text:
Election Candidates
Serge Ménard
Votes - Serge Ménard
(March 3, 2010 to March 26, 2011)
Marc-Aurèle-Fortin
No longer a member of Parliament
Parliament, Session
(January 26, 2009 to December 30, 2009)
(November 18, 2008 to December 4, 2008)
(October 16, 2007 to September 7, 2008)
(April 3, 2006 to September 14, 2007)
(October 4, 2004 to November 29, 2005)
Votes Respecting Bills
House Government Bill 52
Private Member's Bill 66
Senate Government Bill 6
Senate Public Bill 1
Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne 1
Budgetary Policy 5
Concurrence in Committee Reports 16
Government Motions 1
Motions for the Production of Papers 1
Opposition Motions 30
Private Members Motions 8
Ways and Means Motions 4
Agreed To 121
Negatived 78
Vote Number
Vote Respecting
Member Voted
Vote Result
No. 204 Opposition Motion (Confidence in the government) Yea Agreed To March 25, 2011
No. 203 Motion to proceed to Orders of the Day Nay Negatived March 23, 2011
No. 202 Opposition Motion (Conduct of the government) Yea Agreed To March 10, 2011
No. 201 Private Member's Bill 3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-509, An Act to amend the Canada Post Corporation Act (library materials) Yea Agreed To March 9, 2011
No. 200 Private Member's Bill Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-501, An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and other Acts (pension protection) Yea Agreed To March 9, 2011
No. 197 Opposition Motion (Representation in Parliament) Nay Negatived March 8, 2011
No. 196 Opposition Motion (Representation in Parliament) (amendment) Yea Negatived March 8, 2011
No. 195 Opposition Motion (Electoral financing) Yea Agreed To March 8, 2011
No. 194 Private Members' Business M-575 (National Tree Day) Yea Agreed To March 2, 2011
No. 193 Private Member's Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-575, An Act respecting the accountability and enhanced financial transparency of elected officials of First Nations communities Nay Agreed To March 2, 2011
No. 192 Private Member's Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-449, An Act regarding free public transit for seniors Nay Negatived March 2, 2011
No. 191 Private Members' Business M-559 (Instruction to the Standing Committee on Finance (charitable donations)) Yea Agreed To March 2, 2011
No. 190 House Government Bill 3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-42, An Act to amend the Aeronautics Act Yea Agreed To March 2, 2011
No. 189 Eighth Report of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration Yea Agreed To March 2, 2011
No. 188 Motion to proceed to Orders of the Day Nay Negatived March 1, 2011
No. 187 Opposition Motion (Documents requested by the Standing Committee on Finance) Yea Agreed To February 28, 2011
No. 186 Private Member's Bill Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-343, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code and the Employment Insurance Act (family leave) Yea Agreed To February 16, 2011
No. 185 Private Member's Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-530, An Act to amend the Northwest Territories Act (borrowing limits) Yea Agreed To February 16, 2011
No. 184 Eighth Report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Nay Agreed To February 16, 2011
No. 183 House Government Bill 3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-59, An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (accelerated parole review) and to make consequential amendments to other Acts Yea Agreed To February 16, 2011
No. 182 House Government Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-59, An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (accelerated parole review) and to make consequential amendments to other Acts Yea Agreed To February 15, 2011
No. 181 Opposition Motion (Forillon Park) Yea Agreed To February 14, 2011
No. 180 Government Business No. 10 (Proceedings on Bill C-59, An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (accelerated parole review) and to make consequential amendments to other Acts) Yea Agreed To February 14, 2011
No. 179 Motion for closure Yea Agreed To February 14, 2011
No. 177 Private Member's Bill Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-474, An Act respecting the Seeds Regulations (analysis of potential harm) Yea Negatived February 9, 2011
No. 176 Private Member's Bill Bill C-474, An Act respecting the Seeds Regulations (analysis of potential harm) (report stage amendment) Yea Negatived February 9, 2011
No. 166 Seventh Report of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration Yea Agreed To February 9, 2011
No. 165 Private Member's Bill 3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-389, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code (gender identity and gender expression) Yea Agreed To February 9, 2011
No. 164 Private Member's Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-507, An Act to amend the Financial Administration Act (federal spending power) Yea Negatived February 9, 2011
No. 163 Private Member's Bill Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-309, An Act establishing the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Region of Northern Ontario Yea Agreed To February 9, 2011
No. 162 Opposition Motion (Corporate taxes) Yea Agreed To February 9, 2011
No. 161 House Government Bill Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-46, An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Republic of Panama, the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Republic of Panama and the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Panama Nay Agreed To February 7, 2011
No. 160 House Government Bill Bill C-46, An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Republic of Panama, the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Republic of Panama and the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Panama (report stage amendment) Yea Negatived February 7, 2011
No. 156 House Government Bill Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-42, An Act to amend the Aeronautics Act Yea Agreed To February 7, 2011
No. 155 Fourth Report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development Yea Agreed To February 2, 2011
No. 154 Senate Government Bill 3rd reading and adoption of Bill S-6, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and another Act Nay Agreed To February 2, 2011
No. 153 First Report of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security Yea Agreed To February 2, 2011
No. 152 Private Member's Bill Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-429, An Act to amend the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act (use of wood) Yea Negatived December 15, 2010
No. 151 Private Member's Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-510, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (coercion) Nay Negatived December 15, 2010
No. 150 Senate Government Bill Concurrence at report stage of Bill S-6, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and another Act Nay Agreed To December 14, 2010
No. 149 Senate Government Bill Bill S-6, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and another Act (report stage amendment) Nay Negatived December 14, 2010
No. 146 House Government Bill 3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-58, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2011 Nay Agreed To December 9, 2010
No. 145 House Government Bill Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-58, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2011 Nay Agreed To December 9, 2010
No. 144 House Government Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-58, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2011 Nay Agreed To December 9, 2010
No. 143 Concurrence in estimates Nay Agreed To December 9, 2010
No. 142 Opposition Motion (Charter of Rights and Freedoms) Nay Negatived December 9, 2010
No. 141 Private Member's Bill Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-389, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code (gender identity and gender expression) Yea Agreed To December 8, 2010
No. 140 Private Member's Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-568, An Act to amend the Statistics Act (mandatory long-form census) Yea Agreed To December 8, 2010
No. 139 Opposition Motion (West Coast oil tanker traffic) Yea Agreed To December 7, 2010
No. 138 House Government Bill 3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-47, A second Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 4, 2010 and other measures Yea Agreed To December 7, 2010
No. 137 12th Report of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology Yea Agreed To December 1, 2010
No. 135 Senate Public Bill 3rd reading and adoption of Bill S-210, An Act to amend the Federal Sustainable Development Act and the Auditor General Act (involvement of Parliament) Yea Agreed To December 1, 2010
No. 134 Private Member's Bill Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-473, An Act to protect insignia of military orders, decorations and medals of cultural significance for future generations Nay Agreed To December 1, 2010
No. 133 Motion to adjourn the debate Nay Negatived December 1, 2010
No. 132 Opposition Motion (Mission in Afghanistan) Yea Negatived November 30, 2010
No. 131 Private Member's Bill Bill C-304, An Act to ensure secure, adequate, accessible and affordable housing for Canadians (recommittal to a committee) Yea Agreed To November 24, 2010
No. 130 Motion for the production of papers P-32 (Aqueduct system analysis reports for Canadian Forces Base Valcartier) Yea Agreed To November 24, 2010
No. 129 Opposition Motion (F-35 stealth fighter jets) Nay Negatived November 23, 2010
No. 128 House Government Bill Bill C-22, An Act respecting the mandatory reporting of Internet child pornography by persons who provide an Internet service (report stage amendment) Nay Negatived November 16, 2010
No. 127 Opposition Motion (Potash Corporation) Yea Agreed To November 16, 2010
No. 126 House Government Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-47, A second Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 4, 2010 and other measures Yea Agreed To November 4, 2010
No. 125 Private Member's Bill Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-300, An Act respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of Mining, Oil or Gas in Developing Countries Yea Negatived October 27, 2010
No. 124 Private Member's Bill Bill C-300, An Act respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of Mining, Oil or Gas in Developing Countries (report stage amendment) Yea Negatived October 27, 2010
No. 110 Fifth Report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates Yea Negatived October 27, 2010
No. 109 Private Members' Business M-518 (Canadian economy) Nay Agreed To October 27, 2010
No. 108 Fifth Report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities Yea Agreed To October 27, 2010
No. 107 Sixth Report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food Yea Negatived October 27, 2010
No. 106 House Government Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-42, An Act to amend the Aeronautics Act Yea Agreed To October 26, 2010
No. 105 House Government Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-46, An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Republic of Panama, the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Republic of Panama and the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Panama Nay Agreed To October 26, 2010
No. 104 House Government Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-46, An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Republic of Panama, the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Republic of Panama and the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Panama (previous question) Nay Agreed To October 26, 2010
No. 103 Opposition Motion (Federal spending power) Yea Negatived October 26, 2010
No. 102 Private Member's Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-386, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (replacement workers) Yea Negatived October 20, 2010
No. 101 Private Member's Bill Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-290, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (tax credit for loss of retirement income) Yea Negatived October 20, 2010
No. 100 House Government Bill Bill C-46, An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Republic of Panama, the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Republic of Panama and the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Panama (hoist amendment) Yea Negatived October 20, 2010
No. 99 House Government Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-39, An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts Yea Agreed To October 20, 2010
No. 98 Private Members' Business M-517 (Instruction to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (Oral Questions)) Nay Agreed To October 6, 2010
No. 97 Private Members' Business M-517 (Instruction to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (Oral Questions)) (amendment) Nay Negatived October 6, 2010
No. 96 Senate Government Bill 2nd reading of Bill S-6, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and another Act Nay Agreed To October 6, 2010
No. 95 Private Member's Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-440, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (war resisters) Yea Negatived September 29, 2010
No. 94 Private Members' Business M-514 (Instruction to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (Criminal Records Act)) Yea Agreed To September 29, 2010
No. 93 Private Members' Business M-513 (Health care system) Nay Agreed To September 29, 2010
No. 92 Fifth Report of the Standing Committee on Finance Yea Agreed To September 29, 2010
No. 91 Private Member's Bill Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-308, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (improvement of the employment insurance system) Yea Negatived September 29, 2010
No. 90 Opposition Motion (Long-form census) Yea Agreed To September 29, 2010
No. 89 House Government Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-5, An Act to amend the International Transfer of Offenders Act Paired Agreed To September 27, 2010
No. 88 Second Report of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security Yea Agreed To September 22, 2010
No. 87 House Government Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-17, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (investigative hearing and recognizance with conditions) Nay Agreed To September 22, 2010
No. 86 House Government Bill 3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-45, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2011 Nay Agreed To June 17, 2010
No. 85 House Government Bill Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-45, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2011 Nay Agreed To June 17, 2010
No. 84 House Government Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-45, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2011 Nay Agreed To June 17, 2010
No. 83 Concurrence in estimates Nay Agreed To June 17, 2010
No. 78 Opposition Motion (Prorogation) Nay Negatived June 17, 2010
No. 77 Opposition Motion (Prorogation) (amendment) Yea Negatived June 17, 2010
No. 76 Private Member's Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-469, An Act to establish a Canadian Environmental Bill of Rights Yea Agreed To June 16, 2010
No. 75 Private Member's Bill Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-280, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (qualification for and entitlement to benefits) Yea Agreed To June 16, 2010
No. 74 House Government Bill 3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-2, An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Republic of Colombia, the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Republic of Colombia and the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Colombia Nay Agreed To June 14, 2010
No. 73 Opposition Motion (Securities Regulation) Yea Negatived June 14, 2010
No. 72 Private Member's Bill 3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-475, An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (methamphetamine and ecstasy) Yea Agreed To June 9, 2010
No. 71 Private Member's Bill Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-395, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (labour dispute) Yea Agreed To June 9, 2010
No. 70 Second Report of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology Yea Agreed To June 9, 2010
No. 69 House Government Bill Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-2, An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Republic of Colombia, the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Republic of Colombia and the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Colombia Nay Agreed To June 9, 2010
No. 68 House Government Bill Bill C-2, An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Republic of Colombia, the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Republic of Colombia and the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Colombia (report stage amendment) Yea Negatived June 9, 2010
No. 65 House Government Bill Time allocation for Bill C-2, An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Republic of Colombia, the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Republic of Colombia and the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Colombia Nay Agreed To June 9, 2010
No. 64 Motion to proceed to Orders of the Day Nay Agreed To June 9, 2010
No. 63 House Government Bill 3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-9, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 4, 2010 and other measures Nay Agreed To June 8, 2010
No. 62 House Government Bill Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-9, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 4, 2010 and other measures Nay Agreed To June 7, 2010
No. 61 House Government Bill Bill C-9, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 4, 2010 and other measures (report stage amendment) Yea Negatived June 7, 2010
No. 55 House Government Bill Time allocation for Bill C-9, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 4, 2010 and other measures Nay Agreed To June 3, 2010
No. 54 Motion to proceed to Orders of the Day Nay Negatived June 2, 2010
No. 53 Opposition Motion (Oil and gas) Yea Agreed To June 1, 2010
No. 52 Opposition Motion (G-8 and G-20 security costs) Yea Agreed To June 1, 2010
No. 51 Motion to adjourn the debate Nay Agreed To May 31, 2010
No. 50 Private Member's Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-501, An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and other Acts (pension protection) Yea Agreed To May 26, 2010
No. 49 First Report of the Standing Committee on Official Languages Yea Agreed To May 26, 2010
No. 48 Opposition Motion (Quebec's traditional demands) Yea Negatived May 11, 2010
No. 47 Private Member's Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-471, An Act respecting the implementation of the recommendations of the Pay Equity Task Force and amending another Act in consequence Yea Agreed To May 5, 2010
No. 46 Private Member's Bill Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-201, An Act to amend the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superannuation Act (deletion of deduction from annuity) Yea Agreed To May 5, 2010
No. 45 Private Member's Bill Bill C-201, An Act to amend the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superannuation Act (deletion of deduction from annuity) (report stage amendment) Yea Agreed To May 5, 2010
No. 44 Private Member's Bill 3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-288, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (tax credit for new graduates working in designated regions) Yea Agreed To May 5, 2010
No. 43 First Report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Yea Agreed To May 5, 2010
No. 42 Private Member's Bill 3rd reading and adoption of Bill, An Act to ensure Canada assumes its responsibilities in preventing dangerous climate change Yea Agreed To May 5, 2010
No. 41 Opposition Motion (Lobbying Act - as amended) (amendment) Yea Agreed To May 5, 2010
No. 40 Private Members' Business M-423 (Pont de Québec) Yea Agreed To April 28, 2010
No. 39 Private Member's Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-343, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code and the Employment Insurance Act (family leave) Yea Agreed To April 28, 2010
No. 38 Private Member's Bill 3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-302, An Act to recognize the injustice that was done to persons of Italian origin through their "enemy alien" designation and internment during the Second World War, and to provide for restitution and promote education on Italian-Canadian history Yea Agreed To April 28, 2010
No. 37 Opposition Motion (Investment Canada Act) Yea Agreed To April 28, 2010
No. 35 Motion to adjourn the debate Nay Agreed To April 22, 2010
No. 34 Private Member's Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-384, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (right to die with dignity) Yea Negatived April 21, 2010
No. 33 Private Member's Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-470, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (revocation of registration) Yea Agreed To April 21, 2010
No. 32 Private Member's Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-429, An Act to amend the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act (use of wood) Yea Agreed To April 21, 2010
No. 31 Opposition Motion (Quebec's representation in the House of Commons) Yea Negatived April 21, 2010
No. 30 Opposition Motion (Quebec's representation in the House of Commons) (amendment) Yea Negatived April 21, 2010
No. 29 House Government Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-9, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 4, 2010 and other measures Nay Agreed To April 19, 2010
No. 28 House Government Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-2, An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Republic of Colombia, the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Republic of Colombia and the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Colombia Nay Agreed To April 19, 2010
No. 27 House Government Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-2, An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Republic of Colombia, the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Republic of Colombia and the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Colombia (previous question) Nay Agreed To April 19, 2010
No. 25 Private Member's Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-475, An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (methamphetamine and ecstasy) Yea Agreed To April 14, 2010
No. 24 Private Member's Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-474, An Act respecting the Seeds Regulations (analysis of potential harm) Yea Agreed To April 14, 2010
No. 23 Private Member's Bill Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-311, An Act to ensure Canada assumes its responsibilities in preventing dangerous climate change Yea Agreed To April 14, 2010
No. 22 First Report of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage Yea Agreed To April 14, 2010
No. 21 Opposition Motion (Environment) Yea Agreed To April 14, 2010
No. 20 Private Member's Bill 3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-232, An Act to amend the Supreme Court Act (understanding the official languages) Yea Agreed To March 31, 2010
No. 19 Private Member's Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-444, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and the Telecommunications Act (broadcasting and telecommunications policies) Yea Negatived March 31, 2010
No. 18 Private Member's Bill Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-241, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (removal of waiting period) Yea Agreed To March 24, 2010
No. 17 Ways and Means motion No. 8 Nay Agreed To March 24, 2010
No. 16 Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne (subamendment) Yea Negatived March 23, 2010
No. 15 House Government Bill 3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-7, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2011 Nay Agreed To March 23, 2010
No. 14 House Government Bill Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-7, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2011 Nay Agreed To March 23, 2010
No. 13 House Government Bill 2nd reading of Bill C-7, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2011 Nay Agreed To March 23, 2010
No. 12 Concurrence in Interim Supply Nay Agreed To March 23, 2010
No. 9 House Government Bill 2nd reading of BilC-6, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2010 Nay Agreed To March 23, 2010
No. 8 Concurrence in estimates Nay Agreed To March 23, 2010
No. 7 Opposition Motion (Maternal and child health) Yea Negatived March 23, 2010
No. 6 Opposition Motion (Prorogation) Yea Agreed To March 17, 2010
No. 5 Opposition Motion (Speech from the Throne and Budget) Yea Negatived March 16, 2010
No. 4 Opposition Motion (Government spending) Yea Agreed To March 16, 2010
No. 3 Budgetary policy Nay Agreed To March 10, 2010
No. 2 Budgetary policy (amendment) Yea Negatived March 9, 2010
No. 1 Budgetary policy (subamendment) Nay Negatived March 9, 2010
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We had a great time earlier this month with you at Sonny's!
So why not stick with a good thing-- join us post Labor Day plans at The Rooftop, Bayside Bowl to get together for a beverage, chat, reconnect, and bring new folks to network and socialize.
Can't make this one? As always, stay tuned for future rotating locations. See you at 58 Alder Street, 5 PM on Wednesday, September 6!


Motley Brew is one of the hottest e-juice brands on the market. Vape shops that carry them extol the virtues of Motley Brew's kosher grade ingredients and the fact that the e-liquids are all handcrafted in the USA, made in FDA-registered "clean room" labs. Their premium e-liquids were officially launched in Miami in 2015, and are now beginning to show up in vape shops across the country.
All six of Motley Brew's flavors are Diacetyl-free and made with a soy-based glycerin. This provides vapers with a 100% clean juice, large amount of vapor, and an intense flavor. The Motley Brew e-liquids are formulated to be inhaled, and are also GRAS approved.
While these are some of the most premium flavors on the market, their shelf prices are comparable to other e-juices – customers will be pleased that they can get such high quality at such a good price. Customers note that Motley Brew's e-liquids are as smooth as they come, and the same customers will keep coming back for more.
Motley Brew is known for their stand-out flavors. They have committed a great deal of time and resources to make these strong, flavorful mixes. Standouts include Brews Brothers, Pearadise City, the Froot Fighters, and the Old Fashioned.
In fact, the Old Fashioned e-liquid earned the "Best in Show" award at the Vape Summit 2015. This delightful blend provides vapers with a taste of whiskey, a bit of sugarcane, and notes of citrus and bitters. Those that enjoy the taste of smooth whiskey will line up to buy this one.
Brews Brothers is perfect for those who love coffee as it has tastes of dark roasted espresso with hints of vanilla and butterscotch. It's a wonderful morning vape for anyone who needs a pick me up.
For those who enjoy the flavors of lychee fruit, pear, and vanilla, Motley Brew offers Pearadise City. This blend is very exotic (plenty of fruit right off the bat) with a hint of mint afterwards.
Vape shop owners who are interested in stocking Motley Brew e-liquids simply need to get in touch. They offer high margins to keep the residual income flowing. Motley Brew provides unmatched customer service to their vendors, helping vendors drive sales. Please contact Motley Brew for further information and opportunities.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Brew's Brothers E-Liquid, e-liquid, motley brew, Motley Brew Retail, Old Fashioned E-Liquid, Pearadise City, Peardise City E-Liquid, wholesale on February 16, 2016 by Natasha Ayers.


text:
@implementation ORDAMySQLTable {
	id<ORDAStatement> columnNamesStatement, primaryKeyNamesStatement, foreignKeyNamesStatement;
}

- (id)initWithGovernor:(id<ORDAGovernor>)governor withName:(NSString *)tableName
{
	if (!(self = [super initWithGovernor:governor withName:tableName]))
		return nil;

	if (self.code != kORDASucessResultCode)
		return self;

	if (![governor isKindOfClass:ORDAMySQLGovernor.class])
		return (ORDAMySQLTable *)[ORDAMySQLErrorResult errorWithCode:kORDAInternalAPIMismatchErrorResultCode].retain;

	columnNamesStatement = [[self.governor createStatement:@"SELECT column_name FROM information_schema.columns WHERE table_name = '%@'", self.name] retain];
	primaryKeyNamesStatement = [[self.governor createStatement:@"SELECT column_name FROM information_schema.key_column_usage WHERE table_name = '%@' AND contstraint_name = 'PRIMARY'", self.name] retain];
	foreignKeyNamesStatement = [[self.governor createStatement:@"SELECT column_name FROM information_schema.key_column_usage WHERE table_name = '%@' AND referenced_table_name IS NOT NULL", self.name] retain];

	return self;
}

- (void)dealloc
{
	[columnNamesStatement release];
	[primaryKeyNamesStatement release];
	[foreignKeyNamesStatement release];

	[super dealloc];
}

- (NSArray *)columnNames
{
	return columnNamesStatement.result[@"column_name"];
}

- (NSArray *)primaryKeyNames
{
	return primaryKeyNamesStatement.result[@"column_name"];
}

- (NSArray *)foreignKeyTableNames
{
	return foreignKeyNamesStatement.result[@"column_name"];
}

- (NSString *)whereClauseForKeys:(NSArray *)keys
{
	NSArray * columns = self.primaryKeyNames;
	if (columns.count != keys.count)
		return nil;

	NSMutableArray * columnKeys = [NSMutableArray arrayWithCapacity:columns.count];
	for (int i = 0; i < columns.count; i++)
		[columnKeys addObject:[NSString stringWithFormat:@"'%@' = '%@'", columns[i], keys[i]]];

	return [columnKeys componentsJoinedByString:@" AND "];
}

- (id)selectWherePrimaryKeyEquals:(id)key
{
	return [self selectWherePrimaryKeysEqual:@[key]];
}

- (id)selectWherePrimaryKeysEqual:(NSArray *)keys
{
	if (self.rows[keys])
		return self.rows[keys];

	id<ORDAStatement> stmt = [self.governor createStatement:@"SELECT * FROM '%@' WHERE %@", self.name, [self whereClauseForKeys:keys]];
	if (stmt.isError)
		return nil;

	id<ORDAStatementResult> result = stmt.result;
	if (result.isError)
		return nil;
	if (result.rows < 1)
		return nil;

	return self.rows[keys] = [ORDAMySQLTableResultEntry tableResultEntryWithData:result[0] forTable:self];
}

- (id<ORDATableResult>)selectWhere:(NSString *)format, ... NS_FORMAT_FUNCTION(1,2);
{
	NSString * clause = nil;
	if (!format)
		clause = @"1";
	else {
		va_list args;
		va_start(args, format);
		clause = [[[NSString alloc] initWithFormat:format arguments:args] autorelease];
		va_end(args);
	}

	NSArray * columns = self.primaryKeyNames;
	id<ORDAStatement> stmt = [self.governor createStatement:@"SELECT %@ FROM '%@' WHERE %@", [columns componentsJoinedByString:@", "], self.name, clause];
	if (stmt.isError)
		return (id<ORDATableResult>)stmt;

	id<ORDAStatementResult> result = stmt.result;
	if (result.isError)
		return (id<ORDATableResult>)result;

	NSMutableArray * entries = [NSMutableArray arrayWithCapacity:result.rows];
	for (int i = 0; i < result.rows; i++) {
		NSMutableArray * keys = [NSMutableArray arrayWithCapacity:columns.count];
		for (NSString * column in columns)
			[keys addObject:result[i][column]];
		[entries addObject:[self selectWherePrimaryKeysEqual:entries]];
	}

	return [ORDATableResultImpl tableResultWithArray:entries];
}

- (id<ORDATableResult>)insertValues:(id)values
{
	NSMutableArray * _values = [NSMutableArray arrayWithCapacity:self.columnNames.count];
	for (NSString * column in self.columnNames)
		[_values addObject:[NSString stringWithFormat:@"'%@'", [values valueForKey:column]]];

	id<ORDAStatement> stmt = [self.governor createStatement:@"INSERT INTO '%@' VALUES (%@)", self.name, [_values componentsJoinedByString:@", "]];
	if (stmt.isError)
		return (id<ORDATableResult>)stmt;

	id<ORDAStatementResult> result = stmt.result;
	if (result.isError)
		return (id<ORDATableResult>)result;

	if (result.lastID)
		return [ORDATableResultImpl tableResultWithObject:[self selectWherePrimaryKeyEquals:@(result.lastID)]];

	NSMutableArray * keys = [NSMutableArray array];
	for (NSString * column in self.primaryKeyNames)
		[keys addObject:result[0][column]];
	return [ORDATableResultImpl tableResultWithObject:[self selectWherePrimaryKeysEqual:keys]];
}

- (id<ORDATableResult>)updateSet:(NSString *)column to:(id)value where:(NSString *)format, ... NS_FORMAT_FUNCTION(1,4);
{
	NSString * clause = nil;
	if (!format)
		clause = @"1";
	else {
		va_list args;
		va_start(args, format);
		clause = [[[NSString alloc] initWithFormat:format arguments:args] autorelease];
		va_end(args);
	}

	id<ORDAStatement> stmt = [self.governor createStatement:@"UPDATE '%@' SET [%@] = '%@' WHERE %@", self.name, column, value, clause];
	if (stmt.isError)
		return (id<ORDATableResult>)stmt;

	id<ORDAStatementResult> result = stmt.result;
	if (result.isError)
		return (id<ORDATableResult>)result;

	return [self selectWhere:@"%@", clause];
}

- (id)keyForTableUpdate:(ORDATableUpdateType)type toRowWithKey:(id)key
{
	if (![key isKindOfClass:NSArray.class])
		return @[key];
	return key;
}

@end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Only a few weeks after reading Celeste Ng's excellent family drama Everything I Never Told You, I found myself immersed in Carys Bray's debut novel A Song For Issy Bradley which, like Everything I Never Told You, deals with the aftermath of the loss of a child in a family who are set somewhat apart from those around them. In the case of Everything I Never Told You, the Lee family are singled out for being the only Chinese-American family in their small Ohio town; in A Song For Issy Bradley, the Bradleys are Mormons living on the north-west coast of England, somewhere on the fringes of Lancashire and Merseyside.
After the sudden death of four-year-old Issy at the start of the novel, we watch the family's attempts to cope with not only with the natural sense of grief and loss that follows, but also with the constant conflict between leading an 'obedient' Mormon lifestyle in modern Britain.
Ian, whose role as Bishop sees him constantly called upon by church members to provide not only spiritual guidance but also day to day favours and errands, is the most confident in his faith, but finds that the church's teachings are offering few solutions to his wife's crippling depression in the wake of Issy's death. Claire herself converted to Mormonism in order to marry Ian in the first place, and even before losing her child, has been increasingly stifled by the religion's constraints.
Meanwhile, sixteen-year-old Zippy is fast realising that her options, as a woman, are severely limited by her family's faith, and her brother Al is full of anger and bitterness at having his dreams of a professional football career, incompatible with the Mormon church's values, snatched away from him. Finally, seven-year-old Jacob wholeheartedly believes not only in Father Christmas but in the power of prayer and the hope of resurrection - so much so that he clings to a conviction that his sister, like Lazarus, can be raised from the dead.
Each character has a distinctive and believable voice; I found every member of the Bradley family wholly convincing, complete with faults and weaknesses. Some may be easier than others with whom to identify, but there are sympathetic elements to them all; there are no heroes and villains here, only realistic, floundering individuals coping with a situation that nobody, of any faith or none, is ever really equipped to deal with.
If, like me, you start the novel knowing very little about the Mormon religion, it's impossible not to be fascinated by Carys Bray's intricately drawn portrait of life as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Bray, a former Mormon herself who left the church in her 30s after having five children (including a daughter who died shortly after birth) by the age of 27, is both scathing and affectionate about the workings and teachings of the church, but also deeply understanding of it and the motives of its members - Ian, for example, however misguided in his attempts to rally his family after Issy's death, is presented as ultimately having what he honestly believes are their best interests at heart. The inherent sexism, even misogyny, of Mormonism is revealed in unflinching detail as girls are groomed for early marriage and told that their bodies are a dangerous temptation to hapless men, and yet there is plenty of fun too: kindness, good humour and a genuine sense of community.
Despite being a book about a grieving family, it's important to point out that A Song For Issy Bradley is often very funny - observant, witty and warm-hearted. There are certainly chapters that are hard to read, particularly those from the point of view of Claire at her lowest ebb, but ultimately it's a hopeful and surprisingly uplifting read. The Bradley family may be struggling in isolation, each with his or her own unique struggle to overcome both in grieving for Issy and trying to reconcile personal disillusionment with religious faith, but when they do manage to come together, imperfect and confused though they are, they are a force to be reckoned with.
A Song For Issy Bradley, which has received a well-deserved Costa Book Awards nomination in the First Novel category, is beautifully written throughout, with every observation pitch-perfect and, where necessary (such as in the chapters where Claire goes to the beach in the wake of Issy's death) a clearly evoked sense of atmosphere and place. These may be clichéd observation for a reviewer to make, but I did laugh, I did cry, and I couldn't put the book down.


text:
layout: page
title: Sigil Electronics Conference
date: 2016-05-24
author: Rose Wells
tags: weekly links, java
status: published
summary: Ut quis felis magna. Pellentesque aliquam purus.
banner: images/banner/leisure-02.jpg
booking:
  startDate: 06/25/2017
  endDate: 06/30/2017
  ctyhocn: KCOHXHX
  groupCode: SEC
published: true
---
Nam consectetur ullamcorper mauris, vitae aliquet mauris. Donec sodales porttitor diam, in scelerisque nisl tristique eget. Aliquam fermentum enim massa, eu commodo leo condimentum porta. Aenean congue bibendum dolor, vitae lacinia turpis cursus at. Cras commodo eros vitae dui dapibus consequat. Etiam tortor leo, gravida eget fringilla sed, egestas a turpis. Nam tristique purus et sapien aliquet tempus. Vivamus a justo eget tellus vulputate tempor efficitur sit amet metus. Maecenas eleifend dolor quam, eget semper leo elementum in. Aliquam erat volutpat. Nam sed est mollis, sollicitudin magna eu, bibendum orci. Ut eu nisi quam.

* Sed volutpat nunc ac odio laoreet viverra
* Donec in nulla eu sem porttitor dictum
* Morbi semper nisl vel nulla convallis faucibus.

Vivamus ut justo ex. Fusce sem eros, pharetra quis nulla sit amet, lacinia luctus ligula. Proin et dui sit amet ex tincidunt malesuada sed sit amet dolor. Suspendisse facilisis nibh non ex porta volutpat. Maecenas ac felis porta, pulvinar nisl molestie, iaculis libero. Sed congue erat sit amet mi commodo, et eleifend mi blandit. Morbi consequat sem pulvinar, pellentesque tellus at, porttitor neque.


text:
› Home › News Archive (Headlines) › Millennium: Un Livre Reference
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Millennium: Un Livre Reference
25th November 2002 By Graham P. Smith
Yesterday I was honoured to receive an e-mail from Edouard de Teyssiere of France, advising me of the impending release of his new Millennium-based reference book, Millennium: Un Livre Référence. Edouard advises that although the book will be released in the French language, it could be possible that an English translation could be produced should the publishers be content with its success.
Eduardo advises, "This book is dedicated to Erin Maher & Kay Reindl, Glen Morgan & James Wong and contains episode guides as well as analysis about the influence of the writers, actors, staff and character's biographies, the symbolic in the show based upon Jung and Joseph Campbell works, a column about the merchandising...". Eduardo adds that an interview with Erin Maher will be published in the French magazine SF Mag in December 2002.
Erin Maher and Kay Reindl are known for the both some of the best and least popular episodes of Millennium. They wrote Season Two's spooky A Single Blade Of Grass, the outstanding Christmas episode Midnight of the Century,Anamnesis and Season Three's Matryoshka.
Glen Morgan and James Wong's work of course needs no introduction but you can visit the excellent Morgan And Wong Online and read more about their Millennium success.
It's always excellent and welcome news to read about Millennium continuing to remain popular and Millennium Desktop UK would like to take the opportunity of wishing Edouard the very best of success with his book. Millennium: Un Livre Référence by Author Edouard de Teyssière. Publisher: Naturellement. Release date 16th December 2002.
Discuss and comment on this news article in our forums.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Para que serve a KEY usada nos frameworks? Geralmente, quando vejo sistemas que foram feitos sem a utilização de frameworks, não há utilização de keys.
Porém, todos os frameworks que eu usei até hoje, todos eles é necessário você definir uma key (chave) para a sua aplicação, para ela funcionar.
Um exemplo disso é o Laravel, onde você tem uma configuração parecida com isso:
  /*
    |--------------------------------------------------------------------------
    | Encryption Key
    |--------------------------------------------------------------------------
    |
    | This key is used by the Illuminate encrypter service and should be set
    | to a random, 32 character string, otherwise these encrypted strings
    | will not be safe. Please do this before deploying an application!
    |
    */

    'key' => 'A5CNJaYsFnpC9jpkbAk1nOI1ETUBsJOP',

Para que serve a key geralmente usada  nos frameworks?
Isso está relacionado à alguma esquema de segurança?

A: É utilizada para SALT de hashing no PHP
O laravel trabalha sobre biblioteca password_hashpara geração de chaves protegidas nas senhas.
Confira:
Illuminate\Hashing\BcryptHasher line 30

    public function make($value, array $options = [])
    {
        $cost = isset($options['rounds']) ? $options['rounds'] : $this->rounds;

        $hash = password_hash($value, PASSWORD_BCRYPT, ['cost' => $cost]);

        if ($hash === false) {
            throw new RuntimeException('Bcrypt hashing not supported.');
        }

        return $hash;
    }

Esta combinação aleatória será o salt para geração da hash. Cada KEY irá gerar sempre uma hash diferente. Isso impede de invadirem seu banco e descobrirem a senha de seus clientes. Já que neste exemplo terão acesso apenas ao hash da senha, que é um hash mão única.
Nunca deixe terem acesso a essa key, pois ela é ligada diretamente ao hashing de seus passwords.
Mas como assim? Hashing? Salt? Cost?
Vamos lá, eu não sou especialista neste setor mas tentarei lhe ajudar.
Hashing
Hashing é método de "esconder" a senha ou algum outro texto de "intrusos".
Vamos por exemplo:
Veja esta string:
$2y$10$ZxqbuwvAYAGvhQgl0C9Kh.q.UWCdL1eQg4SMqbrfbvnjX4rOl2AcW
Consegue saber qual valor real dela?
Esta string é um hash de uma senha, que no caso é: 102030
Minha aplicação, com um SALT único gerou essa string como 102030.
Isso significa hash da senha 102030 na minha aplicação será igual da sua? Não, nunca. Pois as KEYS(SALT) são únicos.
Salt

salt - to manually provide a salt to use when hashing the password. Note that this will override and prevent a salt from being automatically generated.

Salt é uma combinação de caracteres que será utilizada como "chave" para fazer o hash de suas strings.
Cost

cost - which denotes the algorithmic cost that should be used. Examples of these values can be found on the crypt() page.

Custo é o que a palavra já diz: Custo. Quando de custo esse hashing terá para o processador para ser processado? Lembrando que: Quando maior o custo, menor a chance de alguém fazer brute force attack em sua aplicação, PORÉM seu processador terá mais trabalho toda vez que alguém ficar digitando a senha.
Ok, mas e como aplicação sabe que o usuário digitou a senha correta sendo que é tudo "criptografado"?
Por método de comparação, jovem.
Vamos partir do exemplo que uma senha seja gerado sobre KEY x com CUSTO 10.
Se o usuário digitar senha 102030 SEMPRE será gerado strings iguais, pois a chave não mudou nem o custo.
Por isso cuidado com a KEY de sua aplicação, ela é importante para esse fator de segurança. Se alguém descobrir estará mais perto de descobrir as senhas em seu banco, ou se você mudá-la todas as senhas de seu banco serão inválidas.
Correção
Laravel não utiliza o SALT para gerar as senhas, porém utiliza para biblioteca Encryption que é definido a key no EncryptionServiceProvider Fora isso é mesma ideologia.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
What Is Bakkt & How Will it Change the Cryptocurrency World?
Bakkt is enabling institutional, merchant and consumer access to digital assets in a secure, trusted ecosystem
By Oliver Dale January 19, 2020
Attracting institutional investment money seems to be the new holy grail of cryptocurrency, just shy of Mainstream acceptance.
There are powers of money floating through the institutional investment sphere, currently tied up in stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments. Bringing that money into cryptocurrency would increase the total market cap of the sphere by orders of magnitude.
In addition to the financial benefits, a large surge of institutional money would give cryptocurrency the legitimacy it needs to really make inroads into Mainstream acceptance and adoption.
When Goldman-Sachs or Bank of America finally starts basing major business plans around movements in the cryptocurrency market, the thinking goes, cryptocurrency will have graduated from technophile toy to serious financial tool.
Enter Bakkt
1 Enter Bakkt
2 An Introduction to Bakkt
3 What the Market Is Saying
4 Institutional Investment
5 Bakkt Bitcoin Futures Arrive September 2019
5.1 A New Kind of Bitcoin Futures, But Low Demand to Start
6 Bakkt Opens Its Bitcoin Custody Warehouse to "All Institutions"
6.1 It's Not All About Institutions
7 Bakkt Bitcoin Futures Volume Explodes Past $30 Million
8 Bakkt Looks to Build on Momentum
9 Will Bakkt Bring Mainstream Acceptance?
Enter Bakkt. Bakkt plans to enter the cryptocurrency market with an open platform for all manner of cryptocurrency services, including trading and warehousing.
What sets Bakkt apart from the pack is its backers and its founding company. Bakkt is a product of the same company that spawned the vaunted New York Stock Exchange, and it plans to enter the market with the support of a self-described "marquee" of big names — including BCG, Microsoft, and Starbucks.
Simply put, it's institutional investment geared toward creating more institutional investment.
We're going to take a look at what Bakkt is, what it plans to do, and what the market is saying about this potentially game-changing entity.
An Introduction to Bakkt
In August 2018, Bakkt's parent company Intercontinental Exchange released a statement announcing its intention to use Microsoft's cloud service Azure to "create an open and regulated, global ecosystem for digital assets."
This new company, dubbed Bakkt, would start right off the bat with the inclusion of federally regulated markets and auxiliary services, like warehousing.
It would even feature Bitcoin to fiat conversions, a feature that is rare on cryptocurrency exchanges and one of the major differentiators between market-movers and also-rans. In total, Bakkt expects to serve a digital marketplace that moves $270 billion per year.
"In bringing regulated, connected infrastructure together with institutional and consumer applications for digital assets, we aim to build confidence in the asset class on a global scale, consistent with our track record of bringing transparency and trust to previously unregulated markets,"
Intercontinental Exchange founder and CEO Jeffrey Sprecher said in the statement.
The Bakkt Website
Bakkt's flagship offering a U.S.-based futures exchange and clear-house plan for single-day, physically delivered Bitcoin contracts coupled with physical warehousing.
Eventually, Bakkt hopes to service all levels of the cryptocurrency supply chain, from casual investors to mega-merchants, like Starbucks.
In fact, Starbucks will be the first major merchant to work with Bakkt on ways to "convert their digital assets into U.S. dollars for use at Starbucks," according to Maria Smith, Starbucks vice president for partnerships and payments.
Other investors and potential Bakkt partners include a laundry list of well-known financial institutions, including Alan Howard, Pantera Capital, Fortress Investment Group, Eagle Seven, Galaxy Digital, Protocol Ventures, Susquehanna International Group, and Horizons Ventures.
"Bakkt is designed to serve as a scalable on-ramp for institutional, merchant and consumer participation in digital assets by promoting greater efficiency, security, and utility," Bakkt CEO Kelly Loeffler said in the statement. "We are collaborating to build an open platform that helps unlock the transformative potential of digital assets across global markets and commerce."
What the Market Is Saying
It's likely no coincidence that "Bakkt" sounds suspiciously like "backed." After all, it's a project of the company that founded the New York Stock Exchange, it's built on Microsoft technology, it has a slew of big-name institutional investors already on board, and its first major merchant is none other than the ubiquitous Starbucks.
In the wildest fever dreams of cryptocurrency enthusiasts, it's hard to imagine a more complete slate of market players. All that's missing is an Amazon endorsement and a gilded letter from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission promising Bakkt unfettered access to the market.
And yet, that's close to the reality that Bakkt is proposing. By beginning operations with an eye toward regulatory scrutiny, Bakkt is attempting to leapfrog the regulatory hurdles that have challenged cryptocurrency throughout its decades-long rise — and in 2018, in particular.
Crypto market observers have identified a few key advantages of this new player, which all seem positive from an adoption point of view.
The first is the obvious nod toward institutional investment. Bakkt has that covered with its initial slate of venture capital firms.
If these firms are willing to stick their necks into the crypto arena, so the thinking goes, it's just a hop-skip-jump for even larger firms to come onboard. This is particularly likely if Bakkt plays by the regulatory rules and secures approval for its operations moving forward.
Oddly, this argument also works in reverse. If big-ticket investors are fine with Bakkt's operations, then it follows that small-time investors should come on-board, as well. It's a known fact in the financial world that little money follows big money, the way little fish trail bigger fish to feed on scraps.
If a large venture capital firm is confident in Bakkt, the firms that look to it for guidance will follow suit. This has the potential to bring in a slew of capital from previously untouched resources — credit unions, retirement accounts, and 401(k)s.
By nature, these types of holdings need to be conservative. They exist, after all, to help investors prepare for the future. Without significant institutional backers, the crypto market has been famously volatile. In kind of a vicious circle, that lack of institutional money due to volatility has prevented an injection of capital which could keep volatility to a minimum.
It's obvious, then, that Bakkt's entry into the market can only calm the fears of naturally conservative investment vehicles.
This works on a tech angle, as well. Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, has been famously hard on cryptocurrency, going so far as to say that it's killed people in a "fairly direct way."
And yet Bakkt is built upon Microsoft's cloud services platform Azure, which implies at least a little tacit endorsement of cryptocurrency as a legitimate entity by the tech giant.
Since Microsoft enjoys a hefty majority share of the personal computing and general software markets, it's likely that smaller developers will follow in its wake as far as integrating Bakkt's offering into their own products.
Few companies set out to build applications or platforms based on unproven or little-adopted technology. With Microsoft at the forefront, it's virtually guaranteed that developers will fall in line.
Bakkt Bitcoin Futures Arrive September 2019
In September 2019 Bakkt launched its first physically-settled bitcoin futures products, and to much ado.
Since New York Stock Exchange owners Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) announced the Bakkt platform and associated plans for bitcoin futures, it's been the hope of many stakeholders in the cryptoeconomy that the enterprise's rollout could mark a turning point for mainstream attention around cryptocurrencies.
Of course, it remains to be seen how precisely Bakkt will fare in the years ahead. But the venture has major backers, and as of September 23rd it now has major derivative offerings — daily and monthly contracts that track the bitcoin price — that in the very least will further legitimize the cryptocurrency going forward and introduce so-called "digital gold" to new audiences.
We're live!
The first Bakkt Bitcoin Futures trade was executed at 8:02pm ET at a price of $10,115
— Bakkt (@Bakkt) September 23, 2019
On the news, Bakkt chief executive officer Kelly Loeffler echoed that sentiment, saying the start of the company's derivatives operations should lead to more mainstream investors feeling comfortable with bitcoin:
"As institutions enter this emerging asset class, they will continue to look to secure infrastructure and the regulatory certainty that it provides. Importantly, these futures contracts now serve as benchmarks established by a trusted price discovery process upon which investors can rely."
The futures launch went according to schedule, as Loeffler revealed last month that September 23rd was the target release date for the derivatives. However, Bakkt had previously delayed the offerings multiple times as it worked to finalize its preparations.
With the futures contracts now publicly available, Bakkt joins the likes of mainstream derivatives marketplace CME Group, which launched its first bitcoin futures product in December 2017.
The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) shuttered its own bitcoin futures unexpectedly earlier this year, meaning Bakkt and CME Group are the main providers in the arena for now.
A New Kind of Bitcoin Futures, But Low Demand to Start
Notably, the Bakkt Bitcoin Futures products are the first in the U.S. to deliver BTC to buyers at contracts' expirations. These deliveries are facilitated by the exchange's custodial wing, Bakkt Warehouse.
However, the derivatives didn't experience a considerable flurry of trading activity to start.
Low volume on the contracts' first day led to a boon of social media commentary, with some poking fun and others expressing surprise at the perceived lack of interest around the offerings. By the end of Monday, 71 monthly contracts and 2 daily contracts representing 72 bitcoin — or roughly $700,000 at current prices — had been purchased.
Larry Cermak, Director of Research at cryptocurrency trade publication The Block, noted on Twitter that initial volume around Bakkt's futures was all but meager compared to the almost $50 million in bitcoin futures that CME Group handled intraday at that point. But Cermak wasn't pessimistic about Bakkt's long-term prospects.
In comparison, CME Bitcoin futures had a 24-hr traded volume of $48.2M. pic.twitter.com/4BlvxnZejj
— Larry Cermak (@lawmaster) September 23, 2019
"The activity will take week/months to get going and I really think it will," Cermak wrote.
Three Arrows Capital CEO Su Zhu was of the same mind, having estimated earlier that "Bakkt will be likely first a trickle and then a flood."
Bakkt Opens Its Bitcoin Custody Warehouse to "All Institutions"
In November 2019 Bakkt opened the doors of its custody services to all the institutions of the world.
In operating as a limited liability trust company in New York, Bakkt announced the pivot on November 11th upon the startup having received approval from the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) to "offer bitcoin custody to all institutions."
With the NYDFS's approval, the facility can now directly secure enterprises' bitcoin holdings even if futures aren't involved.
And while saturation is already accruing near the top of the cryptocurrency custody sector, Bakkt is hoping to beat out the competition by offering its clients a superior service. As the company's chief operating officer Adam White explained on Monday:
"While technology provides the foundation by which we securely store customer funds, the Bakkt Warehouse employs extensive physical, operational and cybersecurity safeguards too. Our relationship with Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE: ICE), a Fortune 500 company that owns and operates the market infrastructure upon which the world's largest financial institutions already rely, enables us to uniquely address client needs in the digital asset custody space […]."
Per Bakkt, the first oncomers to use its widened custody offering will be cryptoeconomy mainstays Galaxy Digital, Pantera Capital, and Tagomi.
It's Not All About Institutions
Bakkt is also focusing on efforts to cater to merchants and consumers.
In Ocotober 2019, Bakkt revealed the coming launch of a consumer app, which will be aimed at helping users pay for goods and services from merchants using cryptocurrencies, among other things.
"Our vision is to provide a consumer platform for managing a digital asset portfolio, whether they wish to store, transact, trade or transfer their assets," Bakkt chief product officer Mike Blandina said at the time.
On the flip side, the ICE-backed company is also developing a merchant portal, of which popular coffee chain Starbucks will be a launch partner.
Bakkt Bitcoin Futures Volume Explodes Past $30 Million
Bakkt reported in the middle of the day on November 2019 that the volumes for its Bitcoin futures reached a record high, surpassing 4,443 contracts — up 60% from the exchange's last record-setting day last week.
This is equivalent to about $32 million as of the time of writing this. (For some perspective, the cash-settled Bitcoin contracts from the CME Group have seen nearly $500 million worth of volume today, though that market is nearly two years old.)
Sure, this is far from the hundreds of millions (sometimes billions) that market leaders Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken see each every day, though it's an improvement from the sub-$2 million daily volumes seen at Bakkt earlier this month.
Two months after their debut, Bakkt Bitcoin Futures reached a record high of 4,443 contracts traded today – up over 60% from our last record-setting day
We look forward to building on this momentum as we approach the launch of the Bakkt Bitcoin Options contracts on Dec 9th
— Bakkt (@Bakkt) November 27, 2019
It is important to note that at the time of Bakkt's above tweet, the trading day wasn't even complete. As of the time of writing this article, the exchange has seen nearly 5,000 Bitcoin worth of contracts traded, which is not a sum to sneeze at — that's for sure.
While Bakkt's volumes are a sign of institutional trading interest, Bakkt's open interest metrics are signs of institutions' propensity to hold Bitcoin.
Cryptocurrency data Twitter page Ecoinometrics recently noted that the open interest in the Bitcoin futures contracts has surged by hundreds of BTC over recent days. This implies that "some people are seeing the price dip as a good occasion to get in long."
#Bakkt #Bitcoin Futures Activity Report
Oh boy! Look at that surge in open interest! Some people are really seeing this price dip as a good occasion to get in long.
Keep an eye on it with the daily updated Bakkt #BTC activity report 👇 pic.twitter.com/gYsPXaw2qp
— ecoinometrics (@ecoinometrics) November 26, 2019
Bakkt Looks to Build on Momentum
Bakkt is looking to build on the exponentially-increasing volumes of its futures market.
Just last week, the Intercontinental Exchange — the owner of the New York Stock Exchange and seeming majority owner of Bakkt — revealed that its Singapore branch will be launching the Bakkt Bitcoin Cash-Settled Monthly Futures for the island state.
The cash-settled contracts will be settled against the prices of Bakkt's flagship product, the U.S.-regulated Bitcoin futures that were mentioned earlier in this article. Lucas Schmeddes, president of ICE Futures and Clear Singapore, said on the matter:
"Our new cash settled futures contract will offer investors in Asia and around the world a convenient, capital efficient way to gain or hedge exposure in bitcoin markets."
The options contract will allow institutional investors to "hedge or gain bitcoin exposure, generate income, and offer cost and capital efficiencies," according to a blog post on the matter.
While it isn't clear if the launch of these products will have a material impact on the Bitcoin market, investors are hoping that this will draw in more institutional players, thus increasing the chance that money enters the market and pushes prices higher.
Will Bakkt Bring Mainstream Acceptance?
ICE's backing of Bakkt cannot be overstated, at least when it comes to the exchange's potential.
In owning and operating some of the world's largest mainstream exchanges and marketplaces, ICE is as well positioned as any company when it comes to having the resources and know-how to help spearhead the cryptocurrency exchange of the future.
This dynamic has some projecting that Bakkt has what it takes to become one of the most successful crypto exchanges ever. To be sure, only time will tell if the platform does end up rising to the top of its field. But betting against ICE is indeed a big bet, and they're betting Bakkt will prove fruitful.
Finally, there's the real holy grail — Mainstream acceptance. This is often the hardest thing to get. Large financial institutions and technology companies alike burned a lot of their public clout in the years since the Great Recession of 2008.
Large banks caused many folks to lose their homes via complicated and opaque financial movements, and technology companies wantonly sold private data for a profit while neglecting to keep their own systems secure.
In fact, these twin failings are part of the reason cryptocurrency came to the fore when it did.
That said, the retail investor still has most of its money and its tech tied up in these folks, and with that comes a certain level of forced trust. The average person has to believe that Microsoft and their local branch of a major bank have most of their interests at heart. If nothing else, the average person knows they have far more experience in the field.
This, then, marries two Mainstream concerns for an overall win. Crypto seems more democratic, but it's untested. Big business seems more knowledgeable, but the trust component has been damaged.
By opening themselves up to the crypto market, these large entities are simultaneously giving credibility to cryptocurrency and choice to consumers. This may be the thing that really pushes cryptocurrency out of its current financial backwater and into everyday dealings.
After all, what could be more everyday than grabbing a morning coffee at Starbucks?
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180803005236/en/Intercontinental-Exchange-Announces-Bakkt-Global-Platform-Ecosystem
http://www.cryptomorrow.com/2018/08/20/what-is-bakkt/
https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-on-cryptocurrency-2018-2
https://cryptoiscoming.com/what-will-bakkt-do-for-crypto/
https://hackernoon.com/what-is-bakkt-59081e7df314
Author Oliver Dale
Editor-in-Chief of Blockonomi and founder of Kooc Media, A UK-Based Online Media Company. Believer in Open-Source Software, Blockchain Technology & a Free and Fair Internet for all. His writing has been quoted by Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Investopedia, The New Yorker, Forbes, Techcrunch & More. Contact Oliver@blockonomi.com
Meet KeyFi: An AI Powered, Non-Custodial DeFi Dashboard
End of Year Approaching: Here are the Top Reasons to Be Bullish on Crypto in 2021
Can Long-standing Ardor Square Up to New Arrival Polkadot?
agustin villarroel 2 years ago Reply
excellent information i need more
Juan 2 years ago Reply
Steve dass 2 years ago Reply
Very good post and information.
OPQ 2 years ago Reply
Nice read, thanks for the informative article. Looking forward to BAKKT
Anthony L. Lombardo 1 year ago Reply
American mainstream financial institutions will only wake up and smell the coffee, after it has well laid plans to swindle the middle class. I believe the essence of Cryptocurrency, decentralised control, continues to elude the power crazed ego maniacs in my beloved U.S.A. Truly crypto's "E Pluribus Unum" will be as lasting as is to control.


U.S. Security Associates, Inc. (U.S.), OCS Group Limited (U.K.), Axis Group Integrated Services Ltd. (U.K.), Allied Universal (U.S.), SIS International S.R.L. (Italy), China Security & Protection Group Ltd. (China), ICTS Europe S.A. (France), Tops Security Limited (India), Transguard Group (UAE), Andrews International Inc. (U.S.), G4S plc (U.K.), and Securitas AB (Sweden).
Manned security services refers to personnel and equipment used in maintaining the defenses of commercial, industrial, and residential complexes. The global manned security services market is projected to exhibit a 6.44% CAGR from 2018 to 2025 (forecast period) owing to high demand for secuirty solutions. The migration to cities by citizens from the rural areas and the rising crime rates are factors driving the demand for manned security services.
The rise in populations living in gated communities and emergence of automated systems can further augur market growth over the forecast period. Increasing development of training centers for security personnel and low armed services per capita in China and India offer growth opportunities to the market. Integrated guarding solutions such as electronic surveillance, IP surveillance, burglar alarms, and others has been on the rise in airports, embassies, and complexes requiring heightened security solutions.
By type, the manned security services market can be segmented into equipment and service where equipment segment is having a promising run with a projected CAGR of 6.98% to scale a market valuation of USD 4,976.9 million.
By end-users, the manned security services market includes industrial buildings, commercial buildings, and residential buildings with industrial buildings taking charge of the segmental growth. The sub-segment can experience a surge in demand which would ensure an estimation of USD 4,049.2 million with a robust CAGR of 6.53% during the forecast period. However, the fastest growing sub-segment would be commercial buildings with a CAGR of 6.66% during the review period. Industrial buildings can be sub-segmented into energy, construction & mining, utilities & transportation, telecommunications, entertainment, & mass media, chemicals & pharmaceuticals, and other industrial buildings. Commercial buildings have segments such as banks & other office buildings, shopping centers & other public infrastructure, hospitals & educational institutions, airports, and other commercial buildings. Residential buildings have segments such as apartments & gated communities, individual houses, and other residential buildings.
Region-based analysis of the industry includes namely North America, Latin America (LATAM), Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), and the Middle East & Africa (MEA).
The APAC is dominating the market significantly with 34.55% share of the global market. The region can also expect the fastest CAGR of 6.61% during the forecast period with several countries such as China, Japan, and India contributing in a substantial amount. Police per capita are very few which has spurred the need for manned security services.
North America with 30.05% of the entire market is generating in substantial revenue. Terrorist attacks in this region have significantly spurred the need for security implementations. Furthermore, the industry in this area is well-organized and enjoys the benefits of superior equipment. The regional market can expect an impressive 6.52% CAGR during the forecast period.
Increasing crime rate and terrorist activities have created an expanse for the manned security services in Europe. The regional market can expect a considerable 6.23% CAGR during the forecast period. The Middle East and Africa (MEA) is a region rich in oil reserves which require security services for protection, and the regional market is expecting a substantial CAGR of 6.20% during the forecast period.


Positive Support in dealing with suicide & loss of a loved one. All individuals 16 years of age & older are welcome. In case of inclement weather support group will not meet. Volunteers and new members are needed to serve on the W/P Suicide Prevention Committee - ALL are welcome!


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Hank's Oyster Bar is a chain of oyster bars in Washington, D.C. and Virginia in the United States.

Background
Founded in May 2005, the flagship restaurant was named "Hank's" after fisherman Hank Wolfe Leeds, the father of founder and chef Jamie Leeds.

Menu offerings at the oyster bar have included oysters on the half shell, "Hog Island-style BBQ" oysters, fried oysters, locally sourced seafood, crab cakes, clam chowder, and lobster rolls. Southern-inspired cuisine at the restaurant includes Oyster Po'boys.

The restaurant's first location is in D.C.'s Dupont Circle and has since expanded to other locations throughout the years including Old Town Alexandria (2007), D.C.'s Capitol Hill Eastern Market area (2012), the Wharf in D.C. (2017), a Nationals Park location, and a cocktail bar offering.

The restaurant chain has offered two proprietary oysters, including the Eastern Shore "Salty Wolfe" (named after Wolfe Leeds) and the Nomini Creek "Hayden's Reef" oysters.

Causes
The Hank's Oyster Bar chain is a supporter of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's "Save the Bay" campaign, serving as a hosting sponsor of the annual "D.C. On the Half Shell" event.

Awards
Hank's Oyster Bar has been featured by numerous media outlets and organizations including Bon Appetit, Gourmet, Food & Wine, The Washington Post, Southern Living, and the James Beard Foundation.

In 2006 and 2007, the restaurant was recognized as a "Best New Restaurant" and "Best Neighborhood Restaurant" by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington.

In 2014, The Washington Post's Express named Hank's as a "Best Seafood Restaurant."

In 2019, the restaurant was recognized in the Washingtonian Magazine's "Best of Washington" Readers' Poll as the "Best Raw Bar" and "Best Bloody Mary."

The restaurant was named "Best Oysters" in Virginia Living Magazine's 2019 "Best of Northern Virginia" awards.

Leeds and Hank's Oyster Bar were selected as a Washington Business Journal "Business of Pride" honoree in recognition of LGBTQ-inclusive hiring and advocacy within the DMV area.

The restaurant is included in the Michelin Guide of the "Best Seafood Restaurants in Washington, DC."

In popular culture
The restaurant is visited and described by the characters in the 2015 political thriller, "Detained" by Don Brown, the first novel in the Navy JAG series.

In the 2020 novel The Rembrandt Conspiracy (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) by Deron Hicks, the restaurant is dined at by the book's central characters.

See also

 List of oyster bars
 List of seafood restaurants

References

External links
 Hank's Oyster Bar official website

2005 establishments in Washington, D.C.
Restaurants in Washington, D.C.
Restaurants in Virginia
Drinking establishments in Washington, D.C.
Oyster bars in the United States
Restaurant chains in the United States
Seafood restaurants in the United States

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Philosophy And Fantasy Essay
Symbolism of the RingSymbolism of the Ring:The Embodiment of Evil"One Ring to rule them all,One Ring to find them,One Ring to bring them alland in the Darkness bind them"(1 LotR II,2 The Council of Elrond)One of the masters of British Literature, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien hasthe unique ability to create a fantasy world in which exists a nearlyendless supply of parallelisms to reality. By mastering his own world andhis own language and becoming one with his fantasy, Tolkien is able tocreate wonderful symbolism and meaning out of what would otherwise beconsidered nonsense. Thus, when one decides to study The Ruling Ring, orThe One Ring, in Tolkiens trilogy "Lord of the Rings", one must not simplyperform an examination of the ring itself, but rather a complex analysis ofthe events which take place from the time of the rings creation until thetime of its destruction. Concurrently, to develop a more completeunderstanding of the symbolic nature of the ring, one must first develop asymbolic understanding of the characters and events that are relevant tothe story. This essay begins with a brief background of Tolkiens life,followed by a thorough history of the "One Ring" including its creation,its symbolic significance, its effect on mortals, and its eventualdestruction. Also, this essay will compare Tolkiens Ring to the RhinegoldRing of Norse mythology, and will also show how many of the characters inthe trilogy lend themselves to Christ-figure status.
By examining the Ringfrom these perspectives, a clearer understanding of its symbolicsignificance will be reached. John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, an English scholar and storyteller, becamefascinated by language at an early age during his schooling at,particularly the languages of Northern Europe, both ancient and modern. This affinity for language did not only lead to his profession, but alsohis private hobby, the invention of languages. He was also drawn to theentire "Northern tradition", which inspired him to study its myths andsagas thoroughly. His broad knowledge eventually led to the development ofhis opinions about Myth, its relation to language, and the importance ofstories.
All these various perspectives: language, the heroic tradition,and Myth, as well as deeply-held beliefs in Catholic Christianity worktogether in all of his works, including The Lord of the Rings (LotR). The creation of the "One Ring" or the "Ring of Sauron" goes back to theyears following the fall of Morgoth. At this time, Sauron established hisdesire to bring the Elves, and indeed all the people of Middle-Earth, underhis control. It was his opinion that Manwe and the Valar had abandonedMiddle-Earth after the fall of Morgoth. In order to bring the Elves underhis control, Sauron persuaded them that his intentions were good, and thathe wanted Middle-Earth to return from the darkness it was in.
Eventuallythe elves sided with Sauron, and created the Rings of Power under hisguidance. Following the creation of these rings, Sauron created the OneRing in secret, so that he would be able to control the other rings andconsequently control the Elves. The creation of the Ring, and the essenceof its power is revealed in the following passage. "and their power was bound up with it, to be subject wholly to it and tolast only as long as it too should last.
And much of the strength and willof Sauron passed intothat One Ring; for the power of the ElvenRings was very great, and that which should govern them must be a thing ofsurpassing potency; and Sauron forged it in the Mountain of Fire in theLand of Shadow. And while he wore the One Ring he could perceive all thethings that were done by means of the lesser rings, and he could see andgovern the very thoughts of those that wore them. " (from The Silmarillion,Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age)The power of the One is recognized by the Elves as soon as Sauron puts theRing on his finger. They realize that he can control their thoughts, andthey decide to remove their rings and not use them. The history of thering, then, follows that the Elves and Sauron became bitter enemies, andthe One ring remained in Saurons possession until it was taken by Isildurafter Saurons defeat, and was then lost in the river for many years.
Eventually, it was found by Deagol, who was in turn murdered by his brotherSmeagol. Smeagol is the same person as the pitiful Gollum, who retainedthe ring until it was taken by Bilbo Baggins. From here, it logicallyfollows that it was given to Frodo Baggins by Bilbo, under the guidance ofGandalf the Grey, and so we reach the beginning of LotR. The nature of the One Ring can be explained in three distinct ways. Firstas a personification of Saurons power. Second as a symbol of evil ingeneral.
And finally, as an inanimate object with a mind of its own, withthe ability to work away from its creator as well as return to its creatorof its own accord. . The next section of this essay will examine thesethree explanations. Indeed, as the Rings creator and original "owner", Sauron had placed agreat amount of his own power into the ring for the purpose of controllingthe other rings. Because of this, the Ring is effectively an extension ofSaurons might.
The loss of the Ring does not destroy Sauron, as would thedestruction of it. Rather, his power is simply spread around, and hisinfluence affects whomever should have possession of the Ring at any time. Should Sauron recover the ring again, however, his power will be greaterthan ever, as is explained in Book one of LotR. "If he recovers it, thenhe will command them all again, wherever they be, even the Three, and allthat has been wrought with them will be laid bare, and he will be strongerthan ever.
"(1 LotR I,2 The Shadow of the Past) Even without the ring,then, Sauron's power was immense. Throughout LotR, however, there are onlyhints of this power. Saurons power lies in control and dominion, and thedeprivation of free will. One example of Saurons power reflected in LotRis in Gollum, whose pitiful condition is the result of Saurons dominationover him as the bearer of the One Ring.
The Ring presented as a symbol of evil is possibly the most important idearepresented in the trilogy. In Tolkiens world, evil is the antithesis ofcreativity, and is dependent on destruction and ruin for its basis. Conversely, goodness is associated with the beauty of creation as well asthe preservation of anything that is created. The symbolic nature of thesetwo ideologies is represented in the Elven Rings, which symbolize goodness,and the One Ring, which is wholly evil.
A main theme of LotR, then, is thestruggle between good will and evil. Another theme that is in accordancewith this struggle is the theory that while goodness can create and bebeneficial, evil can only serve to pervert and destroy. Therefore, evilcannot exist unless there is something that can be perverted and destroyed. This idea is the main essence of Saurons evil nature, and thus the OneRing is the essence of evil as well, as it is the personification ofSauron. In the "Letters" of Tolkien, it is said that, "Essentially theprimary symbolism of the Ring is as the will to mere power, seeking to makeitself objective by physical force and mechanism, and so also inevitably bylies.
" (Letters 180) This is to say that the purpose of the Ring is todestroy, through deceit and corruption, anything good in the world. Another way to show the symbolic nature of the ring is to say that itrepresents the omnipresence of evil. Its very existence, because itcontains the evil will of its creator, has the power to tempt, corrupt, andin doing so destroy. The next way in which the nature of the Ring can be examined is in the wayit has seemingly animate abilities as an inanimate object, namely theability to work away from and return to its creator. In order tounderstand this, one must realize that if the Ring is evil in itself, whichhas been explained earlier, then it must also have the ability to workevil. It cannot necessarily create evil ideas on its own, but instead itcan take advantage of any opportunity which presents itself to the Ring.
Specifically, whenever Frodo is tempted to use or actually uses the Ring,the Ring has a chance to work corruption on him, even in the absence of thecreator. In this way, the Ring is advantageous, and the stronger thepresence of evil, the easier it is for the Ring to work on the bearer. Forexample, on Weathertop, the presence of the Witch-king is a tremendousevil, and the Ring takes advantage of this, convincing Frodo to use it inorder to escape. Although Frodo is not permanently corrupted at thispoint, the Ring is slowly eating away at him, and its power over him growseach time he uses it.
This leads inexorably to the final failure of Frodo,that being at the Cracks of Doom, when he decides that the Ring is his byright. At this point, the Ring has won, and it is only by chance that itis successfully destroyed. It can be said that it is either theculmination of the Rings corruption of Frodo that resulted in its victoryor else it is that the Ring finally had enough outward evil presence to aidit in conquering the bearer, that presence being Mordor itself, the heartof evil. The idea that the Ring has a mind of its own is further explained in theway it is never lost or forgotten for long.
As Gandalf explains inFellowship, "A Ring of Power looks after itself, Frodo. It may slip offtreacherously, but its keeper never abandons it. " (1 LotR 1,2 The Shadow ofthe Past) This statement shows how the Ring will protect itself fromdestruction if at all possible. The further explanation, that, "It was notGollumbut the Ring itself that decided things. The Ring left him. " (1 LotR1,2 The Shadow of the Past) again shows how the Ring always strives toreturn to its creator.
This goes to further the notion that Sauron hascontrol over the Ring even when it is not in his possession. His power isnot vanquished by the absence of the Ring, simply reduced and spread out. The Ring will always be found, and it will always return to its creator sothat its evil nature can be whole. The temptation of Frodo throughout LotR is another important aspect of thepower of the One Ring. Unless one first understands what is involved in astruggle between Good and Evil, it is incomplete to simply say that such astruggle exists. Also, in order to examine the nature of temptation, onemust also discuss the idea of free will.
If the essence of Evil is controland domination, which has been explained earlier, and the essence ofgoodness is freedom and creativity, then it seems as though temptation isbased on evil. The Ring does tempt Frodo, in an effort to subvert him andconquer his ability to choose whether or not to wear the Ring, but it isnot the nature of goodness to prevent this from happening, because to do soit would be to destroy Free Will in a different fashion with the sameresult. From Frodo's point of view, the entire trilogy is an examinationof choice and free will. When Frodo chooses to take the Road to the Fireat the Council of Elrond, he is not only choosing to take a dangerous path,but he is also choosing to continue to allow himself to be presented withthe temptations that are presented by the Ring.
There is a very importantrelationship that concerns both temptation as well as the general effect ofthe Ring on mortals. This is the conflict between Frodo and Boromir. Their confrontation is an example of the choice issue, and the temptationand fall of Boromir is the first of two critical choices that are made atthis point. Boromir is overwhelmed by the Rings power, and it eventuallyresults in his madness. The Ring preys upon Boromirs desire for the powerof Command, and it corrupts him through this weakness. In the end, Boromiris rescued only by his death, which, coupled with his last-breath admissionof his attempt to retrieve the Ring, give a bittersweet sense ofredemption.
Aragorns words following Boromirs death, "In Minas Tiriththey endure the East Wind, but they do not ask it for tidings. But nowBoromir has taken his road, and we must make haste to choose our own. "(2LotR III, 1 The Departure of Boromir) sum up the fall of Boromir, and showwhat the future must hold for the rest of them. The second choice made atthis point concerns Frodos choice to use the Ring in order to escape fromBoromir.
At this time, the power of the Ring nearly conquers Frodo, and itis only the last-minute intervention of Gandalf which saves Frodo. Theenhanced powers of perception that Frodo has when he wears the Ring is theessence of temptation put forth by the evil forces at work. Frodo isobviously tempted to use the Ring for his own prosperity, for the power ofperception is very great with the Ring. At this time, he is unable to seethe danger of the Ring that is ever-growing.
This section of the trilogyis one of the most important of all, and it is a turning point in both thereaders understanding of the Ring as well as Frodos. There is aninteresting parallel here, concerning an issue which will be expanded on ata later point, a parallel between Frodos individual struggle withtemptation on the summit and Christs temptation on the summit. Notnecessarily to say that Frodo Baggins is a Christ-figure, but rather tosuggest that the issue of free will is an individual matter seems relevanthere. The effect of the Ring on mortals is not limited to temptation andcorruption.
In addition to these, the Ring works in different ways,exploiting the weaknesses and fears of each individual who encounters it inany way. Evidently, there are only three individuals who are not temptedby the Ring. Sauron is immune to the power of it, for it is thepersonification of his own evil nature which the Ring represents. Sam isonly tempted by the Ring once, before the Tower of Cirith Ungol, and hedefeats the temptation. This is most likely because of his undying loyaltyto Frodo and his intentions.
He would never think to upstage Frodo byallowing the Ring to become an issue for him. The third individual who isimmune to the temptation of the Ring is Tom Bombadil, who is possibly thestrongest reference to a Christ-figure in the trilogy. He is "the Masterof Wood, water, and hill" (Elwood 105) according to Old Man Willow andother inhabitants of nature. It is his nature not to be influenced by theevil forces of the Ring.
He knows his bounds, and will never go beyondthem. It is this which prevents him from becoming corrupted by the Ring. He has set bounds for himself, and is completely content with them. Thislack of ambition is something not present in any other character in thestory. Any other character, including Gollum, Frodo, Boromir, and evenGandalf, possesses an innate sense of ambition which allows for the evil ofthe Ring to work. The most obvious example of the Rings effect on amortal is obviously Gollum.
Gollum is the result of nearly completecorruption by the Ring, and his situation demonstrates to us the way thatthe Rings evil works. He is evasive, cunning. He lies and deceiveseveryone, including himself. He has a peculiar relationship with the Ring,hating and loving it at the same time. In effect, Gollum represents whatFrodo could have become.
Also, he represents in an exaggerated fashionwhat becomes of Frodo whenever he wears the Ring. Gollums mind and soulare shattered by his obsession for the Ring, and its retrieval is his onlyand ultimate goal. This advanced stage of corruption is another example ofthe parasitic, evil nature which the Ring represents. The next section of this essay deals with the destruction of the Ring,including the failure of Frodo and the irony of Gollums intervention.
Atthe last moment, in the heart of Saurons kingdom, Frodo wavers in hisquest, and gives in to the temptation completely. The Ring has completecontrol over Frodo for only an instant before the intervention of Gollum,whose death is redeemed only by the ultimate completion of his quest, thatto retrieve the Ring. His intervention seems to prevent an ultimatecatastrophe, but one must realize that Gollum wouldve attempted toretrieve the Ring from Frodo whether or not Frodo had accepted it as hisown. Therefore, it is irrelevant to wonder what would have happened ifFrodo had not failed in his individual quest. At first, it seems as thoughthis ending to such a complicated ordeal is too incomplete, leaving toomuch to chance.
However, it is this ending which further develops theconcept of evil explained earlier. Evil is a destructive force, and itcarries within it the formula for its own destruction. Therefore, becausethe Ring is the embodiment of Evil, it had the potential forself-destruction. This idea, of the self-destructive nature of Evil, isthe most important issue concerning the destruction of the Ring. There isa major flaw in the mind of Sauron, and in turn the mind of Evil, which isthat Sauron never considered the possibility that anyone would desire todestroy the Ring. Similarly, the Ring itself, in its desire to return toits master Sauron, never considered the possibility that the level ofcorruption that it had performed against Gollum would turn against it.
Indeed, Gollum was so obsessed with the Ring that when he finally gets itback, he is so ecstatic that he missteps. In both cases, Evil has deceiveditself, which in turn has brought about its destruction. The Ring, thesymbol of Evil and evil power, has been defeated, not by the will ofgoodness, but rather by its own doing. The next section of this essay will make comparisons between LotR and NorseMythology, specifically the myths of the Rhinegold Ring and Otters Ransom.
Also, comparisons will be made between LotR and Christianity, specificallythe possible presence of one or more Christ-figures in the trilogy. Through these comparisons, a greater understanding of the universality ofthe Rings symbolic significance will be reached. The Myth of Otters Ransom is a retelling of a myth contained in theVolsunga Saga of Norse Mythology. In this account, three gods, Loki, Odin,and Honir, are in a predicament over the accidental killing of Otter,brother of the giants Fafnir and Regin.
The gods are trapped by thebrothers, and held to avenge Otters death. In order to save them, Odinmakes an offer to repay the family for the death. The ransom price set bythe family is a horde of red gold, enough to entirely cover the body ofOtter. In order to accomplish this, Loki leaves while Odin and Honirremain.
Loki borrows a net from another god, and proceeds to capture thedwarf Andvari from the bottom of a pool inside a cavern. Loki demands thatAndvari give him his horde of gold that he controls within the pool. Andvari reluctantly agrees, and gives Loki the gold. After this, Lokinotices a ring on Andvaris finger, and demands it as well. A conflictemerges from this demand, and eventually Loki gets the ring, along withAndvaris curse upon it and the gold.
Loki returns, and they give the goldto the family and cover Otters body with it. As they leave, they tell thefamily of the curse. The important thing to realize about this story isthat the ring is actually the Rhinegold Ring of Norse Mythology. Thebearer of this Ring is the one who controls the massive horde of Rhinegold. A case can be made for the horde as a symbol of power, in which case thereis direct relevance to the One Ring in LotR. Whoever bears the ring haspower, the power to command.
This possibility in itself has the power tocorrupt those who desire possession of the ring. Another account of theRhinegold Ring is portrayed in Stephan Grundys novel, "Rhinegold". Inthis account, the power of the ring is shown more clearly than in the firstaccount. After the father of Otter, Hraithmar, puts on the ring, he isovercome by his desire for the gold. As soon as he comes upon the pilecovering Otters body, he is drawn to it.
"The longer Hraithmar gazed atthe gold, the hotter its light seemed to burn in his body, shaking him witha sudden fear of desire. " (Grundy 35) In a shocking similarity to LotR,the Ring, once used, has a tremendous power to corrupt and overpower. These are two examples of the many parallels that exist between Tolkiensfantasy and that of Norse Myth. The possibility of a Christ-figure in LotR is a difficult issue for severalreasons. First, Tolkien himself denied any such allegorical meaning behindthe trilogy and in fact denied nearly any allegorical meaning at all in hisworks. Also, it seems as though many of the characters bear somesimilarity to Christ at times, but none are completely representative ofHim.
There is almost always some area in which the character in LotR islacking with respect to his Christ-like status. For example, The characterof Tom Bombadil, discussed earlier with respect to the Rings power, seemsto be extremely Christ-like in that he is considered by those who know himto be, "The Master of wood, water, and hill. " (Grundy 35) Also, he istruly the master of himself, and he knows his limitations as a man. Likeall men, he is limited; like Christ, he limits himself. At this point, itwould seem that Tom is a good representation of Christ.
However, there aretwo distinct differences that separate Christ from Tom. The first is thefact that Tom knows of the miserable existence of the Barrow-Wights, yet isunmoved by the thought of them in misery. This lack of human compassion isa key difference between Tom and the Christ of faith. Also, while Tom haslimited himself like Christ, he has never suffered to gain his humility. He has never been ambitious, and is not tempted. To create anothersymbolic reference to the One Ring, Tom would never feel the temptation forthe Ring, in the same way he would never be tempted by a source of powersuch as the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden.
This is an aspect ofTom that would suggest that he is less human than he would appear to be. Perhaps he is a "joyful savior" rather than the type of savior that thefaith Christ was portrayed to have been. Tom is one example of aChrist-figure in the trilogy. Others include Gandalf, whose remarkablereturn to life after the battle with the Balrog could be symbolic ofChrists resurrection. Also, Gandalfs ability to be tempted yet resisttemptation, his ordeal after his resurrection in which his friends did notat first recognize him, and his transformation from Gandalf the Grey toGandalf the White are all areas in which parallels can be drawn to Christ. The only problem with the theory of Gandalf is that he is ultimately unableto save Middle-Earth.
Although he guides Frodo in his mission, he canhardly receive credit when the mission fails. He is not strong enough tosave middle-earth, and this is because he was too strong in his successfulattempt to resist the temptation of the Ring. In order to summarize the essence of this study on the symbolism of the OneRing, it can be said that the Ring itself can be explained separately froman explanation of the Evil nature of the Ring. The Ring itself is thereality of Evil in the physical world. In every way, it is the nature ofevil which must be either accepted or rejected outright.
Its mere presenceis a personification of the opportunity for people to have and execute freewill and make morally correct or incorrect decisions. Also, the ring is asymbol of power, evil power. It is the part of nature that continuallystrives to destroy a persons ability to exercise free will. The exerciseof Evil, and in essence the power of the Ring, is the exact opposite offreedom. As for the nature of evil, it has been shown that no good canpossibly come from evil means, but evil results can be averted if one canacquire the evil object while resisting the evil nature of it.
Also, theRing is both real and symbolic. While the physical nature of the Ring isbehavioral, and can be physically observed, the essence or power of theRing is also a concept, a concept which opposes morality. Because of this,the Ring may be destroyed physically, and with it the power of its creator,but its essence, Evil, will remain present in some form until the end of time. Works CitedCrossley-Holland, Kevin. The Norse Myths.
New York: Pantheon, 1980. Ellwood, Gracia Fay. Good News From Tolkiens Middle Earth. Grand Rapids,Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
, 1970. Grundy, Stephan. Rhinegold. New York: Bantam, 1994.
Tolkien, John Ronald Reuel. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. New York:Ballantine,I–1954, II–1955, III–1956. (References to The Lord of the Rings (LotR) are by volume, booknumber, chapternumber and chapter title.
)Tolkien, John Ronald Reuel. The Silmarillion. New York: Ballantine, 1995. (References to The Silmarillion are by chapter name)Works ConsultedCarter, Lin. Tolkien: A Look Behind The Lord of the Rings. New York:Ballantine, 1969.
Kocher, Paul H. Master of Middle Earth. New York: Ballantine, 1972. Petty, Anne C.
One Ring to Bind Them All: Tolkiens Mythology. Mobile:Univ. ofAlabama Press, 1979Ready, William. The Tolkien Relation. Chicago: Henry Regenery Co. , 1968.
Schlauch, Margaret. The Saga of the Volsungs. New York: W. W.
Norton & Co., 1978Category: English
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