This post has been corrected to reflect my wife's experience with skiing in school.
Postitaja: Giustino kell 1:46 PM 11 kommentaari:
statelessness in decline
Not sure if any of you readers care or noticed, but the number of stateless people in Estonia continues to decrease.
According to the Ministry of the Interior's Population Registry, as of January 2, 2008, there were 112,422 residents with undefined citizenship, or 8.2 percent of the population.
Over the past five years the number of stateless persons has decreased by about a third. In 2003, 12 percent of the population was stateless. In 1992, 32 percent of the population had no citizenship.
One consequence of Estonia's citizenship policy is that 8 percent of the population holds the passport of another state, mostly the Russian Federation, Ukraine, or Finland. Around 84 percent of the population of Estonia holds Estonian citizenship.
Recent efforts to liberalize some of the requirements, such as making the portion of the exam that deals with the constitution available in Russian language, assigning citizenship automatically to newborns that qualify rather than requiring an application by the parents, and allowing more seniors to wave the linguistic requirements of the citizenship test, have not been adopted by the ruling government.
I wonder when and how Estonia will declare itself to be statelessness free. Is it possible they will forget to count some old pensioner living at the end of a hallway in Narva somewhere? I guess anything is possible. The authorities have estimated that Estonia will cross the threshold of having zero stateless residents sometime around 2015.
I am gathering that in combination with free language lessons and school reform, mortality is also playing its role in this process.
Postitaja: Giustino kell 7:22 AM 16 kommentaari:
esmaspäev, jaanuar 28, 2008
beibekultuur
We don't subscribe to the Estonian tabloid SL Õhtuleht, but I am bombarded by the images it places on its front page every day in varying circumstances. Usually the photos consist of either horrendous car crashes or Estonian babes, though last week there was a photo of a dead dog that had starved to death.
This post, however, concerns itself with the babes. As you may have heard, during the 1990s former President Lennart Meri initiated the search for Estonia's own Nokia -- that is a product it could use to define its existence in the international marketplace. Like many an eestlane, he drew his inspiration from the lump of lingonberry ice cream to our north, Finland.
Some extremely lazy jobud (jerks) responded by saying that Estonia's Nokia was already in existence and, uh, ripe for the picking. The lowest hanging fruit, if you will, was its natural resource of bodaciously blond women who are hotter than Raquel Welch's character in One Million Years BC and Jane Fonda's character in Barbarella combined.
Now, I have paged through many a historical photo from the Estonian ärkamisaeg of the 19th century, and I didn't notice any string bikinis, expensive manicures, hoop earrings, or eye liner. The photographic evidence from the 1920s and 30s is similarly devoid of the trappings of modern Estonian babe culture.
Therefore, the idea that beauty is part of Estonian national culture does not convince me. It's a new phenomenon. And perhaps ever since Meri enshrined the Eesti Nokia mythology in popular culture, some Estonian women have been enthusiastically heeding the call of the reactionary jobud who argued that it was their duty to put Estonia on the map by absorbing themselves in the details of babery.
For me, this babe culture is both fascinating and superficial. How am I supposed to react to the posturing of the Estonian Amazon woman? Is my jaw supposed to uncontrollably drop in salivation as I blurt out, "th-th-th-th-there goes Estonia's Nokia!" And if I don't, is there something wrong with me? As a foreigner in Estonia you hear all the time about "the women, the women." And yet, when you are actually here for a long time, is it possible that all this babe focus could get ... kind of annoying?
To make matters worse, I have noticed that I have spent a few seconds too long reading about the skiing exploits of Estonia's Kristina Šmigun in Postimees before I rip it up and load it into the ahi.
It was during one of these fire preparation sessions that I came to the conclusion that I had some sort of 'thing' for the Olympian. Not a bad thing, nor a naughty thing, not even an Eesti Nokia thing. Just a thing. I pay more attention to her than to Andres Veerpalu. Let's leave it at that.
But here's the question. Why is Kiku, who doesn't subscribe to the beibe kultuur, more interesting than whomever is pining for their 15 minutes in SL Õhtuleht? Could it be that having two gold medals is more impressive that merely having two bronze boobies? And if you put the two together, well, you just might have Estonia's Nokia right there.
Estonian women are capable of amazing things. As the old anecdote goes, a Saaremaa woman is supposed to be able to run a farm, raise 10 children, and take care of an alcoholic husband. And yet for the international masses they are too often defined by the babe culture than by their own accomplishments.
Estonia has weathered the feminist tumult of the past half century with some interesting results. It didn't go through the Western feminist revolution because of its inclusion in the eastern bloc. Hence its feminist discourse differs from neighboring Sweden and Finland.
And yet it has preserved a form of gender equality from the 1920s and 30s that rivals other nations. issues that pester other countries, like the number of females with higher education, do not apply here. And here in Estonia, this duality is reflected in the prevalence of the babe culture along with the fact that women play leading roles in politics, science, the arts, athletics -- everything.
What are we to make of this? Have things not gone far enough, as some Finnish politicians might think, or are things just right? And what is 'right' anyway?
This piece has been improved from a previous version.
pühapäev, jaanuar 27, 2008
varbla matus
Last week we drove out to Viljandimaa to visit Epp's grandparents, Karl and Laine. Karl just turned 80 a few weeks ago, and he was in good spirits despite dozing off several times during our little party for him. Laine is pushing 80 and is quite active. During the visit she allowed us to borrow some old family photos, including the incredibly sad one above.
It's of a funeral for 1-year-old Voldemar Landmann, Laine's older brother, who died in 1929 in Varbla Parish. Had he lived, he might be like Karl, dozing off at a party somewhere, surrounded by younger generations of relatives, collecting a state pension, and watching the Estonian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? on ETV. But that was not to be.
If you look closely you'll see that there is an open casket. To this day, Estonians see nothing wrong in taking a group shot with the recently deceased. I never quite figured out who was in the right when it came to this cultural peculiarity.
Are Estonians more in touch with the cycles of life, and so comfortable with death that they commemorate funerals with group photographs? Or are they simply insensitive and enamored with technology, snapping photos of kittens and coffins alike with an itchy finger so that they can upload them to share with friends?
I am not really sure, but it is sometimes uncomfortable to flip through a family photo album with Estonian friends, only to see their grandma there, laid out on display in a church and surrounded by mourners. It sort of ruins the moment. On the other hand, you are photographed at birth, and at your wedding. Why not at your funeral too?
reede, jaanuar 25, 2008
Remember how I wrote that I missed our ahjud? Well the novelty of bringing firewood into the house is wearing off.
It's not that don't I enjoy a little pyromania now and then, it's that you have to start the fire, then wait, then maybe it goes out, then start it again.
Once you are lucky enough to get the fire going, you must observe it all times to make sure you add more wood before the first batch is reduced to embers. And if you live in a house like mine, where you might have three going at the same time on a cold night, you become preoccupied with your ahjud.
We have a huge stack of old Postimees issues in our kuur. But it seems there's never enough kindling for the fire. And I have burned through some pretty sentimental issues of Postimees or Eesti Päevaleht. Yesterday it was the issue about Jaan Kross' passing. A few weeks ago it was Juhan Peegel who went up in smoke.
I also tried to get the sauna going, to no avail. I had to crouch down and keep feeding the sucker old copies of Postimees and cardboard and basically anything dispensable I could burn. And yet the cold dampness of the sauna kept extinguishing my efforts.
In this environment, one can feel for the gentleman above for taking advantage of an old wooden home in Kopli in Tallinn, recently gutted by fire, that was demolished yesterday by authorities who have become sensitive that that area of the nation's capital is something of a tinderbox.
I know he looks desperate making off with his booty of Kopli siding, but it is winter and he needs a bit more fuel for his sauna. I hope you understand.
kolmapäev, jaanuar 23, 2008
our two cents
I find it a bit interesting some times that three of my favorite blogs in the region are authored by Americans, former Americans, or people who have lived in the United States for extended periods.
There's Finland for Thought, authored by Phil of Baltimore, Marginalia, authored by the Chicago-born Peteris, and All About Latvia, run by Aleks -- now back in Riga -- who spent around a decade in Indiana.
Sometimes I wonder if we have been raised to cause trouble wherever we go: molded at an early age in the spirit of Tom Paine, who started one revolution in the American colonies, then left to France where he started another one. It's as if we will always be creatures of the enlightenment, two centuries after its expiration date.
And it's not just here on the Baltic rim. I've had passionate arguments with people about Russian politics, people who defend Putin and scorn Estonia, until I find out that they too are Americans who just happen to have been brainwashed by the Russian mass media before The Singing Revolution came to the local movie theater.
May I ask the question, who are we to judge or dictate or explain? How many times have I found myself buried in an argument over Estonian language laws only to realize that I never wrote them and I can't even vote here! And yet those other Americans hiding behind their laptops project all the attitudes they have gleamed from their adopted home media towards me. What a spectacular waste of time!
It is a bit funny how we manage to elbow our way into the public debate, no matter where we are, though. It must be a talent one acquires through watching Looney Tunes and eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Now Estonia has a president who might at anytime burst forth a quotation from John Locke. Lithuania too. Should anyone be blamed or thanked instead?
I guess we'll just keep doing it like we've been doing it.
sauna katastroof
And finally we were home. After a flight from New York to Warsaw -- which was delayed, like most flights on LOT Polish Airlines -- we had a relatively smooth trip up to Tallinn, despite landing in a snow/sleet/rain storm.
This was followed by sloshing through the pouring rain from Tallinn to Tartu -- so deliriously tired, I couldn't tell whether I was awake or asleep (don't worry, I wasn't driving).
After all that traveling the one thing I desired most was a shower to wash the grime of journeying by air from my body. But there was just one problem. My brother-in-law Aap, who had been house sitting for the past month, informed us upon arrival that the water hadn't been working for about a week.
You see, during a recent cold spell, the water pressure in the house literally blew the shower off the wall of our sauna. The metallic pieces lay strewn across the floor, and Aap decided to turn off the house water so as to keep it from continuously blasting from the sauna wall.
How he managed to live without running water for a week is a mystery to me. Did he brush his teeth? Did he order in coffee? How did he flush the toilet sans eau? Had he been holding it all this time? I decided that the guy was from Mulgimaa and that it was better to leave such questions unanswered.
Luckily for us the torumehed were able to come the next morning to install a new shower in the sauna and I was fortunate to be blessed with a good old fashioned case of irregularity from my travels, meaning I wouldn't have to use the compost heap for some ... more compost.
But I still can't get that image out of my head -- of the shower head exploding from the wall due to a cold snap. Could it happen again? While I am standing in front of it? Is this a regular occurrence in Eesti land? Who knows.
Postitaja: Giustino kell 12:29 PM 14 kommentaari:
hella hella
It's an odd thing, but sometimes Estonian and American cultures cross-over in unforseen ways. Sure there's the small linguistic coincidences -- Estonians call pizza pitsa -- but then there are the bubbles of mixed meanings that appear out of thin air.
Today, I received an e-mail from a woman named Hella, and I realized that 'hella' is also a New England slang word that adds emphasis, as in "Teddy got hella laid in Martha's Vineyard."
In New York nobody would say something is 'hella cool', but up in Boston, the Sam Adams beer is 'hella refreshing', the recent study in The International Journal of Rural Psychology is 'hella intriguing', and the pizza in Cambridge is 'hella good', only one stage below 'wicked' -- the ultimate expression of joy for any Red Sox fan.
Whenever I read or hear the name of someone whose first name is 'Hella' I automatically expect that a) their last name will be the noun that is intensified; and b) the rest of their commentary will be your usual irritating Masshole fare, along the lines of "Yankees suck."
If an Estonian person's name is Hella Must, I therefore assume she is extremely dirty. If her name is Hella Lemmik, then she's my absolute favorite. And if I hear the name Hella, warning bells go off preparing me to hear a tale about a catastrophic journey on the T -- the Boston area's mass transit system, bereft of the letter 'r'.
These are subtle linguistic detours that few in the world are bound to experience.
the estonians are not the french
First French President Nicolas Sarkozy is estranged from his wife, Cecilia. Then they reconcile while he campaigns against Ségolène Royal. Then they divorce after he wins. The next thing you know he's holding Carla Bruni's hand at Euro Disneyland. And nobody bats an eye. Why? They're French.
Watching the French president woo his actress/songstress/Euro Disneyess has made me insanely jealous for something similarly exciting to transpire in Eesti land. Unfortunately Estonia, with its wholesome culture of family values, Uncle Milty, sinine must valge, and Vanilla Ninja is not France.
I tried to imagine a high profile politician plotting such a move. What would happen if Andrus Ansip left Anu Ansip for Anu Saagim? Or if Mart Laar ditched his family for someone younger and more artistic, like Kerli Kõiv? Maybe we should expect to see Jüri Pihl holding hands in a tender moment at the Kumu art museum with Blacky sometime soon?
But that's not to be and, I must admit, when I even think of an Estonian soap opera involving politicians and celebrities, it sort of makes me want to barf. Despite their stinky cigarettes, cheeses, and snails, French people can get away with that kind of thing. Estonians, with their sprats, hapukoor, and more hapukoor cannot.
French people are sexy. Estonian people are (mostly) cleanly. There is a difference.
decisions, decisions
Something weird happened after Barack Obama won in Iowa last week. People around me started trying to figure out who he was, in a historical context.
Is he a visionary Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who, like Obama, rocketed to the presidency in 1932 after serving only three years as a governor of New York at a similar age (he was 50, Obama will be 47)?
Is he a soulful James Earl Carter who came out of nowhere in 1976 to give people hope after eight years of Nixon-Ford, Watergate, and Vietnam?
Or is he some wild combination of Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr., two men that greatly inspired the generation of Hillary Rodham Clinton, and two men whose ghosts haunt them every time they see Obama give one of his speeches?
I will confess that at least three people told me they were anticipating Obama's assassination should he win the nomination because the US "isn't ready" for a "person of color" to move into the "White" House.
I found this talk extremely depressing because as I walk around the southern tip of Manhattan island, I can't help but notice that Barack Obama looks more like the America I grew up in than the one people claim he is too different to lead.
At school I have had friends and acquaintances of every background, often times mixed. If you bump into any random human on Pearl Street, it's likely they have a story that begins in as odd a place as Honolulu, Hawaii and leads to Indonesia before stopping in Boston and Chicago.
This is what they call the "generational divide" in politics, and Obama has played his hand well by distinguishing himself from all the things about American politics that have made this younger amorphous and multicultural "generation" -- if such a diverse and abstract group of people can be recognized under one heading -- tune out altogether.
Who wanted to fight about the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth in 2004 when they couldn't even remember that war themselves? Who wanted a political bloodbath over Roe vs. Wade from 1973, when all of us, including Obama, entered adulthood with it in force? America, over the past 20 years or more, has been so bogged down in mind-numbing arguments over "faith" or "guns" that large swaths of younger Americans have remained apolitical because, like they have said on numerous occasions, they really don't care.
And so to them, including myself, seeing Barack Obama speak, someone who looks like someone I might work with during my life, someone whose history of an extended family matches so many families I know, and someone who was a tyke in 1968 -- a year in which he is allegedly stuck -- is as tired of Boomeritis as we all are, its refreshing and dangerously appealing.
I want to look away because I am afraid the man with the pretty words may sell me something we both know he cannot sell: hope in a better future. Change. Who can sell these things? Nobody. Because if you look at the history of the US, change in the form of a presidential candidate does not come often and if it does, it is because it was packaged that way. Thomas Jefferson was an old hand in American politics by the time of his Revolution in 1800. Was it really a revolution then?
As engaging as I find Sen. Obama, I have a hard time listening to 30-second clips of Hillary Clinton because she is telling me everything I have heard from Democrats all my life.
She is an appealing candidate, because you figure after eight years sharing a bed with Bill Clinton -- and our spouses do know us, at least most of the time -- she would be best to inherit the groaning apparatus of American foreign policy.
And yet I cannot listen to her. I respect her somewhat, but listening to her speak, I find myself wondering if Teddy Kennedy wrote the script. I know that to some people Teddy Kennedy is a dirty word, but I think he represents Massachusetts, warts and all, to the hilt.
And I hear the same promises from her that I would hear from John Kerry or Al Gore or Bill Clinton or Mike Dukakis or Walter Mondale. I hear about universal health coverage. I have heard a lot about that in my life and I don't expect to see it happen, even if Hillary becomes president. Even with Democrats controlling both houses of Congress. There are just too many institutional tripwires to stop that kind of change.
But beyond that is the arrogance, not coming from her but coming from her husband who called Obama's political rise a "fairy tale" in a demeaning way. It's an arrogance that says "we know better than you." But did Bill Clinton really know better? His record was either hit or miss and blame it on the Republicans. His professional hacks -- Paul Begala, James Carville -- alienated so many young voters that they were able to turn comics, like Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert into folk heroes.
Given a choice between real politicians or comedians, younger people would probably choose the latter. This is the legacy of the Bush-Clinton-Bush years, years of non-ending arguments over what the definition of 'is' is. People would put more faith in Colbert for President than they do in Hillary for President.
So, to summarize, voting for Hillary Clinton would give some younger people icky feelings, feelings that might dissuade many young people from voting for anyone at all, except perhaps a comedian-cum-talk show host.
Barack Obama would also give them icky feelings but in a different way: of actually in believeing in something again for a few minutes, only to be let down again. I mean how many times can you put a quarter in the slot machine before you realize that today is not your lucky day? Some of us just never win. Ever.
Barack Obama: he inspired one part of America and scares the other part. Hillary Clinton, she embodies a different part of America and turns the other part off from politics. Who is the better candidate? Decisions, decisions, decisions ...
sisuliselt sisu
Minu kallis naine was recently on the phone with a friend when she used a word I hadn't heard before: sisuliselt.
Estonians like to pepper their sentences with lots of tegelikult (actually), üldiselt (generally), põhiliselt (basically), põhimõtteliselt (principally), and tavaliselt (regularly). Sometimes I feel that every other word out of our niece's mouth is tegelikult, it's like the Estonian 'like' -- unapologetically overused.
But sisuliselt caught my attention because it contained the magic Finnish word 'sisu' which means something like 'determined' or 'resilient' or 'having guts'. The Finnish blogs are often chattering on and on about sisu, like it was the magic ingredient in life.
The Estonian meaning of sisu, though, is no easier to define. Aare.pri.ee, the väga kasulik eesti-inglise-eesti sõnaraamat defines sisu as 'content' -- the stuff that's inside stuff. The same online dictionary defines sisuliselt as 'in essence' or, as I would put it, 'essentially.' So, sisuliselt, the meaning of suomen sisu and eesti sisu are not that far apart.
The real divide, other than the Gulf of Finland, seems to be how they use the words. For Finns, it's the word. For Estonians, it arouses similar emotions to the word värk, which literally means 'stuff': ie. no emotions whatsoever.
Anyway, in either sense of the word, who do you think has more sisu -- Tarja or Sauli? And if anybody can better explain what these words mean, well, that's what the comment section is for.
laupäev, jaanuar 05, 2008
The Estonian economic miracle may have built Tallinna kaubamaja and brought skyscrapers to downtown Tallinn. It may have built dozens of geometrically ambitious homes in Viimsi Vald, the luxury suburb north of the city. But if the flat tax is bringing investment to Estonia, somebody clearly forgot to steer the investors to the Kopli district of Tallinn.
When we went apartment hunting years ago we entertained the prospect of relocating to Kopli or North Tallinn, but then realized that the place was some sort of 24-hour, open air Soviet museum. The sharp contrast between the modern city center and these downtrodden neighborhoods is indicative of the kind of wealth gap that exists in a country that is constantly trying to grow the pie, rather than readjust the size of each piece everyone gets.
Standing there among the half burned homes and crumbling tenement blocks I wondered how these neighborhoods would finally turn out. Would the Estonian business elite wait until the last stateless pensioner died, then knock it all down to build a marina and a golf course? Would proponents of social democracy sweep in, salvage what they could, tear down the rest, and erect affordable housing?
The solution, it appears, is neither. Instead nature, and by nature I mean fire, has been taking its course on this less well off section of Tallinn. Over the past few days there have been a number of fires in the neighborhood, and according to Urmas Tooming we can expect it to continue.
meanwhile, in iowa
UPDATE: Well it looks like Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee are the winners tonight. As you may have sensed from reading below, I feel pretty ambivalent about the presidential candidates on both sides, though I feel the Democrats have superior candidates. I am really glad I am not an Iowa voter who had to be first to choose.
But Obama's "victory" seems a tad misleading. In the end each of the top three candidates got around a third of the vote, which actually tells us very little. I am glad there's a race though. If Clinton had waltzed right through the nomination process, I probably would have tuned out all together.
As for the Republicans, it appears that for the first time since 1976 there will neither be a Bush nor a Dole on the ticket. Or maybe Huckabee will choose Neil Bush as his running mate. Who knows.
I haven't written much about the US presidential election this year because a) this is a blog about Eestimaa and b) I haven't paid that much attention to the topics of Barack Obama's Kindergarten essays. But it's on the global mind, so why not discuss it.
To understand my perspective, you must grasp that I am 28-years-old, and the first presidential election I recall with crisp, almost like yesterday clarity, was between George Herbert Walker Bush and Michael Dukakis in 1988.
That is to say that the contests of 1972 (Nixon versus McGovern) or 1980 (Reagan versus Carter) don't weigh heavily on my mind. And in some ways that might endear me to Senator Barack Obama, because he too has been calling for a new American dialog that isn't stuck in 1968.
But for me, the most important factor is foreign policy experience, and for that reason, even though I like Senator Obama, if I was in Iowa I would *probably* be supporting Hillary Clinton. I used to like the relatively youthful Clintons in the '90s. Like I said, my country was run by Ronald Reagan, a man who was older than my grandfather, until I was 10 years old. But overtime I have tired of them, Chelsea, Socks the Cat, discussion of Bill's extramarital affairs, and, who could forget the Bridge to the 21st Century? Yuck.
But still, Hillary perhaps has the greatest experience. Among the Democrats I would trust her decisions over Senators Obama and Edwards because quite frankly, Hillary spent eight years traveling from country to country to meet and great the global elite. Hillary's done shots in Estonia. Hillary has visited the hospital where my first daughter was born in Tallinn.
I don't necessarily feel a strong affinity for her, nor do I enjoy listening to her speeches, but I do not fear her or find her incompetent. She's been my Senator for the past seven years and partially due to her political sensibilities and partially due to the disorganization of the New York Republican Party, she managed to do her job with limited criticism. Some have criticized her as "too liberal", but Hillary was once upon atime a supporter of Barry Goldwater.
This is not an endorsement of her, and I am actually quite torn between Clinton, Edwards, and Obama, but if I got in that tent, foreign policy experience would be on my mind.
In terms of the Republican side, their party is undergoing a period of disarray, mostly due to Bush's policies, but also due to generational changes in the party. The Republican generation of 1994 -- Tom DeLay, Rick Santorum -- has aged out of office. The "Contract with America" is done. The days of "America, applie pie, and Oliver North" are aged and sepia-toned.
So who is best to lead this motley crew of religious conservatives, 'don't tread on me' gun owners, Wall Street investment bankers, and 'blow 'em all to hell' foreign policy hawks?
The short answer is that I have no idea. I will say that in 2000 I went door-to-door in New Hampshire on behalf of Sen. Bill Bradley and of all the Republican voters I met, the John McCain supporters were the most convincing. That's not to say that Yankee Republicans aren't terrifying in their own 'fire and brimstone' way. But I respected them. I cannot say as much of the New Hampshire Bush supporters who chased me off their lawn.
Another "Yankee Republican" is Rudy Giuliani -- 'America's mayor.' People credit Giuliani for cleaning up New York City. It's endearing to see an Italian-American do so well. And yet Rudy's tenure at Gracie Mansion in New York was riddled by a police brutality scandals not to mention his high profile divorce from Donna Hanover and his use of police escorts for his then mistress, now wife Judith Nathan. There's just so much "New York only" political baggage to Giuliani that I just don't see him winning the nomination. In New York he could win, but in New Mexico? No.
A final Yankee Republican is Mitt Romney. His religious beliefs (he's a Mormon, a follower of a religious sect founded by a New York treasure finder in the 1820s after he translated golden plates written in "Reformed Egyptian" text) have raised eyebrows among some, but we'll leave that aside to just say that Romney can't even win his own state -- Massachusetts -- and he was never really popular there (he served one term).
In terms of the others, everybody loves Ron Paul. I liked Ralph Nader in 2000 too. I mean he was a wonk. He asked plenty of great questions. And in the end we wound up with George W. Bush. Paul has around $20 million in his "war chest" -- I have read that he may launch an independent campaign. Then there's Mike Huckabee. He's from Arkansas and enjoys preparing red meat to feed to religious conservatives during stump speeches. I have nothing else to say about him.
So if I was in the Republican tent, I'd probably have to choose McCain based on my foreign policy concerns. After all, it was McCain who did shots in Tallinn with Hillary.
e-land
It happened to us again. Asked to explain where we lived in the US, the anxiety of telling them, "Estonia" crept in the back of our minds. I have been there, others have too -- one old acquaintance has actually done business there on behalf of big pharma -- and yet, I must confess, I feel like I am pulling their leg every time I say it, because to Americans "Estonia" sounds like a made-up place name.
Not that they know much about other places. We are frequently asked what language is spoken there, to which we reach for the common sentence, "Estonian, it's like Finnish." But the truth is, unless you are from Minnesota or North Dakota, you probably have no idea that Finnish is different from Swedish. The real nerds will acknowledge that they know Finnish, Estonian, and Hungarian are related. That's true, except Hungarian is quite distantly related to the Finnic languages. So don't try using Hungarian in Estonia.
Maybe proponents of renaming Estonia "Estland" in the English context were right to some extent. There's nothing bad about "Estonia", but for some reason it sounds uncomfortable to English-speaking ears. As a weird thought, maybe it's because English, under its Latinate skin, is a rich Germanic language, a language of Jutes and Angles and Norsemen who did not defecate but skīta, who did not "consume" but etan, and who preferred a good fukka to "intercourse."
To our English ears, "lands" sound familiar -- a known quantity. Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Scotland, Holland -- these are places we intuit more easily, even if we don't have a drop of English blood in our veins. Placenames that end in "ia" -- Bulgaria, Slovenia, Albania -- these are rendered in the Latin-based form, a language brought over by the Norman aristocracy that has become the manner of all sophisticated speech for most discourse, yet at the same time lacks the intimacy of the Anglo-Saxon and Norse vocabulary.
The distance in how we understand and react to language may have its root in those handful of politicized centuries where French-speaking Normans and English-speaking inhabitants of Great Britain slowly created a new tongue. "Lands" were places of antiquity that the common people knew. "___ias" were far-off provinces that only the upper classes concerned themselves with. Or maybe I am just full of crap. What do you think?
▼ jaanuar (14)


text:
namespace SampleApplication.Controllers.ViewInjectionExample
{
    using System.Web.Mvc;
    using Ninject;
    using SampleApplication.Services.MathService;

    /// <summary>
    /// A base class for a view that is injected with the math service.
    /// </summary>
    public abstract class InjectedWebViewPage : WebViewPage
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// Gets or sets the math service.
        /// </summary>
        /// <value>The math service.</value>
        [Inject]
        public IMathService MathService { get; set; }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets or sets the math service2.
        /// </summary>
        /// <value>The math service2.</value>
        [Inject]
        public IMathService MathService2 { get; set; }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Home Entertainment CAPTAIN MARVEL Trailer 2: Marvel Travels Back in Time
CAPTAIN MARVEL Trailer 2: Marvel Travels Back in Time
Lukas Ridge
SAN DIEGO, CA - JULY 23: Marvel Studios president and producer Kevin Feige (L) and actress Brie Larson announced as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers attend the San Diego Comic-Con International 2016 Marvel Panel in Hall H on July 23, 2016 in San Diego, California. ©Marvel Studios 2016 (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
Last night, the second trailer for Captain Marvel dropped. You know what that means: it's time for rampant speculation! Let's dive in, shall we?
Captain Marvel: Hero of the 90s
The trailer begins with Nick Fury, played by Samuel L Jackson, laying out the threat immediately: "The Skrulls are the bad guys." What makes them a threat? They can change their appearance to look like anybody, as illustrated by Captain Marvel sucker-punching a (not so nice) old lady on the train.
After a quick fight scene, we learn that our hero, Captain Marvel, or Carol Danvers, played by Brie Larson, is a Kree. This is an interesting wrinkle since Danvers is not the first Kree we've seen. Ronan the Accuser, the baddie of Guardians of the Galaxy was also a Kree. Does this mean Danvers is working side by side with the enemy? Not from her perspective. Danvers describes herself as a member of noble warrior heroes, and struts her stuff with her Kree team, including Djimon Honsou (also from Guardians) as Korath, the first of several callbacks to come.
After a near-lethal plane crash, Danvers was discovered by Annette Bening, whose role has not yet been disclosed. Bening says they found Danvers without memories and made her into one of them, presumably a Kree, and in doing so, made her a super human with a crazy mohawk.
However, something is not right. Danvers keeps having flashbacks to a time she can't recall. A time when she was apparently Maverick from Top Gun, an ace pilot and go-kart enthusiast. She even names her cat 'Goose.' Not a good sign for the cat.
Rounding out the cast is Jude Law and perpetual baddie, Ben Mendelsohn, as a Skrull leader who seems to hold the key to understanding Danver's past.
What is Danvers doing on earth? We know from the last trailer that she crash lands in a Blockbuster video and that Fury, sporting two eyes this time, is going to help her discover who she really is and just maybe unlock her true potential.
It looks like she's going to turn on the Kree and, with the help of S.H.I.E.L.D., put an end to the cosmic war between the Skrull and the Kree. That's going to be fun!
Last Word On Captain Marvel
Its hard to gage the quality of the movie based on this trailer, because it's basically the first trailer all over again. Danvers is a pilot but that past is lost to her. She gets knocked down, but she gets up again. We know she's up against the Skrulls, who are shape shifters, and we know that Fury (and maybe Agent Coulson) will be her closest allies. We know she goes from a Kree uniform (green) to her own uniform (red) and we know she can harness energy.
This leads me to the conclusion that Marvel is holding something back, some crazy truth in the third act that will shatter preconceived notions of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as we know it.
It's going to be fun getting to know Danvers. We know she will play a pivotal role in Avengers 4, which has a trailer dropping sometime soon. There have been rumors that A4 will focus on time-travel, combining Danvers's ability to absorb and manipulate energy with Ant-Man's knowledge of the Quantum Realm. And if that is the case, a lot rides on this movie.
Directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck say that Danvers is "funny, but doesn't always tell good jokes. And she can be headstrong and reckless." I do find it distressing that almost none of that has been seen on the screen yet, but again, I think Marvel is holding something back.
More than anything, I just want to know where Danvers has been all this time? Was she just chilling out with her cat while the Chitauri attacked New York? Has she been frozen in time Austin Powers style?
We'll find out on March 8th.
For more movie reviews, check out LWOS Life: Movies.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
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Sort By: Relevance Title Ascending Title Descending Date Ascending Date Descending 1-5 of 5 (1 page)
...As the first person of color to become a worldwide entertainer, Josephine Baker used her talents as a dancer to facilitate social change. Baker was born in Missouri in 1906; her parents had a vaudeville song-and-dance act and used her...
Aymeric Pichevin
Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World Volume VII : Locations: Europe
The Continuum International, 2016
Encyclopedia Articles
...Historically regarded as the haunt of Parisian intellectuals, the rive gauche (left bank) is actually the south bank of the Seine, and comprises a third of the French capital. After the Roman Era, it remained almost abandoned for centuries....
Dominique O. Cyrille
Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World Volume IX : Genres: Caribbean and Latin America
...The biguine is the most renowned dance music of French Guiana, Guadeloupe and Martinique, three overseas departments of France located in the Caribbean. In this region, the term 'biguine' denotes an urban song of social comment and dance...
Blues in Europe
David Horn
David Horn was a founding editor of the journal Popular Music and a founding member of IASPM (The International Association for the Study of Popular Music). He was Director of the Institute of Popular Music at the University of Liverpool from 1988 until his retirement in 2002. Together with the blues scholar Paul Oliver he first proposed the idea of EPMOW in the 1980s, and has worked on the project since that time. Author affiliation details are correct at time of print publication.
Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World Volume XI : Genres: Europe
...When compared to the impact of jazz on Europe, that of its contemporary, the blues, is undoubtedly more minor. Fewer European musicians adopted and adapted the genre, and the blues in Europe did not develop its own diversity of distinctive...
New York City, NY: Harlem
Dave Laing is the author of several books on popular music and a former editor of Music Week. Former Research Fellow at the University of Westminster where he conducted research on the music industry. Author affiliation details are correct at time of print publication.
Ted Vincent
Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World Volume IV : Locations: North America
...Harlem is located north of Central Park in New York City, between 110th Street and the Harlem River. In the twentieth century, it became home to the single largest African-American community in the country, while east Harlem, which occupies...


Correspondence Club meets the first Wednesday of each month from 6 to 8 p.m. It provides a creative space for like-minded people to connect. We invite everyone to come write letters, bullet journal, chat, doodle, tell jokes, juggle pens, etc. The space is yours and we hope it works as a way to strengthen everyone's sense of community. Everyone who joins in the fun will also receive a 10% discount on paper goods (cards, boxed notes and letter pads). Space is limited; save your seat!


1931 Senate Bill 0013. An Act To Authorize The Use Of The Photographic Or Photostatic Process In Making Public Records.
Title 1931 Senate Bill 0013. An Act To Authorize The Use Of The Photographic Or Photostatic Process In Making Public Records.


text:
Arsenal target bid for the 'Ukrainian Neymar' as sixth summer transfer
Arsenal have had a superb start to the Premier League season, with three wins from three games – and are still looking to add to their squad in this summer transfer window.
Mikel Arteta's side have completed deals for five senior players so far this summer. The first of those deals was agreed upon last season, and saw United States goalkeeper Matt Turner join the club.
They have also signed Fabio Vieira and Marquinhos. Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko joined from Manchester City, and have both made immediate impacts.
Jesus netted twice in a 4-2 win over Leicester City, before assisting Martin Odegaard in a 3-0 victory against Bournemouth. But it is his all-around play, energy and movement that has been widely lauded as well.
Zinchenko, meanwhile, has already solidified his position as the starting left-back ahead of Kieran Tierney. His versatility is a critical factor in how Arsenal play, as well as his hard work and creativity. The Ukrainian has one assist to his name so far this season.
The Gunners may well be recruiting one of Zinchenko's compatriots soon. That is because, according to French outlet Media Foot, they are targeting Mykhaylo Mudryk – dubbed as 'the Ukrainian Neymar'.
Mykhaylo Mudryk – the latest Arsenal transfer target?
Mykhaylo Mudryk is currently signed to Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk, and operates as a left-sided winger or forward.
The 21-year-old scored two goals and provided six assists in the league last season, before the campaign was abandoned due to Russia's invasion of the country.
Arsenal fans wanting to know a bit more about Mykhaylo Mudryk
Little compilation to whet the appetite 💫✨🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/1CjjIsNo04
— Zorya Londonsk (@ZoryaLondonsk) August 20, 2022
Shakhtar have played a number of away friendlies in recent months, meaning Mudryk is not too short of match fitness. He also featured in all four of his country's recent World Cup qualifiers against Scotland and Wales. In addition, he impressed against Real Madrid last season in the Champions League. The 2022/23 Ukrainian domestic season begins next week.
Primarily a left winger, Mudryk has previously been watched by Premier League clubs. Meanwhile, French giants Nice placed a bid of €20 million for the 21-year-old's services earlier this month. However, that bid was turned down by Shakhtar.
The main issue surrounding any move for Mudryk could be his contract. His current deal with the Ukrainian giants expires in 2026, meaning Shakhtar are not under immense pressure to sell.
If Arsenal can get his signing over the line, he would likely become the club's sixth new addition of the summer transfer window.
Red Bull Salzburg set their price for Barcelona target Karim Adeyemi
Tags arsenalmikel artetaMykhaylo MudrykNeymarShakhtar Donetsk


Ayjo: Here it comes! From the "Forum Games" section of the Gazebo at Talkhaus, it's the forum's most exciting however-long-this-takes of fantastic prizes! The fabulous surely-more-than-60-minutes Talkhaus Price is Right!
En Gardevoir, come on down!
And dr_vblschrf, come on down!
Ayjo: And here's our host... YelseyKing!
Yes, we return once again for another exciting(?) episode of the Talkhaus Price is Right! We have a lot of prizes to offer today, so let's get this going without further delay! What's our first item up for bids?
Ayjo: It's a Nintendo package deal! A Switch, a Wii U, and two New 3DSes! You know all about this stuff, Talkhaus, so I feel no need to explain it! Each comes with five games, including Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Splatoon, Super Smash Bros. 4, and more!
And all that gaming goodness -- as well as the chance to come up and play a pricing game, for a chance at even more loot -- will go to the one of you who bids closest to the actual retail price in American dollars -- not pounds, euros, rupees, or gil, mind you -- without going over. And no cents, either. We round our prizes to the nearest dollar! At least at this point in the game. Ehem. You all know this already.
En Gardevoir will bid first, followed by, Katazuki, Willhart, and finally dr_vblschrf. Don't bid out of order. That really annoys Ayjo.
Pinging you all to let you know you're up. We're starting early. Woohoo.
Last edited by YelseyKing on 25 Jun 2017, 01:47, edited 14 times in total.
Re: The (Talkhaus) Price is Right Ep. 6 - Renewed for Another Season!
Aw, if only Froggy were here. He'd know.
I guess I'll say 1000.
I'm gonna have to pause the bid for a moment and restart things. Willhart had to bow out, so I'll have to call someone to replace him. Ayjo?
Ayjo: Well. We got a new face... BurntTenda, come on down! You're the next contestant on the Talkhaus Price is Right!
I'll keep En Gardevoir and Katazuki's bids. dr_vblschrf, you bid next, followed by BurntTenda. Never had to do this before, but hey.
Beeping you to let you know you're up sooner than expected. Just don't bid until dr_vblschrf does.
Let's hope I am mentally prepared for this.
The bids are in, and we're ready to go. The actual retail price of that prize package is... $1,885!
dr_vblschrf, get on up here! Because we have s'more prizes for you!
Ayjo: How about a new living room?
Ayjo: First, from Furniture Makers Inc., we have a plush, overstuffed velvet sofa, and two matching swivel recliners. With footrest! The ultimate in comfort! Or something.
Ayjo: Second, a 4K plasma TV! Enjoy rich, crisp... oh, whatever, you know what to do with a TV. Maybe hook the game consoles you won up to it. It's HD! From some company that didn't sponsor us, so screw all y'all. It's a prize package worth $7,989!
It's the Hi-Lo game! In practice, this one's pretty easy: All you need to do is pick the three grocery items shown below that are the highest priced. If you can do that, you win. But if even *one* item's price is *above* the lowest price of the products you've picked... well, that's that. Anyway, what *are* these products, Ayjo?
Ayjo: First up, a Poor Man Frozen Dinner. Looks like this one has mashed potatoes, salisbury steak, and corn. So named because you'd have to be pretty poor to eat this slop.
Ayjo: Second, a 12oz bottle of Oil of Old Lady body lotion. Because when you're an old lady, you *need* this stuff to keep your skin from feeling like dried leather.
Ayjo: Next up, a 1,000-count pack of Health Nuts Vitamin Supplements. Because odds are, you're not getting enough vitamins in that all-fast food diet you probably subsist on.
Ayjo: Then we have Poke-Master Snack Crackers. Graham crackers shaped like your favorite Pokemon, like Pikachu, Jigglypuff, Mewtwo, and... that's all I know. My experience with that series begins and ends with Super Smash Bros. Melee. Comes in a cute Pokeball-shaped package!
Ayjo: And a 16oz jar of Bay-B Powdered Baby Formula. Tastes like vanilla. Contains far too much sugar for your baby, as well as probably far fewer essential nutrients than you'd like. But hey, you're buying it because it tastes good to *you*, not your kid.
Ayjo: Finally, D-Grime Dish Detergent. Leave your dishes spotless with this blue sludgey soap-like liquid. Hopefully won't cause the dreaded "Dishpan Hands"!
All right, then. That's out of the way. Now, which three products do you believe appear in that "Hi' row up top?
Let's go with the vitamins, detergent, and formula!
$24.99! Yeesh! Yeah, I dare say *that* one belongs up there. What's the price of the formula?
Mmm. $3.19. I'm... not so sure about *that* one. But we shall see.
Now what's the price of that frozen dinner?
$2.39. You're still alive, at least. What's the price of that lotion...?
$6.99... no go. Just for curiosity's sake, how much were those snack crackers?
$4.29. You'd have lost it with that, too. You had two right... just needed that lotion. Well, you'll be back to spin the big wheel, so who knows? Your fortune could still change! For now... back after these messages!
Well. That was discouraging. But there's plenty of show left to go! So let's not waste any more time and get right back to it! Ayjo, we need another contestant!
Ayjo: And I have one. A red mage. RedMageMike, come on down! You're the next contestant on the Talkhaus Price is Right!
And our next item up for bids is...?
Ayjo: It's a relaxing mini-sauna! From the HeatMist Corporation, this sauna comfortably seats two adults for one of those nice, relaxing steam baths that always causes my fur to mat up. Must work better for humans than cats.
As always, ye olde Red Mage bids first, followed by BurntTenda, En Gardevoir, and finally Katazuki. NO BIDDING OUT OF ORDER!
I think that's worth at least $2750!
The bids are in. And the old one dollah!
Actual retail price of that mini-sauna is... $2,789!
Ayjo: It's the Nord Ranger! Cruise over the tundra of Skyrim, or just the streets of your local city in this surprisingly off-road capable four-door sedan! Comes with standard features, and... there's that weird "California Emission" thing again. What *is* that?
And your game is Temptation. No relation to that other game show with the same name. Why is it called Temptation? Well, we'll get to that later. For now, I'm going to just outright give you the first digit for free. Light it up.
2. That's a $20k car there. Yes.
You know what? I've got another prize for you. Just for being here. Ayjo, tell us about it.
Ayjo: It's a fun air hockey table! From Parlor! Parlor!, this sturdy ten-foot-long air hockey table is fun for the whole family. Keeps automatic score, so you don't have to! Ain't that nice?
Now, you don't have to do anything. This prize is yours... maybe. The price of that air hockey table is $1,133, however, and one of those digits is the second number in the price of that car. Which is it, the 1, or the 3?
Uh, I'll go with the 3.
Note that this doesn't not necessarily mean it's *correct*, so don't get overly excited or anything. That's just showing what *you* picked.
And we shall continue. I have another gift for you, even.
Ayjo: A fine oak bookshelf, from our friends at Furniture Makers Inc. Finely polished and holds up to 120 of your favorite books. Give or take a few, I guess. Some books are bigger than others.
Now, the price of that bookshelf is $699. And as luck would have it, the third digit of the price of that car is either a 6 or a 9. I believe you see how this game works now, so which is it?
Well, let's go with the small and say 6.
...time for a third gift! Hmm. Seems to be a big one.
Ayjo: It's an All-Terrain Vehicle! You know, what an ATV stands for. From Off-Road Warriors, this ... travels off road! I don't know what its engine is like. It's not going to blow up on you, anyway. Seats two!
And the price of that ATV is $3,838. You've probably got the hang of it by now. Is that fourth digit a 3 or an 8?


text:
Haig Avenue (kallad Merseyrail Community Stadium av sponsorskäl) är en fotbollsarena i Southport i England. Arenan kan för närvarande ta 6 008 åskådare och är sedan den invigdes 1905 hemmaarena för Southport.

Arenan har även varit hemmaarena för både Liverpools och Evertons reservlag. Flera matcher i damernas FA Women's Cup har även spelats på arenan.

Fotbollsanläggningar i England
Sportanläggningar invigda 1905
Southport FC

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Health Budget not enough to cope with demand: AMA (WA)
Home > News & Media > Media Releases > News > Health Budget not enough to cope with demand: AMA (WA)
The health sector will struggle to provide a continued high standard of care following a real cut in today's State Budget, the AMA (WA) said.
"An adjustment of just 1.3 per cent over the next year is, in fact, a serious cut. It will not be enough to cater for the continuing increase in demand and the rise in medical costs," said
AMA (WA) President Dr Michael Gannon.
"We acknowledge that times are tough for the state finances. However it is sad that the rise in the health budget is not only below CPI, but dramatically below medical CPI.
"Patients should not be made to suffer as a result of bad spending decisions by governments in past budgets.
"Even the 4.6 per cent rise over the next four years for hospital services is hardly enough to provide for increased growth.
"This paltry increase will not help the hospitals that are bursting at the seams or emergency departments where ramping is becoming a regular, even common feature of daily life."
It is also regrettable that the Government has not included funding for the State Mental Health Plan in today's budget.
"WA has one of the highest rates of suicide in Australia. It is now the leading cause of teenage death in WA. We are, unfortunately, becoming the 'Suicide State'. However all that is included in the budget is $25.9 million over four years for a new suicide prevention strategy," Dr Gannon said.
"The announcement that the Mental Health Plan will not be considered further until at least the middle of the year is one of the most depressing lines in the budget for all doctors.
To say this is disappointing is an understatement. Suicide is becoming a state crisis. Urgent action is needed now."
Dr Gannon also said the budget was sadly lacking in plans for Royal Perth Hospital.
"Just $19 million has been allocated for a care and maintenance program at RPH.
"At first look, this appeared to be a joke considering there is so much that needs to be done at a facility that used to be one of Australia's premier hospitals. The budget allocation for RPH will hardly be enough for a new air conditioning system and a coat of paint let alone the huge redevelopment that is desperately needed," Dr Gannon said.
"There is no blueprint for RPH. Not to have a plan for the future of RPH is to have no plan for the future of WA health,"
Dr Gannon said.
"And once again, there is no mention of King Edward Memorial Hospital."
The AMA (WA) congratulated the Government for introducing a No-Fault Third Party Insurance Scheme.
"This scheme, while overdue, is very welcome and will help provide those seriously injured, the right care."
For further comment or to contact Dr Gannon, please call Robert Reid: 0422 553 877


text:
Ludwig Preiss oder Ludwig Preiß ist der Name folgender Personen:
* Ludwig Preiss (Botaniker) (1811–1883), deutsch-britischer Botaniker und Zoologe
 Ludwig Preiss (Fotograf), deutscher Fotograf und Manager
 Ludwig Preiß (Politiker) (1910–1996), deutscher Politiker  (FDP, FVP, DP, CDU), MdB

Siehe auch:
 Ludwig Preis (1971–2017), deutscher Fußballspieler und -trainer


text:
Open Dialogue FoundationNewsODF's monitoring of the COVID-19 outbreak in Moldova
ODF's monitoring of the COVID-19 outbreak in Moldova
30 April 2020 | Author: Editorial office
As the COVID-19 outbreak started to spread in the Republic of Moldova, the Parliament declared the state of emergency on March 17, 2020. Yet, the provided rules, sanctions and restrictions are often unclear and limited.
While the citizens are asked to stay home and are receiving disproportionate fines for not respecting the quarantine regime and imposed restrictions, President Igor Dodon took his family for a walk in a forest and shared the moment on social media. The President was not fined, thus proving the selective application of the law. Overall, this example is an accurate portrayal of the Moldovan authorities' crisis management, whose actions are often confusing, uncertain, and doubtful. Based on monitoring the situation in Moldova, ODF outlines the following concerns.
Working conditions of medical workers
An imposing number of medical workers denounced the lack of sufficient protective equipment with hospitals turning into hotbeds of infection. Still, the authorities have been maintaining the 'being sufficiently equipped' and 'everything being under control' narrative, referring to workers not following the rules as a cause of their infection with COVID-19. According to official data from April 30, out of 3,897 confirmed cases, 960 are medical workers.
Hospital conditions
Many patients are complaining about the conditions in the medical institutions where they are hospitalized. On April 5th, Veronica Suveica, a patient from Soroca infected with COVID-19 in the hospital where she had a surgery, posted a video criticising the poor sanitation and the attitude of the medical staff. PM Ion Chicu had come to attack the patient by claiming that these 'glamorous live videos' make no sense now.
Political persecution of medical professionals
On March 26, the former director of Republican Clinical Hospital, Anatol Ciubotaru, organised the testing in a private laboratory of the employees who cared for patients infected with COVID-19 (the results confirmed 4 cases of infection). One day after, the Committee on Exceptional Situations decided upon his dismissal, categorizing his action as outside the existing protocol. Similarly, on April 11, Eugen Cebotari, a medical assistant, was threatened with dismissal because of a criminal lawsuit after he posted a video showing the inappropriate conditions that his emergency station provided.
Repression of freedom of expression
On March 24, the President of the Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Moldova, Dragoș Vicol, made a worrying attempt at media censorship during the state of emergency. The released provision stated that all media outlets were obliged to present solely the official position of the competent public authorities on the pandemic situation. Notably, it was issued after some medical workers made public statements about working without protective equipment, disinfectants and without salaries. After being heavily criticized by the civil society, the provision was cancelled.
Moldovan media organisations accuse the authorities of lack of transparency about the real situation of the pandemic. The authorities show reluctance in providing complete information, and previously accused the press for criticism and referred to the media's incapacity to properly inform the citizens. Since the press briefings on COVID-19 pandemic situation are online, no mechanisms were implemented for allowing journalists to ask live questions. Media organisations and institutions are demanding at least one weekly online press conference with journalists' participation.
Laws on anti-crisis measures and state budget
On April 23, the Parliament approved an economic package for supporting the population against the COVID-19 crisis. Later that week, by revising the state budget, the government planned to compensate the deficit through a 200 million euros loan from Russia. Yet, the Constitutional Court suspended the entry into force of the law on the loan after being petitioned by opposition parties. The opposition highlights the long-term risks that would be caused by some obscured provisions.
President Dodon pointed to a possible participation of the oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc in the opposition's actions for seizing state institutions. Plahotniuc was announced on the international and interstate wanted list and has been placed on the U.S, Switzerland and Lichtenstein sanction lists. While the U.S. Embassy announced that Plahotniuc is on American soil and the Moldovan authorities do not know his exact location, new details regarding the money laundering case in which the former PD leader is targeted are publicly available.
The Open Dialogue Foundation hereby calls for a close monitoring of the authorities' actions under the pretext of fighting the COVID-19 crisis and their efforts in respecting their human rights obligations.
Read also the latest ODF's reports on Moldova:
ODF's report "Has the state been captured yet again? Corruption and political persecutions in Moldova"
freedom of speech , political persecution , Open Dialogue , Moldova , COVID-19


Melbourne Fashion Week (MFW) is coming to Collins Square in Docklands from August 31 until September 7.
Collins Square will be one of six city locations for "fashion capsules" – each featuring a different theme.
The Docklands' theme is jewellery and accessories and will be headlined by a giant balloon sculpture by Moonshot Balloons, which will guard precious works by jewellers and accessory makers.
This installation will be curated by Virginia Dowzer together with production company Moth Design and will be in place from Friday, August 31 until Friday, September 7 between 7am and 6pm.
Also running during Fashion Week is a drop-off centre at Collins Square for social enterprise Wear for Success, which supports women and men facing barriers to employment, self-sufficiency and financial independence.
This is done by providing free professional clothing and accessories, one-on-one styling sessions and career coaching in the form of interview advice and resume preparation.
Wear for Success is seeking donations that will help men and women dress appropriately for interviews and integration into the workforce. It's looking for clothes and accessories of quality, pre-loved items that will make their new wearers confident and ready to conquer the workforce.
Wear for Success ambassadors will be available at Collins Square between 8am and 6pm to provide further information about the organisation.


We serve our customers using the best inventory, sales team and distribution network to deliver quality product and service.
We deliver on quality you can feel. And so can your customers. With 82 years of experience, our family-owned, full service textile solutions company remains premier in the textile rental market.
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/ Anime
My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising
Attack On Titan Announces New Animation Studio For Final Season
By Evan Valentine - May 29, 2020 10:46 am EDT
With the big reveal of the anime trailer for the fourth and final season of Attack On Titan having dropped, many fans are feeling that it is bitter sweet with the announcement that Wit Studio will not be concluding their run on the series, but rather, the upcoming story will be created by Studio MAPPA. Wit Studio has been the primary studio working on Attack On Titan since the series began so to see them not finish their work might be seen as heart breaking to some, but Studio MAPPA, from what we see from the trailer, is doing their best to live up to Wit's work!
Wit Studio hasn't only been responsible for Attack On Titan, having done work on the viking series known as Vinland Saga, as well as the upcoming series Great Pretender that is looking to release later this year. Their animation has long been thought of as the best choice for the heart wrenching series, doing a great job of blending heavy emotions and fast paced battle scenes throughout the story of Eren Jaeger and his friends within the Survey Corps.
MAPPA has a number of anime series to its name, having put together series such as Hajime No Ippo, Inuyashiki, and Dorohedoro as well as working on the upcoming adaptations for the God of High School and Jujutsu Kaisen. With the release of this new trailer for the final season, it's clear that while the animation style might be a little different from what we've seen before from Wit Studio, MAPPA is definitely giving this series their all as it's clear that the animation is fluid and capturing the emotion that has become a trademark of the Attack On Titan series!
The fourth season is looking to tell the final conflict between the people of Marley and Eldia, with Eren and his friends within the Survey Corps finally bringing the war to their tormentors after so long. Season Three ended with Eren and company discovering the many secrets as to why the conflict between the two nations began and why Marley was far more technologically advanced than they were. As fans of the manga know, the events of season four will make the line between "black and white" that much murkier while giving us new heroes and villains to follow.
What do you think of Wit Studio leaving the series? Do you think that Studio MAPPA is up to the task? Feel free to let us know in the comments or hit me up directly on Twitter @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of Titans!
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Flower displays in church can be arranged by the church's own flower arrangers – the flowers will be charged for at little more than cost price – contact details are available from the parish office. Alternatively you may wish to make your own arrangements with a florist. If you wish to take the flowers with you to a reception venue after the ceremony, you will need to make your own arrangements.


Science Catch-up. Souping = The New Juicing?
1. Souping = the new juicing?
2. Flavonoid foods prevent weight gain?
4. What's BX in rye and wholegrains?
6. High-fat diet in pregnancy alters child genes?
Souping = the new juicing?
Although I'm not sure they accurately grasp the scientific meaning of "detoxification", souping start-ups seem to be on the rise! The chunkier that veggie soup, the better: keeping the fibre in is crucial to hunger control and satiety.
Flavonoid foods prevent weight gain?
flavonols (from tea, garlic, and onions).
Every extra 10mg of anthocyanins, 138mg of flavonoid polymers, and 7mg of flavanols per day, was linked to up to 100g less weight gained over 4-year intervals. While this may not seem a lot, it adds up over a number of years!
Here's a reminder of the antibacterial and antifungal properties of honey. While honey has its health benefits, remember that it still qualifies as a "free sugar". UK carbohydrate guidelines advise that you limit your intake of "free sugars" to no more than 5% of your total caloric intake for the day (more here).
What's BX in rye and wholegrains?
Ever heard of "cereal phytochemicals"?
Well, rye and wholegrains are rich in a group of phytochemicals (bioactive compounds) called "benzoxazinoids", or BX, which have health-protective qualities.
Danish scientists have documented the uptake of BX compounds from wholegrains in humans, and their possible beneficial effects on your immune system – as well as the prevention of certain cancers.
I often use boiled barley kernels in my soups or salads. I like them because they add consistency, they taste delicious, and they are known for the low-glycaemic, high-fibre content. In fact, barley kernels have half the glycaemic value of brown rice: GI 25 for barley vs GI 50 for brown rice!
This week, Swedish scientists revealed that barley can help prevent blood-sugar and insulin spikes, and increase insulin sensitivity in your body's cells, all of which are known to reduce your risk of insulin resistance and diabetes.
Moreover, it seems that the special mixture of fibres found in barley kernels might also decrease appetite and help with hunger control.
And if that wasn't enough, when these fibres reach your gut, they stimulate the increase of good bacteria and the release of important hormones that reduce chronic low-grade inflammation.
Well, unless you have a gluten sensitivity, I'd say to give barley a go!
High-fat diet in pregnancy alters child genes?
A mum's high-fat diet during pregnancy can adversely alter her child's genes (via epigenetic mechanisms) and cause weight gain and insulin resistance, according to new findings. Although this was a mice study, the same effects cannot be ruled out in us (humans)!
Sales of organic food and drinks are expected to double by 2018, but this is not enough to feed the world. We need to produce enough food to feed our planet's population of 7 billion. It breaks my heart that 805 million people go to bed hungry each night. And an additional 2 billion have a micro-nutrient deficiency. By 2050, there will be 9 billion of us on Earth… so the big question is: how will we fill 9 billion bowls by then?
I am thoroughly enjoying these studies. They are so professionally scientific, and not based on theory, as much science is.
I have only just started with the FREE introductory course, but I believe in the future I will be taking my studies much further.
Thank you so much; I am thoroughly enjoying the wonderful science based health/nutrition information you have sent me.
I really want to join you, but am not sure what course to choose.
My goal is to teach people with mental health problems. I should imagine you know the effects of antipsychotic drugs. One major problem is the weight gain caused by these drugs. They also cause a problematic "craving" for carbohydrates.
There is an opening in the NHS to deal with this subject.
Could you advise me on which course would be suitable for this project.
Have you read the full research report related to your headline: High-fat diet in pregnancy alters child genes?
I'm curious as to what type of fat the mice were fed in the study you refer to. And what else was in each of the food sources provided.
Do you have that info?
Thanks for your response Maria, and really appreciate the link to the full study text.
Studies like this frustrate me because they use the blanket term 'high fat', when they don't specify what the source and processing of the soybean oil and lard was.
As is now known, the 'quality' of fats can be a determinant in how the fat affects the body.
However, if both fats were organic and low processed then perhaps the results may be quite different. Or if they had used fats high in Omega 3's for example. The diet would still be 'high fat' yet perhaps show a very different outcome.
My concern is this type of study may yet again scare people away from including healthy fats (organic sourced, low/no processing, high Omega 3) in their diet, which we know are vital to our physical and mental health.
Cathy – you're welcome! Well, that's how scientific investigation works. It's important to first establish the "generic" assumption (high-fat diet) and after that, depending on the findings, do new studies that go into the specifics and test different fats. Although there already are several studies on different fats/epigenetics, which we teach in our advanced courses :-) Regarding GMOs, it's not as straight forward, we looked at all GMO/biological studies and dive into the nitty-gritty here: https://thehealthsciencesacademy.org/expert-reports/gmo-expert-report/ (this is must-have knowledge to have a smart discussion on GMOs with anyone). On a different topic, most people get confused about Omega 6, claiming that it is "inflammatory" or that it "causes" inflammation. But that's incorrect. It's one of the first things we teach our students. Omega 6 fatty acids can be "pro-inflammatory". Pro-inflammatory means that something "promotes" inflammation (not that it "causes" it). There are loads of types of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory Omega 6 fatty acids that your own body produces (from GLA) as part of the inflammatory response. Also remember that your body uses the inflammation cascade a) to grow tissue, and b) as a defence mechanism to survive. Also, inflammation is key to cell and DNA repair. So it's not always a bad thing.
Yes, lots of variables with dietary fat as you know.
Helping people recover from binge eating and bulimia I commonly see people 'afraid' to eat dietary fat because they equate it with creating fat stores on their body.
Many such people commonly have no differentiation between healthy and unhealthy fats.
For the benefit of this large segment of the population I like to see the differences in various fats and their effects spelled out… hence my frustration with the study using the generic term 'high-fat'.
Hi Cathy – I understand what you mean, love to hear you're helping them with this distinction!


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Home » Gaming » Gaming Franchises That Beat The Test Of Time
Gaming Franchises That Beat The Test Of Time
by Vidya Menon
When developers hit on a winning formula, it's rare that they'll deviate from that universe for a considerable amount of time. Indeed, as Game Rant highlights, Sony have accrued over 300 million sales from 12 franchises alone. While critics might say this is due to a lack of creativity, really, there's another factor at play.
Creative designers work studiously to create amazing franchises and worlds, and it's because of that they receive so much interest. Indeed, some of the greatest games in the world today exist purely because of the brilliant nature of the worlds they create; Zelda, one of the most potent examples, shows this clearly.
Zelda has been running every since 1986, but its popularity truly exploded with 1998's Ocarina of Time. Since then, the beloved franchise has gone from strength to strength.
Skyward Sword remains the new gold standard for the series, according to observers including the Washington Post, and game direction is said to be moving to match the impact of that title.
There's a good reason that Zelda has been so beloved for so long, and that lies in its interactions with the gamer. Each title brings back favored characters, exemplified by Link and Zelda, but also favored enemies, such as Phantom Ganon and Majora.
The developers understand the connection gamers build with both the heroes and the enemies, and rely on that to ensure each new title will stand the test of time.
Incredible lore
Another franchise that has beaten the odds to remain an all-time favorite is Warcraft. While these days the world is personified by it's ever-growing World of Warcraft, the universe of Warcraft is supported by a startling range of other media, including books and film.
What's more, it's the original games that are most beloved. The initial Warcraft games changed how real-time strategy games are played, and its landmark edition, Warcraft III and its Frozen Throne expansion, have been so well received that they were remastered, according to Reuters.
Aside from being a genuinely brilliant strategy game, Warcraft III also had a compelling story and likable characters – both good and evil.
Many are unaware, but the initial GTA games were top-down arcade-style killing fests. There were missions and stories, of course, but the fun was in the destruction.
The games have evolved significantly since then, encompassing a mob thriller (GTA 3) and Scarface-style cinematic blockbuster (GTA: Vice City), but ultimately settling on the template set by GTA IV – open-world storytelling with a real human edge.
While evolving from simple origins, GTA games are now defined by their compelling and touching stories, where even the shady acts of the player-led protagonists are met with sympathy by the viewer.
What this shows is that the most crucial element to developing a successful and beloved long-term franchise are characters. Building compelling worlds, populated by relatable and lovable arcs, is key. This template will be something to bear in mind for developers looking to generate a legacy.
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Vidya Menon
Vidya is an online content developer for Justwebworld. She has a BA in English Language and Literature and an MA in Current Linguistics. She is a passionate reader, writer and researcher with a background in academic writing.


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ARCHIVED - Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2012-309
Ottawa, 24 May 2012
Establishment of a CISC ad hoc committee for relief planning for area code 902 in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island
File number: 8698-C12-201206152
With this notice, the Commission announces the establishment of a CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee ad hoc relief planning committee (RPC) to examine options and make recommendations for providing numbering relief to area code 902 in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The Commission invites members of the public and telecommunications service providers to participate in the RPC's activities.
1. On 29 March 2012, the Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNA) released the results of the latest numbering resource utilization forecasts,1 which indicated that relief planning for area code 902 should begin. Area code 902 covers the entire provinces of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
2. The Commission-approved Canadian Numbering Plan Area Relief Planning Guidelines (the Guidelines) provide the framework for addressing area code exhaust in Canada. The Guidelines establish a step-by-step process to be followed by the CNA and relief planning committees (RPCs). The Guidelines require relief planning activities to begin if an area code is projected to exhaust within the next 72 months.
3. The telecommunications industry conducts area code relief planning in a public manner through an ad hoc RPC under the CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee (CISC). Part of the role of an RPC is to encourage public awareness and participation in the RPC's activities.
Area code 902 RPC
4. With this notice, the Commission establishes the area code 902 ad hoc RPC (the 902 RPC) under CISC and directs the CNA to chair this committee.
5. The scope of the 902 RPC's relief planning activities is limited to the consideration of solutions for introducing new numbering resources within the area currently served by area code 902. Since area code relief planning does not affect local and long distance calling patterns or rates, these issues are outside the scope of the 902 RPC's relief planning activities.
6. In rendering its decision on the relief measures to be adopted, the Commission will consider all relief options identified and recommendations made by the 902 RPC.
7. The Commission directs the 902 RPC, in developing its recommendations, to set aside seven central office (CO) codes for initial code assignments for carriers already providing service in the area served by area code 902. The Commission also directs the 902 RPC to set aside 10 CO codes for initial code assignments exclusively for new entrants, and to ensure that this pool of CO codes remains in place for a period of two years after the introduction of the new area code in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island or until the pool is depleted, whichever occurs first.
8. The Commission notes that the 902 RPC may contemplate relief measures that would require some customers to change their telephone numbers. The Commission therefore encourages members of the public to participate in the 902 RPC's activities.
Jeopardy condition
9. The Commission notes that the creation of the CO code pools mentioned above will advance the exhaust date for area code 902, which is now estimated to be in April 2015. As a result, area code 902 is now in a jeopardy condition as determined by the Guidelines2. Accordingly, the Commission considers that there is an urgent need for relief planning to commence immediately.
10. With the declared jeopardy condition, the Commission considers that code conservation measures are necessary to ensure that numbering resources are not exhausted before relief measures can be implemented. The Commission therefore directs that while the area code 902 jeopardy condition is in effect, the number of CO code assignments per carrier shall not exceed that submitted by each carrier to the CNA for the January 2012 Relief Numbering Resource Utilization Forecast for area code 902.
11. The CNA is to announce the location and time of the 902 RPC's meetings and is to make all related documentation available on its website at www.cnac.ca. Members of the public who wish to participate in the 902 RPC's activities may also reach the CNA by telephone at 613-563-7242.
12. All information provided as part of this public process, except information granted confidentiality, whether sent by postal mail, facsimile, email, or through the Commission's website at www.crtc.gc.ca, becomes part of a publicly accessible file and will be posted on the Commission's website. This includes personal information, such as full names, email addresses, postal/street addresses, telephone and facsimile numbers, and any other personal information provided.
13. The personal information provided will be used and may be disclosed for the purpose for which the information was obtained or compiled by the Commission, or for a use consistent with that purpose.
14. Documents received electronically or otherwise will be posted on the Commission's website in their entirety exactly as received, including any personal information contained therein, in the official language and format in which they are received. Documents not received electronically will be available in PDF format.
15. The information provided to the Commission as part of this public process is entered into an unsearchable database dedicated to this specific public process. This database is accessible only from the web page of this particular public process. As a result, a general search of the Commission's website with the help of either its search engine or a third-party search engine will not link directly to the information provided as part of this public process.
Location of CRTC offices
16. Submissions may be examined or will be made available promptly upon request at Commission offices during normal business hours.
Toll-free telephone: 1-877-249-2782
Toll-free TDD: 1-877-909-2782
Les Terrasses de la Chaudière
1 Promenade du Portage, Room 206
Gatineau, Quebec J8X 4B1
Metropolitan Place
99 Wyse Road, Suite 1410
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B3A 4S5
[1] The CNA began its yearly numbering resource utilization forecast activities for Canadian area codes in January 2012 in accordance with the Commission-approved Canadian Numbering Resource Utilization Forecast Guidelines.
[2] Paragraph 8.1 of the Guidelines lists the conditions used to determine when a jeopardy condition should be declared.


Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin has announced the appointment of James Barwick to the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Barwick, of Edmond, is an assistant state attorney general, and he will retire from that position before beginning his eight-year term on the Wildlife Commission. His appointment still must be confirmed by the Oklahoma Senate. Barwick is to take over the District 5 seat currently filled by Wildlife Commissioner Ed Abel of Oklahoma City, who has served since his 2009 appointment by Gov. Brad Henry and who previously served from 1994-2002.
As an assistant state attorney general, Barwick served as general counsel to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation for more than 12 years. In that capacity, he has attended more than 100 Wildlife Commission meetings.
He is an avid sportsman and an active lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, Pope & Young Club, the Bowhunting Council of Oklahoma (BCO) and Safari Club International (SCI), where he served as a former director of the Oklahoma Station Chapter.
"In addition to being an outdoor enthusiast, Jim intricately knows the rules and regulations of the Wildlife Commission and has a vast working knowledge of the Wildlife Department's activities," Fallin said.
Barwick has hunted around the world with numerous animals making the record books of SCI, Pope & Young, Rowland Ward and the Oklahoma Wildlife Department's Cy Curtis Awards. He has achieved the Super Ten of North American Big Game by harvesting at least one animal from 10 categories: bears, cats, deer, elk, caribou, moose, bison/musk ox, goats, antelope and sheep, which qualifies for entry in the Grand Slam Club/Ovis.
He also is a six-time BCO State Archery Champion (traditional class) and winner of four gold medals and four silver medals in archery in the Sooner State Games.
"I look forward to serving on the Wildlife Commission and continue working on wildlife issues," Barwick said. "My experience of working with the commission will help me oversee the state's hunting and fishing regulations."
After graduating from Oklahoma City University's law school, Barwick started his career in public service as an associate general counsel with the Oklahoma Department of Securities and then went into private practice, joining the Reynolds, Ridings & Hargis law firm. He then began a corporate legal career that spanned more than 22 years and served on the executive team of many well-known Oklahoma companies including LSB Industries Inc., Scrivner Inc., Fleming Cos. Inc. and Kerr-McGee Corp.
The eight-member Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. Members serve in an unpaid capacity as the Wildlife Department's advisory, administrative and policy-making body. The Commission's District 5 includes Cleveland, Garvin, Logan, McClain, Murray, Oklahoma and Payne counties.
Barwick and his wife, Brenda, live in Edmond. His two daughters are both Oklahoma lifetime hunting/fishing license holders.


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Hotsinpiller Fallen Stars 5K is On for 2021
Home » Full Visitor News » Hotsinpiller Fallen Stars 5K is On for 2021
The race is on.
On Sat., June 12, The Derek Hotsinpiller Fallen Stars Memorial 5K Run will once again take place in Bridgeport, along the very same route where Deputy U.S. Marshall Derek Hotsinpiller used to train.
Since he died in the line of duty in 2011, supporters have gathered to run in honor of all law enforcement; those serving, retired, and lost in the line of duty.
"We run in honor of their service and sacrifices," said Organizer Ashley Hotsinpiller.
The year 2020 would have been the 10th anniversary of the event and organizers were hoping to draw a record number of participants. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the race was held virtually. Hundreds registered and ran their own 5K courses, which was deeply appreciated, Ashley Hotsinpiller said.
But being able to hold this year's race in person means so much to organizers and participants alike.
"It humbles my heart to see so many people from such a small community come together to honor Derek and the sacrifice he made, support the Hotsinpiller family and show their gratitude to the law enforcement community in general, said Amy Maxey. "Look around, this isn't happening everywhere. Bridgeport is a wonderful caring community and we are all together again for this year's run!"
Participant Amy Stewart said the race has always meant showing respect and love to a family who gave so much.
"I've run every year and even if a year comes that I can't make it, I still plan to sign up to show my support," she said.
Shawn and Tim Morgan have also run the race each year.
"The first year, we ran virtually with a group from Bridgeport United Methodist Church in Nashville, where we were on a mission trip," Shawn Morgan said. "We ran the virtual race last year on race day and it was so heartwarming to see other people out on the course, even though we all were keeping socially distant."
It was – and is – important to remember Derek and honor the service and sacrifice of those in law enforcement, she said.
Registration is open through June 4 HERE. The online registration fee is $20 and includes an event T-shirt. Packet pickup will be 7-8 a.m. at Bridgeport City Park on race day, followed by an 8 a.m. pre-race ceremony. The race will start promptly at 8:30 a.m., leaving City Park and winding through the streets of Bridgeport and back to City Park, where awards will be presented in various age/gender categories.
Running or walking the 5K virtually is still an option.
"Our goal is to have at least one virtual runner in every state, so if you know someone in a different state, we ask that you encourage them to walk or run with you," Ashley Hotsinpiller said. "You can sign up on the registration page as a virtual participant and there's no fee for that, but if you want a race shirt, you can pay the registration fee and we will ship you a shirt. All those options are on our page."
Always popular and drawing contestants regionally is the Law Enforcement Officer "LEO" and challenge. Two-man/woman teams compete for those bragging rights.
The race raises dollars for the Jim and Derek Hotsinpiller Memorial Scholarship, presented annually to multiple area students pursuing education in criminal justice/social science.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Derek Hotsinpiller received a fatal gunshot wound while serving a warrant in Elkins on Feb. 18, 2011. His dad Jim passed in 2001 during his tenure as lieutenant with Bridgeport Police Department.
Showing support to law enforcement is a privilege, Maxey said.
"That thin blue line is sometimes all that stands between us and evil," she said. "When the rest of the world runs out, they're running in."
Ashley Hotsinpiller extends appreciation to everyone involved in the race.
"We always thank the big hitters who are always there to help make this race a success: Bridgeport Fire, EMS and Police, the City of Bridgeport and all race staff and volunteers," she said. "We are very grateful to every person who helps make this race what it is."
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