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THE DRAWING OF THE THREE (THE DARK TOWER #2) by STEPHEN KING
My rating is 2 out of 5 stars.
The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower #2) is usually proclaimed by readers as either "The book that truly got me hooked on The Dark Tower series!" or as "The book that made me give up on The Dark Tower series." Honestly, this novel is such a huge change from book one that it produces that wide a range of reactions.
The story itself picks up almost immediately after the end of The Gunslinger. Roland Deschain, our forlorn hero, has awakened from a magical slumber to find himself years older and the man in black gone! But more, he soon is pressed past the point of exhaustion, assaulted by unexpected enemies and poisoned to boot on the seemingly endless shores of a unfamiliar ocean. The only way for him to survive to open three doorways to another world (our Earth) and find three people who are destined to not only save him from his current plight but become his new ka-tet on the road to the Dark Tower! (Or, Roland might just be delirious; his fevered brain crafting a way for him to hold off death until true salvation can be found.)
Now, obviously, that sounds like the beginnings of an interesting story. And it is. Stephen King does a stellar job of making a journey up and down a beach by a sick man, who is opening doors (which might be figments of his own imagination) interesting beyond any reasonable expectation. The problem is that the focus of this tale is so different from volume one that it is almost like reading another series entirely.
For those not familiar with The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower Book #1), it is an amazing fusion of western, post-apocalyptic, horror, and fantasy themes which drags a reader along behind Roland Deschain as he pursues the shadowy "Man in Black" across a world "that has moved on." The action all takes place in this mystical land of gunslingers and wizards with only a few brief nods being made to the modern world. Other than those few modern touches, the tone is very definitely NOT modern.
The Drawing of the Three, however, has only a small portion of the novel taking place in this other world environment. Instead, the above mentioned magical doors take Roland into our own world (albeit at different historical times) where he interacts with normal people, who are dealing with very "real" world issues like drug addiction, drug smuggling, the mafia, mental illness, racial discrimination, bad parenting, and other very "modern" problems. (Yes, these type of issues have always been part of human existence. However, the way in which they were dealt with during the past three millennia is absolutely different than how they are dealt with now, and this story definitely deals with them in a very modern, American way.) Sure, Roland brings a unique view to the mentioned ills, but the narrative still reads like a contemporary fiction piece. In other words, Drawing is a one-hundred and eighty degree turn from the fantastical, post-apocalyptic western The Gunslinger.
So is it "bad" that Mr. King changed the tone from book one to book two?
Well, the answer to that is based upon the individual reader's personal preferences. I mean, The Drawing of the Three is a really good book in my opinion – but I didn't enjoy it very much at all.
Huh? It's a good book, but you didn't like it?
Yeah, that is what I am saying. You see, I fell in love with The Gunslinger because of the amazing world Stephen King produced by his amalgamation of different writing genres. While reading it, I found myself on the edge of my seat every moment, wondering what else was different about this world and how Mr. King was going to surprise me next. And while Drawing reproduced a portion of that excitement in the modern world struggles of Roland and the people he found behind the doors, the majority of their adventures were too "normal" for my reading tastes.
Even with that being said, however, Drawing was not the death knell for my Dark Tower journey like it has been for others. Sure, this book was a chore for me to read. Yes, I found myself plodding through some parts of the narrative, dying for it to end. However, just like Roland on that beach, I discovered that my desire to reach the Dark Tower and learn more about the mysteries of the world was greater than any obstacle – including my dislike of The Drawing of the Three. Whether that is how you will feel as well is a decision that only you can make after giving the novel a try.
Buy The Drawing of the Three: (The Dark Tower #2) at Amazon.
This entry was posted in 2 Stars, Cross-Genre, Fantasy, Post-apocalyptic, Science Fiction and tagged Dark Tower, Dark Tower The Gunslinger, Roland Deschain, Stephen King, the dark tower, The Drawing of the Three, The Gunslinger. Bookmark the permalink.
6 Responses to THE DRAWING OF THE THREE (THE DARK TOWER #2) by STEPHEN KING
Wait til you get to books 4, 5, 6 and 7!!
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Nicholas C. Rossis says:
It can be really hard to follow a book that changes the premise so drastically. Thanks for the review!
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Nat Geo premieres GENIUS, their first-ever scripted series, which is executive produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard. GENIUS is not the Einstein story that you think you know. Well before the theory of relativity, Albert Einstein was a brazen young man distracted by love, family and a strong desire not to conform. This is the story of the man behind the mind.
On Sunday, April 16, 2017 at 8pm, STARZ premieres THE WHITE PRINCESS, a gripping eight-part historical drama series drawn from the novel of the same name by Philippa Gregory, and part of The Cousins' War book series. THE WHITE PRINCESS sees England ostensibly united by the marriage of Princess Elizabeth of York (Lizzie) and King Henry VII, but their personal and political rift runs deep and the divide between them threatens to tear the kingdom apart once again.
Farewell BONES Series Finale: Viewing Party Menu, Interviews, Fun Facts, Photos & More!
On Tuesday March 28, 2017, after 246 episodes and countless "I don't know what that means," FOX says good-bye to the beloved, long-running series BONES. The final episode, "The End in the End," is beautifully directed by series star David Boreanaz and is both powerful and poignant. The finale picks right where episode 11, "The Day in the Life," left off…with Booth, Brennan, Angela, Hodgins and Cam caught in an explosion after they were trapped in the laboratory.
The final chapter of BONES, the long-running series beloved by millions of fans around the world, premieres on Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at 9pm ET/PT on FOX. The 12-episode run celebrates the inventive series and brings the storylines of Brennan, Booth and the Jeffersonian-FBI team to a close, allowing loyal fans to say goodbye to these indelible characters -- with suspense and heartbreak, as well as laughs and fun surprises.
This contemporary spy series takes a look at the activity of an American CIA office on a global stage in the midst of an investigation into a now-infamous whistleblower. This case and the myriad of others the Berlin Station team takes on are international in scope and are as riveting and real as today's news headlines. BERLIN STATION has already been renewed for its second season.
Of all the planets in our solar system, none has captured our collective imagination like Mars. Follow the first human mission to Mars, set in 2033, as the crew struggles to safely land on and colonize the planet. Tracing the thrilling quest to make Mars home, National Geographic presents MARS, a new breed of programming that blends cinema-quality scripted drama set in the future with documentary sequences that features current space-technology pioneers.
This Sunday night, September 18, 2016 LIVE from 5-8pm PT / 8-11pm ET on ABC, television celebrates its best and brightest when the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences hands out its golden trophies at the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards, live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Hosting the festivities this year is late-night host Jimmy Kimmel who is helming the Primetime Emmy telecast for the second time.
If you like men, machines and the American Dream...then HARLEY AND THE DAVIDSONS doesn't disappoint. Discovery Channel's three-part, six-hour miniseries admirably captures the struggles and excitement in the pursuit of building one the most recognizable brands in the world. It's a legacy that has endured over 100 years -- and at the heart of the brand and its loyal riders.
America, get ready for a colorful array of variety acts and contestants of all ages as NBC's summer series AMERICA'S GOT TALENT returns for it's 11th season beginning tonight at 8pm ET/PT. New judge Simon Cowell will highlight this season. Returning are host Nick Cannon and judges Howie Mandel, Mel B, and Heidi Klum.
The 68th Primetime Emmy Awards nominations were announced by Anthony Anderson and Lauren Graham. GAME OF THRONES again tallied the most nominations (23), limited series THE PEOPLE V. O.J. SIMPSON: AMERICAN CRIME STORY and FARGO received 22 nominations and 18 nominations respectively.


The other day I got these coupons in the mail that made me crave a whopper from Burger King. As I was cutting out the coupons, I couldn't help but think of my dad. He liked his burgers from Burger King and his french fries from McDonald's.
My father's last solid meal was a whopper from Burger King. Nothing fancy, if you ask me. That Saturday, I asked him what he wanted for lunch, and the answer was a burger. My mother, of course, quickly refused, as she worried about my dad's sugar levels going up and his delicate stomach. "Mom, let him enjoy his burger." My dad and I spoke the same language of mischief, so he knew that I would get him his burger.
It was his favorite pleasure. He was a simple man. He knew nothing about fancy restaurants or gourmet foods. In fact, he wouldn't have been able to tell the difference between a salad fork and a table fork. He ate everything you put in front of him with delight and never complained about it.
In fact, he didn't complain much. Not even when he worked outside, under the 110 degree weather. During the scarce summers that I spent with him, I remember him getting home from work, wearing his dark blue, thick work uniform drenched in sweat. The Arizona sun painted his face and arms a darker shade of acceptable.
He didn't complain about having to quit school when he was 12 years old in order to help feed his brothers and sisters.
He didn't complain about having to walk 4 miles each way to get to work at the tortilla factory.
He didn't complain when there was no more work in his country and had to move somewhere where there would be an opportunity for someone like him.
He didn't complain about having to live away from my undocumented mother so that his children could have a better life than he did.
He didn't complain when his oldest daughter died, or when his own children forgot about him.
He didn't complain, he just did what he knew best. He carried on.
Many times I wished my dad would help me with my homework, wipe the tears off my face and take me to the raspado shop. I wished he understood what I was learning in school, so we could have conversations about expanding galaxies or the good poets . Many times, I simply wished we could have a conversation.
Life handed him a tough card. He dealt with it the best he could, the way he knew how to.
I often feel incredibly guilty that I get to have a much better life than he did.
I feel guilty that I didn't have to fight to belong to a country as much as he did. I feel guilty that I didn't have to work as hard, I just had to be born to have the privilege.
Many times I wish I wasn't writing about my dad. Many times I wish I wasn't triggered so easily by things like a cheap burger or driving around town with broken air conditioning. I wish I didn't have to talk to the page as if I was trying to make up for the things I didn't understand when I was young. I wish I understood then what I know now.
I ate a whopper the other day. And it was the saddest burger I have ever tasted.


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President Donald Trump on Wednesday arrived in Saudi Arabia, where he spent his first foreign trip as president on a two-day trip.
The president's arrival in Riyadh was expected to be one of the most anticipated, as he will be on the same diplomatic list as President Muhammad bin Nayef, who is the ruler of Saudi Arabia.
The president was accompanied by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's new ruler, and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman's wife, Crown Princess Thani, who has assumed power in the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia, a major oil producer, has been the subject of international criticism over its human rights record, and human rights groups have criticized the kingdom for its crackdown on dissidents.
Trump's trip comes as the kingdom continues to deal with an ongoing conflict with Houthi rebels who seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2015.
The United States has backed the Saudi-led coalition fighting the rebels, which includes Arab allies including Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
The Houthis, also known as Houthis in Yemen, have taken control of parts of the capital Sanaa and other cities, and are now holding about 2,500 people hostage.
The U.S. State Department said in a statement that the visit was an "opportunity for President Trump to reaffirm his commitment to U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231 and to encourage the parties to continue to engage in a diplomatic solution to the crisis."
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Caratteristiche tecniche
È un'ala destra.

Carriera
Vagner è cresciuto nelle giovanili del Gil Vicente, con cui ha esordito in prima squadra il 13 gennaio 2015, in occasione del match di Taça da Liga perso 3-0 contro l'. Con la formazione portoghese Vagner gioca il campionato di seconda divisione 2015-2016.

Dopo una parentesi in patria all'FC Batuque, Vagner nel 2017 si trasferisce a titolo definitivo al Saint-Étienne. In un anno e mezzo però Vagner non riesce a trovare spazio, collezionando complessivamente soltanto 5 presenze con les Verts. Per questa ragione, nel gennaio 2019 viene ceduto in prestito al Nancy, formazione militante il Ligue 2. Dopo 6 mesi positivi, Vagner ottiene dalla dirigenza del Saint-Étienne di poter prolungare la permanenza al Nancy per un'altra stagione. Nel corso dell'anno e mezzo trascorso in Lorena, Vagner è uno dei protagonisti della doppia salvezza della squadra, realizzando complessivamente 14 gol in 37 presenze tra campionato e coppa. Nel novembre 2019 si infortuna alla caviglia, rimanendo fuori dai campi per 4 mesi.

Nonostante durante la permanenza al Nancy Vagner avesse dichiarato che non si sarebbe mai trasferito al Metz (data la grande rivalità tra le due squadre della Lorena, protagoniste di un acceso derby), il 2 luglio 2020 il Metz annuncia il suo acquisto a titolo definitivo.

Il 30 agosto 2021 viene ceduto in prestito al .

Nazionale
Ha esordito con la nazionale capoverdiana il 1º giugno 2016 in occasione dell'amichevole vinta 3-2 contro l'Algeria sostituendo all'83' a Ryan Mendes. Viene convocato per la Coppa d'Africa 2021 in sostituzione dell'infortunato Djaniny.

Statistiche

Presenze e reti nei club
Statistiche aggiornate al 29 agosto 2021.

Cronologia presenze e reti in nazionale

Note

Collegamenti esterni

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Women's ensemble featuring a wrist-length collarless cape and calf-length dress with a split skirt and what appears to be bands of ribbed fabric along the skirt hem, waistline, and extending down the front from top to bottom. The ribbed bands are also found around the neckline and the bottom edge of the cape. The ensemble is worn with a brimmed hat.
Mildred Orrick. Women's Ensemble with Wrist-Length Cape . 1934 – 1937. Mildred Orrick fashion and costume sketches; Private commissions (KA0067.03). New School Archives and Special Collections Digital Archive. Web. 21 Apr 2019.


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Shifting for results for Canadians
Remarks at the IAPP Canada Privacy Symposium 2018
Address by Daniel Therrien
Privacy Commissioner of Canada
(Check against delivery)
At this midway point of my mandate as Privacy Commissioner, it has become increasingly clear to me that to have a more positive impact on the privacy rights of a greater number of Canadians, we at the OPC need to change our approach to privacy protection.
And here I am not referring to the need to modernize our laws, although that remains a necessity. Even more so in my view after the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica/AIQ crisis.
To quote a report titled Regulating for Results by the Centre for Information Policy Leadership: "A fundamental challenge for any Data Protection Agency is how to maximize effectiveness when there is so much they could do and so little resource to do it."
This is certainly true for my office.
We have spent considerable time trying to convince our legislators that Canada's privacy laws are grossly outdated and in need of reform if this country is to be a world leader in this field and to effectively protect Canadians' privacy in an increasingly networked world.
Since last year, we raised concerns about national security legislation and recommended legislative and other changes in both our draft position on online reputation and our work to address problems with the current consent model.
The Facebook/Cambridge Analytica incident, which we are now investigating, has garnered worldwide attention and thrust a much-needed spotlight on privacy issues. So too have other major privacy incidents — Yahoo, Loblaws, Nissan and Equifax, to name a few. It sometimes takes a crisis to effect change and we are cautiously optimistic Parliamentarians are listening.
But the truth is, many of these things are beyond our control and we anxiously await government action. That being said, we are not being complacent.
What we are trying to do is to breathe new life into old laws with a vision of a more proactive approach to privacy protection. You may recall this is something I discussed at this conference last year.
Since then, we have fine-tuned this new approach, we've set some ambitious goals for our work, we've made some important structural changes at the OPC, and we are putting our vision into concrete action. This is what I will focus most of my remarks on today.
The scale and pace of technological advances and their use in business and government organizations are significantly straining the ability of individuals to protect their privacy. Innovation in the areas of data analytics, artificial intelligence, genetic profiling and the Internet of Things raises novel and highly complex privacy risks.
While we recognize these technologies are necessary for economic growth and to improve government services, they must be used in a manner that respects the privacy of Canadians. People want both. We also believe that many organizations want to do the right thing and we want to help them with that.
As such, and to address some of the challenges we face, we have made significant changes to our organizational structure that we believe will help us achieve better results for privacy.
We have streamlined our operations by clarifying program functions and reporting relationships, and become more forward-looking by shifting the balance of our activities towards greater pro-active efforts. Our objective, as I said earlier, is to have a broader and more positive impact on the privacy rights of a greater number of Canadians, which is not always possible when focusing most of our attention on the investigation of individual complaints.
With that in mind, our work will now fall into one of two program areas — Promotion or Compliance. Activities aimed at bringing departments and organizations towards compliance with the law will fall under the Promotion Program, while those related to addressing existing compliance issues will fall under the Compliance Program. In the coming weeks I will be announcing the two Deputy Commissioners who will oversee these new sectors.
We know that a successful regulator is not one that uses enforcement as a first or primary strategy to seek compliance. Thus our first strategy will be under the Promotion Program to inform Canadians of their rights and how to exercise them, and to guide and engage with organizations on how to comply with their privacy obligations.
Guidance and information will be issued on most key privacy issues, starting with how to achieve meaningful consent in today's complex digital environment, which I will discuss in greater detail in a moment.
We will also work with industry proactively and collaboratively in an advisory capacity, to the extent our limited resources allow. We will seek to better understand privacy impacts of new technologies and provide practical advice on how to use them in a privacy compliant way.
Addressing privacy issues upfront and resolving matters cooperatively, outside formal enforcement, is our preferred approach. It avoids time-consuming and costly investigations, helps mitigate against future privacy risks, offers organizations a measure of consistency and predictability in their dealings with our office and allows everyone to benefit from innovation.
It is for these reasons that we will primarily consider our Promotion tools before engaging our second strategy — proactive enforcement.
Under the Compliance Program, our proactive enforcement actions will target systemic, chronic or sector-specific privacy issues that aren't being addressed through our complaint system and that we believe may inflict significant damage to the privacy rights of Canadians.
By delineating our activities more clearly under two programs, Compliance and Promotion, by being more proactive and by ensuring we are citizen-focused, I hope Canadians may begin to feel more empowered and in control of their personal information. And generally safer in the knowledge that their rights will be respected.
I'd like to elaborate now on some of the work we will be doing in the coming year under our new approach and structure.
Through our restructuring, the new Business Advisory Directorate (formerly the Toronto office) will aim to provide advice to businesses subject to the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). In part we want to proactively engage with organizations, on a voluntary basis, on privacy risks of a high impact nature, either upon request or based on our own intelligence.
The aim: to gain a better understanding of innovative new business models and practices and to address, and potentially resolve, any privacy concerns before they materialize. We also want to explore the possibility (through pilots) of responding to advice requests from smaller businesses not necessarily at the cutting edge of technology, but who nevertheless have a significant impact on the privacy of Canadians. Given resource pressures, we will need to be selective, at least for the moment, in deciding which projects we are able to take on.
By the way, the Toronto office will no longer perform investigations. This is because we want to make a clear delineation between Compliance and Promotion functions. The Business Advisory Directorate is part of Promotion. It is when you get a call from PIPEDA Investigations in Compliance that you should start to worry.
This year, on the engagement front, I am pleased to announce the first advisory project initiated by my office which is now underway. It relates to Sidewalk Toronto, a smart city endeavor between Waterfront Toronto and Sidewalk Labs, owned by Google's parent company Alphabet.
The initiative — which I expect most of you are familiar with — involves building a technology-driven neighbourhood on the city's eastern waterfront that includes sensors aimed at helping city planners find efficiencies.
Understandably, the initiative is raising many questions about data collection, privacy, where the information will be stored and how it might be used, including whether it will be sold or used for marketing purposes.
Last month, members of our Business Advisory Directorate, along with a colleague from the Ontario IPC, met with those behind the project to learn more about it and how they were addressing some of these privacy concerns.
Overall, we were encouraged by their efforts to proactively address privacy and data security in the design and implementation of the initiative.
We reminded officials of key privacy principles including purpose specification, ensuring individuals could access their own personal information and being accountable for protecting the data and being clear about who owns it.
We also emphasized the importance of high standards and techniques when it comes to de-identification of data to mitigate the risk of re-identification, and that any open data component to the initiative be done in a privacy protective manner.
Given the project is still in its early stages, we will continue to monitor developments and proactively engage with Sidewalk Toronto officials as it progresses.
On the subject of smart cities, last month we also teamed up with a number of our provincial and territorial counterparts and issued an open letter to the federal government. We called for privacy and security of personal information to be considered in the selection, design and implementation of the winning proposals in a smart cities competition recently launched under the Government of Canada's Impact Canada Initiative.
Our Government Advisory Directorate is also in the business of giving advice — to federal institutions — and we plan to do more of this going forward, again with the philosophy of bringing departments towards compliance with the law as they deliver services to Canadians.
We recently concluded a series of stakeholder engagement sessions with federal government ATIP and program area staff to help inform our efforts as we re-align our advisory services.
We are consistently asked to provide more guidance to individuals on how to exercise their privacy rights and to organizations on how to respect their obligations. Resources permitting, we have committed to doing just that and have identified 30 topics on which to get started.
At the top of the list are consent and no-go zones. I'm pleased to announce that our final guidelines for organizations on Obtaining meaningful consent and Inappropriate data practices are available as of today. The consent guidelines are, in fact, a joint effort with our Alberta and British Columbia counterparts.
Among other important advice in the meaningful consent guidance, we outline four elements that must be emphasized in privacy notices and explained in a user friendly way:
What personal information is being collected;
With which parties is personal information being shared;
For what purposes is it being collected, used or disclosed; and
What are the risks of harm or other consequences that might come from any collection, use or disclosure of the information provided?
Some have expressed concerns about our decision to include risk of harm among the four elements to be emphasized. This decision flows from the definition of valid consent in PIPEDA. The Act requires that an individual understand the nature, purpose and consequences of the collection, use or disclosure to which they are consenting.
What we are taking about are those residual risks that might remain despite an organization's best efforts to apply mitigation measures designed to minimize risk and impact of potential harms. In the end, only meaningful residual risks of significant harm must be included in notifications — risks such as bodily harm, humiliation, loss of employment and identity theft that fall below the balance of probabilities, but are more than a minimal or mere possibility.
I know that there may also have been some concern about binding language in the guidance. While it is clear that we cannot use guidance to establish new legal standards, we think our role as a regulator includes giving guidance that clarifies PIPEDA requirements and sets expectations as to how the law should generally be interpreted and applied. Given that PIPEDA is so broad in nature, individuals and organizations need an adequate level of certainty.
Now let me give you some examples of what we mean by guidance that distinguishes between requirements and best practices or recommendations:
The four elements to be highlighted in our view are requirements. Because it is not possible to have meaningful consent without giving emphasis to these four elements.
In applying the guidelines there is the issue as to the level of detail that each of these elements needs to have.
The level of detail will depend. For instance, one of the four elements is the need to inform individuals of the 3rd parties with which the organizations collecting the information will share information. The requirement for which we see a clear and direct connection to PIPEDA, is that these third parties need to be described in sufficient detail as to allow the individual to understand what they are being asked to consent.
The level of specificity provided for describing or including each 3rd party is a recommended best practice.
Similarly, we speak of layering in our guidance and this is a recommended best practice.
A very important and useful change that was recommended by stakeholders following publication of the draft guidelines issued for consultation in September, is that in the final version available today, we have added a checklist that distinguishes between "must do's" (what we feel is a legal requirement) and "should do's" (what we feel is a best practice).
As I mentioned, we have also launched new guidance on no-go zones. The guidelines are up in final form. While context is of course important in the application of subsection 5(3) of PIPEDA, I firmly believe there is value in, even a need for, specific examples of practices that will generally be found inappropriate. These no-go zones should set useful boundaries for individuals and organizations.
Because there is no reason to delay the application of the 5(3) guidelines, they will become applicable very shortly, on July 1. However, because the consent guidelines may require organizations to implement changes to their systems and practices, their application will begin on January 1, 2019.
I can also tell you that Barbara Bucknell, our Director of Policy, Research and Parliamentary Affairs, will be discussing our consent work in greater detail during a session later at this conference.
As mentioned, our preferred approach to bringing organizations into compliance with Canada's privacy laws is through education and engagement. This does not mean there is no place or role for enforcement. We must first investigate complaints, but we also want to undertake proactive investigations.
Also, we are generally required by law to investigate individual complaints. As you may know, we have called on the government to amend PIPEDA to allow us to decline certain complaints so we might better utilize our limited resources, and have suggested individuals be granted some form of judicial redress, such as a private right of action, in such cases.
It's no secret that our enforcement teams are already facing tremendous pressures. Mandatory breach reporting for the private sector comes into force in November and, as was the case in other jurisdictions, is expected to significantly increase our already heavy workload. Our public sector investigators are also overwhelmed with complaints and breach reports, the latter of which was recently the subject of a review that raised serious concerns about how federal institutions identify and manage breaches. We expect to have more to say on that in our next annual report.
Yet despite these constraints and pressures, as mentioned earlier, we nonetheless want to apply a greater measure of proactivity to our enforcement work.
Canada's largely reactive, complaints-based model for privacy protection seldom affords us the opportunity to examine new technologies, complex data flows and opaque business models. People are unlikely to file a complaint when they do not know what is happening to their personal information.
Consequently, there is a greater responsibility on my office to proactively identify and address privacy issues of greatest risk to Canadians, for instance through more Commissioner-initiated investigations.
Therefore, I am also announcing today that we are proceeding with our first proactive, industry-wide Commissioner-initiated investigation into the privacy management practices of data and list brokers.
Organizations that deal in lists are responsible for how the information is compiled, which includes obtaining consent from those on the lists.
Preliminary inquiries into industry practices have raised a number of concerns about how databases of Canadians' detailed personal information are being compiled and then subsequently disclosed to marketers. Detailed profiles about individuals may be inaccurate, and could be accessed and used for purposes that individuals may know nothing about.
As such, our investigation will look at accountability, openness and transparency in the management of personal information collected, used and disclosed, as well as the means of consent obtained for the personal information collected, used or disclosed. In total, we will be investigating the practices of six different data brokers. This would also include a consideration of CASL and the address harvesting provisions enforced by my office.
We believe that this industry can benefit from an investigation of this nature, and that Canadian consumers will welcome it. I understand Brent Homan will be speaking more to our proactive compliance efforts in another panel.
In closing, I think you will agree we have set an ambitious agenda.
By enhancing our advisory role, we can help organizations achieve their objectives in a privacy compliant way and foster greater confidence among Canadians that will only serve to benefit the digital economy.
I am confident that changes to our approach will be good for businesses that want to be responsible corporate citizens, federal institutions that wish to maintain the trust of Canadians and, of course, Canadians who ultimately want greater control over their personal information.


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Lives Of The Great Commanders
On Duties: A Guide To Conduct, Obligations, And Decision-Making
On Moral Ends
Sallust: The Conspiracy Of Catiline And The War Of Jugurtha
Stoic Paradoxes
Thirty-Seven
Tusculan Disputations
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The Anatomy Of The Scam
March 9, 2021 November 16, 2022 Quintus Curtius Thoughtcon games, scams
There has been a big surge in online scammery and con artistry in the past two years. Economic hardship and desperation have been contributing causes, but this kind of activity has been with us since the dawn of time. And con games will always be with us, because they are rooted in the timeless and predictable ingredients of human nature.
My purpose in this article is to provide a rudimentary outline of the basic features that I believe most, if not all, scams and con jobs share. I have worked as a criminal defense lawyer for over twenty years, and have seen a few scenarios that have helped me compile this information. I have also benefitted from observing scam artists in action on Twitter and in other electronic arenas. I have also learned much from watching the "infomercial" hucksters of the 1990s, such as Don Lapre, Kevin Trudeau, and many others. Readers looking for demonstrations of these ideas in action may profit from watching several movies of David Mamet, who seems to have an interest in con games. One of Mr. Mamet's mainstay actors was the late magician Ricky Jay; and my understanding is that Mr. Jay, as a scholar of the magician's art, provided a great deal of insight into the psychological bases of con games in the Mamet films House of Games and The Spanish Prisoner.
All con jobs follow a sequence of identifiable stages. The mark (the "pidgeon") must be led through a series of steps that "soften him up" and make him more pliable to suggestion. We must remember that all con games play on two elements: greed and ignorance. Other emotions can be used, such as pity or guilt, but greed and ignorance are the mainstays. Greed, meaning the mark's desire to gain easy money; and ignorance, in that the mark will be led into unfamiliar waters, where he can be more easily parted with his money. Young or old, rich or poor, all human beings are vulnerable to cons. Never believe you are exempt. I have seen highly educated people fall victim to them, as well as the humblest laborer. Here are the basic stages of the traditional scam:
The Picture. A successful frame-up has to begin with an image that the scammer is selling. He wants to show you just how successful he is. He wants to overwhelm you with cars, money, hotels, exotic locales, and, of course, women. The reason for this is very simple: he must establish himself as someone who has "made it big." The message conveyed to the mark is a simple one: "Look how rich and great I am. You can be just like me if you do what I recommend."
It does not matter whether The Picture is true. It is important to remember this. The scammer may indeed be very rich. Some scammers rent their luxury cars and lifestyles; some scammers lie about their lifestyle completely and without shame. But some scammers actually are rich. Remember: some con artists really do have what they say they have. You may find this a paradox, but it is not. There really are rich people who love to scam others. Their motivations may be darker than the purely financial impulses of lesser scammers. They are not so much interested in squeezing money out of marks; what they are after is power, validation, and an affirmation of their own superiority. We are dealing with psychological factors here, friends: some people are just sadistic, and love to "lord it" over others.
Another dimension of the this phase of the scam is the attempt to hype a contrived or fake "problem" that only the scammer can help you to "solve." Such contrived problems will often play on the mark's personal insecurities or fears. The mark is barraged with information claiming that there is some sort of urgent "problem" that is in dire need of being fixed. And of course, only the scammer has the right tools to fix it. In establishing The Picture, some con artists can get very aggressive. They will demand you acknowledge their "superiority." They will yell. They will castigate. They will berate. They will try to shame you with bullying tactics. They will try to question your manhood, your character, your intelligence. All of this is part of the well-staged con. The goal is to throw you off balance, to make you question your judgment or value system.
The Secret. This is a critical part of the scam. All successful cons must have an enticing secret involved. What it amounts to is this. The secret involves some "special knowledge." The scammer will communicate to you, in one way or another, that he has special knowledge of some trade, industry, or whatever. He will play on your desire to make a quick buck. He will play on your desire to cut corners and find shortcuts. "I have a secret, and if you listen to me, you can be just as rich as I am." This is the essence of The Secret.
In the days of cold-calling stock brokers, there was a certain scam that I was once told about. A crook would send two batches of letters to two groups of people. One batch would say, "You should buy stock X because it's going up." Another batch would say, "You should sell stock X because it's going down." Of course, one batch would be a correct "prediction." To the people who received the correct prediction, the scammer would then send another two groups of letters, following the same principle as before: one batch recommending a buy, the other recommending a sell. Over time, and as the sample group narrowed, eventually a very small group of people would have received "correct predictions" multiple times. The marks would get excited, thinking that the broker knew some special secret. The scammer would then say, "I've been right in every prediction I've made. You should invest with me." The pitch was often irresistible. Of course, the marks would not know that the scammer was not a wizard; he just used mathematics and probability to his advantage.
The Huddle. This refers to the stage where the scammer draws the "pigeon" deeper into his world. Have you ever seen players on a field huddled together, sharing the details of their next play? That's what this refers to. The mark will be asked to join a team, a group, an email list, a special clique that will share all the coveted "insider knowledge," playing back to the "I have a secret" pitch. Isolation is a very effective technique for convincing someone to do something he does not really want to do.
The Directive. Once the psychological groundwork has been laid out as described above, the pigeon will be softened up for the big pitch. Now comes The Directive. The mark is told what to do with his money: what to buy, what to invest in, or what to put his confidence in. The reason why confidence games are called confidence games is because the mark is giving his confidence to the scammer. A frequently used technique here is called the "pigeon drop," in which the mark is enticed to put up a small amount of money based on the hope that he will receive an even greater payout in the future. This is also the basis for one of the oldest and most effective of cons, the so-called "Spanish Prisoner." In the Spanish Prisoner con, the mark is enticed by both the prospect of a beautiful woman, and a large sum of money. All he has to do is leave a deposit of money under terms of strict secrecy. Of course, the scammer then vanishes with the money.
Do not underestimate the effectiveness of scams and cons. Good scammers are sociopaths. They can be extremely convincing. You may not even know you have been taken, even after losing your money. Once you underestimate them, you become that much more vulnerable. As I said earlier, extremely intelligent people can fall for them, because they operate at the most basic level of human need: the desire to be secure, wealthy, handsome, or beautiful. The only effective defenses against scams are: (1) a true understanding that nothing in this world is for free, and there is not such thing as easy money; and (2) success takes a long time. Along these lines, I would recommend readers revisit my previous comments on investing.
Scammers are not genial rascals. They are manipulative, depraved people who find satisfaction in preying on others. Understand what is going on around you. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. There is no such thing as a quick buck. That was true in 5000 B.C., and it is true today.
Read more in the complete collection of essays, Digest:
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We had the pleasure of working with this law firm for many years as they grew from a local boutique practice to a national powerhouse. Welsh&Co. designed their logo more than a decade ago and more recently helped them with a rebranding that better reflected their larger presence and growing number of practice areas. Through identity design, a 44 pg. firm brochure, multiple websites, and print and online advertising, we've helped them establish and express their brand consistently, everywhere their audience encounters them.
Several years after we designed the original logo we helped the firm reposition themselves with a rebranding as they began pursuing larger class-action cases.
Along with the rebranding we designed and produced two brochures to highlight the firm's capabilities in specific areas.
Likewise, we were asked to design a series of websites for the firm to address specific practice areas.
Above are three in a series of banner ads we produced as part of a Google Adwords campaign.
For their 20th anniversary we designed a commemorative logo and a print ad acknowledging principal Steve Berman's inclusion in The National Law Journal's 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America.
A quarterly newsletter was produced and distributed to clients, attorneys and prospects.


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Classical Reception
Classical reception iconography project
Introduction to Classical Reception
Links (from the links page of the ACRSN)
(in press, 2022) "La réception de l'antiquité gréco-romaine dans les dessins de presse en Chine et à Singapour", in Yue Yue and Jean-Claude Gardes (eds.), La perception de la Chine dans la caricature occidentale, Ridiculosa [Hors-série], 2022.
(article in preparation), "The COVID-19 crisis in political cartoons inspired by classical myth, ancient sculpture and historical figures: a case-study in classical reception", JHS (?)
(article in preparation), "The Greek crisis (2010-2016) in the hands of European cartoonists: Use and abuse of Classical Greece to address current affairs", Antike Welt
(article in preparation), "Pandora's box in political cartoons: the 'first woman' is often a man", JHS.
(book in preparation), Reception of classical antiquity in political cartoons.
(2013)"Democracy and popular media. Classical receptions in 19th to 21st centuries political cartoons: statesmen, mythological figures and celebrated artworks", in L. Hardwick, S. J. Harrison (eds), Classics in the Modern World: A 'Democratic Turn ?, Oxford, 2013, pp. 319-349. | read here
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Brent crude LCOc1, the global benchmark, rose 91 cents to $73.04 a barrel by 1304 GMT. The contract hit $71.18 on Tuesday, its lowest since Aug. 16. U.S. crude CLc1 rose 58 cents to $62.79.
While Iranian oil exports are expected to fall because of U.S. sanctions that took effect on Oct. 5, reports from OPEC and other forecasters have indicated that the global market could see a 2019 supply surplus as demand slows.
A ministerial committee of some Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries members and allies, including Russia and Saudi Arabia, is due to meet on Sunday in Abu Dhabi to discuss the market and outlook for 2019.


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Case law reference
Article 12 - Freedom of assembly and of association
Article 21 - Non-discrimination
Article 28 - Right of collective bargaining and action
Article 52 - Scope and interpretation
View full case
Key facts of the case:
Policy area concerned – labour law Facts of the case: Applicant requests to cancel Decree No. 2011-289 of 18 March 2011 amending the Staff Regulations of the national electricity and gas industries that raises the age (from 65 to 67 years old) at which an agent who did not take the initiative of a retirement plan can be retired at the initiative of the employer. Applicant also requests to cancel Decree No. 2011-290 of 18 March 2011 relating to the special pension for electricity and gas industry staff that raised the age of entitlement to a pension. Legal questions raised: Does setting the age at which an agent can be retired at the initiative of the employer constitute a difference in treatment based on age? Is it justified? The High Administrative Court states that setting an age at which an agent is retired at the initiative of the employer constitutes a difference in treatment based on age. However, in setting an age at which electricity and gas industry staff, as all agents under a regulatory status submitted to a special regime of pension can be retired at the initiative of the employer, the regulatory authority implemented the right of everyone to have a job allowing the exercise of this right by the largest number of people. This goal meets the requirements of the employment policy and of the labour market. In the context of the employment guarantee offered for electricity and gas industry staff, it is necessary to aim for the best distribution of jobs between generations. This goal is legitimate and objectively and reasonably justifies a difference in treatment based on age.
Paragraphs referring to EU Charter
Taking into account that according to article 51 of the Charter its provisions are addressed to the Member States only when they implement Union law, and that the decrees did not intend to implement the law of the European Union, the applicant cannot reasonably argue that the procedure prior to their adoption infringed articles 12 and 28 of the Charter. Taking into account that article 21 paragraph 1 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which can be invoked before the courts in order to interpret acts of the European Union institutions implementing its principles, prohibits discrimination based on age. Under article 52 paragraph 1 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, any limitation on the exercise of the rights and freedoms recognised by this Charter must be provided for by law and respect the essence of those rights and freedoms. Subject to the principle of proportionality, limitations may be made only if they are necessary and genuinely meet objectives of general interest recognised by the Union or the need to protect the rights and freedoms of others. The Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation which aims to fight against discrimination including on the grounds of age, says in article 6 paragraph 1 that Member States may provide that differences of treatment on grounds of age shall not constitute discrimination, if, within the context of national law, they are objectively and reasonably justified by a legitimate aim, including legitimate employment policy, labour market and vocational training objectives, and if the means of achieving that aim are appropriate and necessary. It follows from these provisions, as interpreted in the light of the principles of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union by the Court of Justice of the European Union, in particular in its judgments No. C-411 / 05 of 16 October 2007 and No. C-447/09 of 13 September 2011, that the legitimate objectives of a general nature mentioned in the Directive are distinct from purely individual reasons that are specific to the situation of the employer, such as cost reduction or improving competitiveness. Given the States' margin of appreciation in the area of social policy, the national policy aiming to promote access to employment through better distribution between generations constitutes such a legitimate objective. The appropriateness and necessity of differential treatment based on age is assessed taking into account the fact that the concerned persons have the right to a pension and, potentially, to the benefits of subsidiary allowances, and their amount cannot be considered unreasonable.


Mark 14:47 tells of a brief episode where Jesus is being arrested and an anonymous follower, wanting to defend him, cuts off the ear of a slave of the high priest. Jesus doesn't say or do anything in response to this. Is the reader of Mark to approve of this act? Is this sort of violence acceptable? The text provides the reader with no direction on the matter. The problem is amplified in Mark as there are no explicit teachings elsewhere advocating non-violence. Perhaps the reader is to commend the zeal of the one defending Jesus? The episode of Jesus' arrest ends with all of those who follow Jesus running away (Mark 14:50). This presumably includes the anonymous person that cut the ear off of the slave. Perhaps the example of the one wielding the sword is an example of how the disciples should have responded? Does the action of this anonymous follower suggest that Jesus might have been saved if the disciples not been cowards? Because there are no evaluative statements from either the narrator or Jesus it is impossible to say what we are to think. If the reader concludes that the one cutting off the ear was in the wrong, because there is no healing, the reader is left with no redemptive response to this act of violence. The reader is left with a story in which the action is morally ambiguous and which results in someone being permanently disabled.
This episode occurs in all three of the synoptic Gospels. (It also occurs in John, but this article will not consider John's unique perspective on this story.) The dominant view in scholarship is that Matthew and Luke both use a copy of Mark as they write their Gospels (see "The Synoptic Problem," Daniel Wallace). This odd episode in Mark provides an excellent opportunity to learn something about Matthew and Luke. By considering how they use Mark as a source, we can see something about what is important to them. By contrast, we can also see some of Mark's unique features better.
What does Matthew do with this episode? Matthew adds two sayings to Mark. The first is "Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword" (Matthew 26:52). This saying removes the ambiguity that was in Mark's version. While the reader of Mark might be uncertain whether this act of violence against this slave was morally acceptable or not, the reader of Matthew is left with no room for doubt. Violence for Matthew in not an acceptable response. Matthew 5:38-42, 43 makes the case for a non-violent response to opposition explicit. Hence, we know that this in important to Matthew. Matthew presumably did not appreciate Mark's ambiguity and wanted to make sure important values were clearly presented. We can be forgiven if we cannot clearly say what the point of Mark 14:47 is. What does this episode accomplish in Mark? Matthew's reader, unlike Mark's, has a clear answer: those who seek to advance their cause through violence will themselves perish through violence – even if their cause is just.
The second saying Matthew adds (Matthew 26:53-54) removes the possible conclusion that might be drawn from Mark that Jesus needs anyone to help save him. In Matthew Jesus has access to more than 72,000 angels. Not only is the violence of the anonymous follower condemned, it is unnecessary. Jesus in Mark was a wonder worker through much of his ministry, but when it comes to the Passion narrative, he does not appear to have any unusual strength. Indeed, at times he seems overcomes by weakness (Mark 14:32-42). This may have bothered Matthew, and by adding the statement about the twelve legions of angels makes it clear that while Jesus appears to be in a position of weakness, he is not. In fact, he enters into the Passion narrative in a position of significant strength.
The arrest of Jesus in Mark "is written" (Mark 14:49b). This is another way of saying that it is destined by God. It is not a freakish aberration from the plan of God, but a central part of that plan. Here Matthew agrees with Mark. Matthew underscores Mark's perspective by including this statement (Matthew 26.56) as well as adding an additional statement to this same effect (Matthew 26:54).
Like Matthew, Luke develops the Markan narrative by adding material. Earlier that evening, just after the Last Supper, Luke's Jesus asks the disciples "When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?" They answered him, "No, not a thing." He responds, "But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one" (Luke 22:35-36). Here, Jesus reminds them of the times they went out as itinerant preachers without any supplies and that they experienced no lack (Luke 9:1-6, 10:1-12). That was then, but this is now – and the situation is different. What was sufficient in the past is no longer enough. In response, the disciples realize they have two swords already and show them to Jesus, to which Jesus responds, "it is enough" (Luke 22:38). Jesus' response is unclear, and this lack of clarity sets the stage what comes later.
When Jesus is being arrested, one of his followers asks whether they should use the swords they showed him earlier (Luke 22:49). Without waiting for an answer, one of them strikes and cuts off the ear of the slave of the high priest (Luke 22:50). The reason he does this is presumably because he believed it is what Jesus wanted. He may have thought this because of what Jesus had earlier said (Luke 22:36, 38), which means Jesus is indirectly complicit: his earlier obscurity is in part to blame. Why would Luke do this? Perhaps it underscores the danger in misunderstanding the words of Jesus?
Luke's Jesus, like Matthew's, advocates non-violence (Luke 6:27-31). In this present scene, Luke (like Matthew) eliminates Mark's ambiguity and has Jesus condemn the violence. Luke's Jesus says, "No more of this!" While perhaps less pithy than Matthew, it nevertheless makes the point clear.
In neither Mark or Matthew's Gospels does Jesus heal this unfortunate slave. Luke is presumably not satisfied with what he finds in Mark and adds a healing. Is the slave healed in Luke because Jesus is implicitly responsible for the violence?
For Matthew and Luke, Mark sets things in motion by writing a quirky episode that begs to be re-written and clarified. Matthew and Luke presumably revere Mark, or else they would not have based their own literary productions upon it as they did. However, they were also presumably troubled by Mark's edges and ambiguities. Mark's quirky obscurity inspired Matthew and Luke to re-write what they found.
← Is Abraham's Sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22) different from what the terrorists did on 9-11?


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Fairy Tail Adventure Manga Gets Film on August 18 (Updated)
posted on 2011-10-12 19:15 EDT by Egan Loo
Film of Hiro Mashima 's manga that already inspired TV anime, 3 original anime DVDs
The email newsletter for Kodansha's Comic Plus members revealed on Wednesday that a film adaptation of Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail manga will open next August. More details will be provided in future postings of the newsletter.
The manga and the ongoing television anime follow the adventures of world's most notorious mage guild, Fairy Tail. In addition to the television series, three original anime DVDs have been bundled or will be bundled with the manga.
Del Rey published the 12th volume of the original manga in North America last September, and Kodansha resumed publishing the manga in English with the 13th volume this past February. Crunchyroll streams the television anime into several countries as it airs in Japan, and Funimation will release the first DVD/Blu-ray set in November.
[Via J-Comi, Aya Hirano, Kyō Kara Watashi wa!!, Yaraon!]
Update: The film will open on August 18. Kodansha has not specified if the film is anime or live-action. Source: Comic Natalie
this article has been modified since it was originally posted; see change history
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UR2.Global
Uplifting Humanity Showcasing the ARTS to Self-Esteem
Nevada - Henderson
Reverend Dr. Edwige - Website
Spiritual Guide, Metaphysician and Author
To love, value and appreciate oneself and what you have to contribute to humanity can only be done when you believe in yourself, and that to me is what self-esteem is all about. The ability to stand in your power and speak your truth with confidence, allowing your light to shine for all to see! Dr. Edwige is author of the award winning book:
"You're Not Crazy - You're Awakening!
Maryland, Cumberland
Shannon Shine - Website
"Self-esteem is the first step to reaching your dreams, and inspiring others to do the same!"
Shannon is visual artist, a Reiki and Crystal Therapy Practitioner and the creator of Shine Energy Jewelry. Growing up without her birth parents and shifting through homes as a child, Shannon quickly realized how confidence and self empowerment was the key to success. She now owns her own art shop and shares her art and life philosophy through her projects Shantastic Shine, MountainShine Creative, and co-creation of Project Bring Me 2 Life.
Florida - USA
Evan Taylor Jones
Singer/Songwriter - Website
"Self Esteem is important for people to have because in a sense, it's trusting yourself and believing in yourself, refraining from doubt and fear. In essence, it is our confidence."
Evan Taylor Jones is an eclectic soul-rock artist and singer/songwriter from Orlando, Florida. Jenny Kloote, a Lead Entertainment Advisor at Walt Disney World theme park (Orlando) may have said it best: "His voice is like bread and butter; so smooth and tasty, I can almost eat it." Performing as a regular at Disney Springs on most nights of the month, Jones has performed for crowds from all over the world. In 2015, ETJ had the honor of playing for a sold out crowd when he opened for Bob Marley's legendary band, The Wailers, at the House of Blues in Orlando. Subsequently, Evan auditioned for 'The Voice' Season 10 and made it to the blind auditions in February of 2016.
USA - Washington, DC
Theodore Watkins, M.D.
"Self-esteem is a reflection of your opinion of yourself. When you have healthy self-esteem, you feel good about yourself and see yourself as deserving of good health. When you have low self-esteem, you put little value on your health and therefore on your habits. Most health problems can be prevented and reversed if we were willing to change our lifestyles. At first blush, one would think that everyone would change if change brought with it life. However, I have found the opposite to be true. It has often cause me much anguish until I realized that we must have self love which is built on self esteem to able to forego short term pleasure for long term gain."
UR2.Global is seeking volunteer Global Community Board Liaisons
on every continent, in every country, in every city of the world!
NOTE: We will also accept liaisons if you are from another country with family and friends still in your native land and are willing to translate and share UR2.Global Self-Esteem information with the citizens of your country of origin. We want to get the word out to as many people in the world as possible and welcome your help to do so. We will simply note that you were born in the country you will be the liaison for if you are not currently residing there.
If you would like to become a Global Community Board Liaison to uplift the
self-esteem of humanity, please complete the GCBL form below:
As you can see our global liaisons are unique, wonderful, creators!
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New York - New York
Curtis NeSmith
Poet / Realest Idealist
To KNOW THYSELF is to know the universe, the infinite, & God! This is why self esteem is so important, because you are everything! The Realest Idealist believes in a society that spiritually empowers each other to enlighten the world! Do you? Being inspired from a life-changing awakening experience, Curtis aka The Realest Idealist vowed to himself that he would help the world know their true, infinite power from within…and that's when he remembered. Remembered his purpose for being here! The Realest Idealist (the realist idealist) is a play on words. When it comes to duality such as the spiritual and the physical, he's able to have a balanced perception of both sides. Hence, the name. Curtis, is the realest (the most real) of idealists.
AFRICA - Liberia
Angela Peabody
President - Global Woman Peace Foundation (Born in Liberia, Angela will translate and share Ur2 with citizens in the Liberian community.)
"Self-esteem is important because it influences the choices and decisions we make about ourselves. When we believe we are valuable and important, we tend to take good care of ourselves, and we end up making good decisions." Global Woman Peace Foundation builds the self-esteem of women healing from FGM.
Dave Cameron, Vice President of UNLines - Website
"My Mom taught me, , we are not born to be afraid. It is something we learn through the many experiences in our lives. Having this knowledge has given me the advantage to not fear people or situations, because I know my own abilities and self-worth and will not let anyone else destroy what is the core of my soul. We all have someone to thank for who we have become. I thank my Mom and all of the strong women I have in my life and wish to pass along this knowledge, because this is not a secret to be held but one to be shared with others.
AFRICA- Burkina Faso
Guinossa Nikiema - Contact
Journalist (Seeking Sponsor)
"I think self-esteem allows people to live with more integrity and honor the human rights and justice of all the people in the world."
I am seeking a sponsor for to study English and Journalism in USA
Rev. Sylvia Sumter
Senior Pastor of Unity of Washington, DC
""We are all created with infinite potential and to hold ones' self in high regard is to honor the gift of life by being the very best you can be and to honor the same in others !"
California -California -Modesto
Christina Olidem
"Self-esteem gives you the power to be the person you want to be. It creates a stronger you with endless possibilities."
I am a mother of 3 children one girl and two boys. I work with children and hospice. I love nature and love to travel. ..."
USA - Florida
Lamarr Kemp, Sr., MBA - Co-Founder
Director of Government Programs / International Business Consultant
"Self-esteem is not who we are, its how we feel about who we are."
Click here to read bio and more info about the founders.
ASIA - China
Wu Dongsheng
Computer Programmer (Born in China, Wu will translate and share Ur2 with citizens that live in his homeland in China.)
""Everyone is born unique. Sometimes it is easy to magnify your shortcomings by others or even yourself. But there is always special strength in you, which may not yet be known. Learn from your shortcomings and at the same time make efforts in the things meaningful to you and others. Your strength will light up on your way."
AUSTRALIA - Dublin
President - Inner-Self Solutions
"I believe that encapsulated within everyone is the power, within themselves, to reach their goals and achieve their dreams. I am one of the privileged that gets to work with people helping them to realize their self worth and to reach those dreams."
California - USA
Robert Alexander - Founder Life Rhythms
Audio Alchemist - Website
Robert assist mankind with self-esteem as an Audio Alchemist -creating powerful sounds and vibrations that help create a sense of greater well-being. Robert creates custom tailored soundscapes that are used to help them create a sense of greater well-being. Many of these people are experiencing major life transitions, medical challenges and/or experiencing anxiety, trauma, depression, grieving, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), ADHD and PTSD. I also have worked with those who classify themselves as empaths and HSP. Very much similar to a doctors prescription, he (metaphorically) creates "audio prescriptions" - soundscapes that are catered directly for individuals and their specific needs. Customized affirmations and customized soundscapes are wonderful tools to help them overcome illness, move through difficult patterns and obstacles, help them create a new belief systems and promote more happiness and wellbeing.
Our Global Community Board Liaison Team
Ivan Figureoa, M.D.
Author - Alternative Medicine
"I believe a good self-esteem is crucial because it will allow you to manifest all of the beautiful potential of your spirit in our daily life. This is why our fellow founders and I welcome your participation. If you would like to send submissions from Puerto Rico please feel free to send them to UR2 email address on the contact page."
Kijana Wiseman, M.ED - Vocalist
"Confidence in one's capabilities, and an understanding of the momentum attitude can contribute to achieving your life goals, is of great importance. The secret is to know what you can do....love what you do...do it well...and purposefully surround yourself with people who have that same mindset."
USA - Tennessee
Melissa Turner
Co-Editor Gandhi BE Magazine
"We feel the following quote by Mahatma Gandhi, 'Be the change you wish to see in the world', means that change begins with me and with you, and that positive change in our own lives ripples out and impacts the world around us. We all have the opportunity to make a difference in our little corners of the world." Melissa is a also a photographer with a passion for education, health, media and youth development.
Florida. Tallahassee
Mykel T. Brooks
Vocalist/ Artist/Producer
"Self-esteem...shows in the way you talk, walk, dress, even your work ethic can be judged by how confidently you do them." Mykel T. Brooks is a certified musician by ear, a master of sound and a writer by pen. With a love for music that extends beyond the heart's capacity, his very soul is in tune with each melody and rhyme he creates. Mykel is the owner of Nomad Production Studios in Florida.
USA - Maryland
Sister Jenna
America Meditating Founder/Radio Host
"Amelia is all heart and I loved her song, I'm Good Enough. After listening to it, I went deep into my good and was encouraged to allow my song to emerge too. Thanks, Amelia for making so many Good Enough." Sister Jenna is a prominent motivational speaker and teacher. She is the Director of The Meditation Museum in Maryland and Virginia and the creator of "Pause for Peace."
Our Global Team is comprised of liaisons all over the world who get the word out about how UR2.Global uplifts the self-esteem of humanity, in their unique corners of the world. And as liaisons some also translate our work to their native homelands abroad from the U.S. to ensure our message reach as many as possible as we seek to touch every continent, every country, and every city of the world. Please feel free to click on their names to visit their individual websites to learn about how their wonderful creative arts, projects, or organizations are also assisting mankind.
Jessica Lattman, M.D.
Singer/Songwriter/Surgeon - Website
"Self Esteem is important because it gives you courage, allowing you to explore your full potential. It also allows you to value yourself and think of yourself as a worthy partner, friend, and part of society. Self-esteem is important because it allows you to believe that you deserve to be treated well by others, and it gives you the permission to practice big doses of self care.
Jessica Lattman is a songwriter, whose music speaks from her heart. She is a multi-instrumentalist, and producer. She came to songwriting during her years in Medical School and while training to be a surgeon. The process of songwriting helped Jessica balance the long days at the hospital. She is now a practicing surgeon, songwriter, wife and mother of 3. Many of her songs are inspired by her family and written for various milestones in their lives. She is a passionate supporter of mental health care and working to eliminate the stigma of seeking help for emotional difficulties.
California - Tustin
Lynne Falconer -Email: : lynnefalconer01@gmail.com
Certified Dreambuilder Coach - Power Beyond Measure Summits
""Self esteem is connecting with the Divine Power that flows in, through and around us and allowing that to shine out to lift us and those we connect with, all around us." Lynne is a Certified Dreambuilder Coach and on a mission to teach men and women, as well as the younger generation in High School and College, how to tap into their own invisible power and to transform their lives by deliberately creating the lives they would really love to live. Originally from South Africa.
USA- Florida
Founder - Amelia Kemp, Ph.D., LMHC Psychotherapist/Singer-Songwriter/ Author/ Psychodramist. "I believe within each of us lies the art of self-esteem that provides inner-peace that...
Click here to read bio and more info about the founders.
Chipo Shambare - Website
Author/ Certified Spontaneous Transformation Practitioner
"Self-esteem helps a person build own self confidence, value themselves. If present the person feels sense worthiness or unworthiness if not present." Chipo is the author of an amazing book that builds self-esteem titled: "I Am Good Enough For Me!" She is also a Keynote Speaker, Workshop & Healing Facilitator, Wholistic Self- Discovery Certified Sacred Guide, Relationship Educator & Coach, & Wellness Specialist, ThM emphasis Medical Intuition and provides Archetypes Counseling. Originally from Zimbabwe, Africa.
South America - Peru
Valentin Baca Banos
Owner - Valentin Pachamama Journeys - Website
"High self esteem helps us to share the positive energy and love of Pachamama (mother earth)."
In promoting self-esteem, Valentin's organization partnered with the Wakatinku Foundation and Inmed, a Peruvian humanitarian organization, to provide mebendazole, an anti-parasitic medication, to all 3 of the schools that we have sponsored. Because these children live in close contact with animals, gastrointestinal parasites are common and lead to chronic intestinal symptoms and malnutrition. The directors of the schools will work with the local health clinics to administer the medications to the children twice a year for the next five years, improving their quality of life and basic health.
Kim Karrington Cartwright - Website
Singer/Songwriter/Photographer/Author
"Honoring the dignity and beauty of our souls leads to confidence that we are so worth living, we are unique and individual, and each of our lives truly matter." Kim is author of "The Taste of Freedom - A Poetic, Prosaic, Photographic Journey". Click Here to view this artist in our artist-in-residency features.
Christopher Selomon Closson - Website
Artist - Founder of Project Bring Me 2 Life
"Self-esteem is the key to ..." unlocking our divine gifts.
Selomon is a performer, artist, musician, author, entrepreneur, podcast producer and host and CEO of Project Bring Me 2 Life. He is also a Spiritual Consultant and Meditation Therapist who enjoys travelling the country hosting classes and workshops on spiritual topics. One of his presentations was on the Practicality of Meditation in which he presented Meditation to healthcare industry leaders about the benefits and practical applications that it provides. Please click here to enjoy one of his wonderful meditations for peace of mind that is currently on exhibit here on the "Body" link.
Dr. Antoine Chevalier - Website
Naturopath Practitioner
Many people suffer from feelings of inadequacy, insecurity, self-doubt, guilt and fear of fully participating in life with a vague sense of "I am not enough" in his book "Hidden powers of creation" and that one of the most significant characteristics of healthy self-esteem is that it is the state of one who is not at war either with himself or with others. Having healthy self-esteem then fully supports the complete elimination of violence and war globally, thereby supporting that healthy self esteem can in fact increase global happiness and peace.
USA - Washington, DC.
Georgia Goslee, Esq.
"I believe that when it comes to self-esteem that you are what you believe." Georgia is the epitome of self-esteem, as a high school dropout and teenage mother who turned her life around to become a highly sought after lawyer, federal prosecutor and television personality, she knows precisely what it's like to have the odds stacked against you and just what it takes to get your life on track.
Linda Thrasher
Linguist (7 languages) (Born in Tanzania, Linda will translate and share Ur2 with citizens in the Tanzania community.)
"No matter what language a person speaks, their words always reveals how good they feel about themselves. And how we feel about ourselves determines everything." Linda is also a broker and seeks to assist mankind with one of the most fundamental self-esteem boosters which is to have a place to call home.
USA - Tennessee
Missy Crutchfield
Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Gandhi's BE Magazine
"We honor this mission to uplift the self-esteem of the entire planet." Missy is a social entrepreneur with a passion for education and the media. She has held leadership positions in government, education, and the media as a television producer, reporter, and anchor, as well as radio producer and anchor.
USA - Atlanta
Lamarr Kemp, II - Performing Artist
"I think self-esteem has to do with knowing who you are and were meant to be which is why I was inspired by this Ur2 project to write and perform a "spoken word" titled: Who You Are! Viewable within the Literary Arts section - Click Here
Sara Troy - Website
Canadian Radio Network Owner and Host of Self-Discovery Radio (Over 1500 shows) and Author
"Self-esteem allows us to remain unique so let us be a symphony, each bringing our instrument of love to the dance."
EUROPE, Ireland
Linda Howell
"I feel there is an angelic presence in all of mankind that is the basis of our self=esteem." Linda is the Founder of Angelic Entrepreneurs and is an artist that creates beautiful angel jewelry. She is from a celtic background and studied music, dance and literature in London in the 1960′s. She grew up playing among the great Stones of the Henge in Salisbury England, and lives with her family on the beautiful west coast of Ireland.
Michigan - Oxford
Shawn Ryskamp - Website
Vocalist (Zippity2Dad)
"Ditto to my co-vocalist's statement above and just remember in all you do, there is no one else like you!" (Our entry "You Matter!" will uplift all ages, kids and adults! Click the music link here and visit website for more Zippity2Dad tunes.
Michigan - Waterford
Tagg Smith - Website
Vocalist (Zippity2Dad)
"The choice you make to love yourself, will change your life - it's true! Just remember in all you do, there is no one else like you!" (Enjoy our entry "You Matter!" by clicking the music link here)
Dr. Rena Menard
President of USNC for UN Women Houston Chapter
"If a human being dreams a great dream, dares to love somebody; if a human being dares to be Martin King, or Mahatma Gandhi, or Mother Theresa, or Malcolm X; if a human being dares to be bigger than the condition into which she or he was born—it means so can you. And so you can try to stretch, stretch, stretch yourself so you can internalize, 'Homo sum, humani nil a me alienum puto. I am a human being, nothing human can be alien to me.' That's one thing I'm learning." ~ Dr. Maya Angelou."
Carlos Llaca - Director Tourism
"La autoestima es muy importante para mi ya que es la gasolina del motor, sin ella muchas veces no seriamos capaces de realizar ninguna cosa, nosotros como individuos tenemos que valorarnos y creer en nuestro potencial ello ayudara a conseguir nuestras metas.
Al realizarse el individuo como profesional y como persona, construye su camino para la felicidad. La autoestima nos marca como personas y nos ayuda a definir nuestra personalidad. La autoestima que se tiene influirá en casi todo lo que uno hace."
Reverend Jean De Barbieris
Senior Pastor of Unity Eastside Tallahassee, FL
"Human self-esteem is important to the development of the individual because it is a step along the way to the ultimate realization that it isn't the human self that is important but the Divine Self."
TO VIEW OUR ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE CLICK "ABOUT"
California - L.A.
Valerie Alexander, Esq. - Website
Author/Screenwriter
"To an outside observer, confidence and competence are perceived as the same, so if you are highly competent, but low self-esteem causes you to behave without confidence, others will doubt your competence. Self-esteem allows you to reflect your true self to the world — to let your light shine, undimmed by self-doubt. "
FRANCE, Cannes
Dr. Andrea Pennington, M.D., C.Ac.
Physician, Author, Artist
"It is my passion to empower people all over the world to know themselves as the perfect, divine beings that they are, to fully embrace their authentic self and to wholeheartedly share their talents with the world! Dr. Pennington is author of "Heart to Heart" and a world renown doctor and sex educator. To learn more about her services click her name to visit website.
Florida - St. Petersburg
Rev. Lea Chapin, MSW, Div
Author and Owner of Celestial Connections
"Having positive self-esteem and self-worth are essential for self-empowerment, as unconditional love of self is the greatest gift one can give to themselves ."
Central America - Panama
Humberto Castillero, MBA - Author (Born in Panama, Humberto will translate and share Ur2 with citizens in the Panama community.)
"Debemos celebrar nuestros talentos como individuos y amarnos a nosotros mismos mientras transitamos por el camino de la vida. Cuando gozamos de auto-estima y aceptamos nuestro valor como personas, entonces podremos ser la mejor expresión de nosotros mismos."
Founders & Project
Global Liaisons
UR2.Global Retreat Annual Fundraiser
Women & Self-Esteem
Women 45+
Body Self-Esteem
Body Image Research
Dying With Self-Esteem
Self-Esteem Tips and Podcasts
UR2.Global HUGS
2020 Liberation Artist Challenge
Local Lili Forbes Artist Challenge
Previous Artist Challenge Entries
World Peace Starts At Home Tribute to Soldiers/Veterans
The Mountain Calls for Inner-Peace
Being in Harmony with Self & Others
World Peace Comes From Within
Roberta Guzzone
Poet/Attorney
Self esteem is like the foundation of your home. All that you believe, and can accomplish are built upon it. With self esteem, one is not mired in the opinions of others, but finds the courage to act out of one's own convictions. Self esteem supports one in establishing a steady and stable base of healthy self love, out of which one is able to reach out with love toward others.
Louisiana - Baton Rouge
Roxi Victorian - Ballerina / Pre-doctoral Dance Fellow
Owner of Ballet Victorian
"I'd expound on what Ruby Dee once said: "I know enough to know I'm not yet where I'm going to be...I'm always becoming", so self-esteem is trusting that I have what it takes to become all that I'm meant to be!
Kristin Hoffmann
Composer/Producer/Vocalist
"This self-esteem project aligns with my goal to spread love, light, peace and truth into the world through music and energetic frequency." Kristin is a Juilliard trained multi-instrumentalist and began building a prolific career in music early in life and has studied opera with many acclaimed teachers.
Radio Host of "Think On These Things" Radio Show
"Without good self-esteem, we fall victim to the belief that the good and bad opinions given to us by others are true! Good self-esteem is when we KNOW who we are from the inside out! "Think on these things."
Virginia -Virginia Beach
Peggy Cross - A.S.I.D. & Artist - Website
"I think when a person has high self-esteem is similar to what Picasso said about art in that "Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life". Peggy has been commissioned to work on site with Feng Shui clients in California, Nevada, Michigan and Abaco, and the Bahamas, in addition to Virginia and Florida where she has lived. Her original artwork is filled with strokes of light!. Please click here on the "art" link and scroll down the page to see samples of her art currently on exhibit.
Project of The Sacretherapy Institute, Inc.
A Psycho-Spiritual 501(C)(3) Not-for-Profit Organization
Justin Andries - Website
Reiki Master/ Energy
"Self-esteem is the the foundation upon which our soul flourishes" To enjoy a guided meditation by Jusitin click here
USA - California
Stan Sellers - Actor (SAG-AFTRA)
"Self-esteem gives one a positive outlook on life and helps you to reach your goals." Stan has been a dedicated artist for most of his life having stared in numerous television shows and films including guest starring roles on Seinfeld, as well as ER, The West Wing, CSI and The Drew Carey Show, and in Eddie Murphy's movie Dr. Doolittle, etc. just to name a few.
Copyright © 2015-2020 UR2.Global - A Project of The Sacretherapy Institute - A 501-C-3 Not-for-profit organization.


Building an AI is one of the most subtle things people have ever attempted with strong evidence provided by the durable nature of the problem despite attempts by many intelligent people. In comparison, putting a man on the moon was a relatively straightforward technical problem with little confusion about the nature of the solution.
Building an AI is almost surely a software problem since the outer limit for the amount of computation in the human brain is only 10^17 ops/second (10^11 neurons with 10^4 connections operating at 10^2 Hz) which is within reach of known systems.
People tend to mysticize the complexity of unknown things, so the "real" amount of computation required for a human scale AI is likely far less—perhaps even within reach of a 10^13 flop GPU.
Since building an AI is a software problem, the problem is complexity in a much stronger sense than for most problems. The effective approach for dealing with complexity is to use modularity. But which modularity? A sprawl of proposed kinds of often incompatible and obviously incomplete modularity exists. The moment when you try to decompose into smaller problems is when the difficulty of solution is confronted.
For guidance, we can consider what works and what does not. This is tricky, because the definition of AI is less than clear. I qualify AI with by degrees of intelligence in my mind—a human level AI is one which can accomplish the range of tasks which a human can. This includes learning complex things (language, reasoning, etc…) from a much more basic state.
The definition seems natural but it is not easily tested via the famous Turing Test. For example, you could imagine a Cyc-backed system passing a Turing Test. Would that be a human-level AI? I'd argue 'no', because the reliance on a human-crafted ontology indicates an incapability to discover and use new things effectively. There is a good science fiction story to write here where a Cyc-based system takes over civilization but then gradually falls apart as new relevant concepts simply cannot be grasped.
Instead of AI facsimiles, learning approaches seem to be the key to success. If a system learned from basic primitives how to pass the Turing Test, I would naturally consider it much closer to human-level AI.
We have seen the facsimile design vs. learn tension in approaches to AI activities play out many times with the facsimile design approach winning first, but not always last. Consider Game Playing, Driving, Vision, Speech, and Chat-bots. At this point the facsimile approach has been overwhelmed by learning in Vision and Speech while in Game Playing, Driving, and Chat-bots the situation is less clear.
I expect facsimile approaches are one of the greater sources of misplaced effort in AI and that will continue to be an issue, because it's such a natural effort trap: Why not simply make the system do what you want it to do? Making a system that works by learning to do things seems a rather indirect route that surely takes longer and requires more effort. The answer of course is that the system which learns what might otherwise be designed can learn other things as needed, making it inherently more robust.
There is an alternate view of why modularity is necessary: coding complexity. There are not too many bits in the genome related to brain function. Escalating the budget of relatively few bits into so many neurons and connections implies that there must be an algorithm at work. The nature of this algorithm may be alien to conventional notions of modularity, but it must have some form of regular repeated structure.
I HATE the silly "clever" blogspot tweaking URLS!!!
About the Turing test: a trained tester would never allow a system to pass unless it demonstrated learning capability. Forget the so-called annual Turing tests. Those systems would never have fooled Turing. The fact that they fooled so many of the testers says more about the quality of the testers than of the systems. I visited one of the annual winners. "I hear congratulations are in order." Nothing. Clueless. Test them with a team of AI scientists.
Supervised learning approaches are arguably also facsimile methods. We have very few examples of self-supervised/unsupervised/reinforcement learning methods that have been able to beat facsimile methods. The road to human-level AI does not pass through Amazon Mechanical Turk.
Does it count as "Artificial Intelligence", when a machine plays the game of Go sublimely, yet cannot rationally explain why certain moves are good, and neither does inspection of the machine's architecture and code reveal any rational clues, and neither can the machine rationally teach its cognitive skills?
Peter Sterling's and Simon Laughlin's recent (and PROSE-winning) textbook Principles of Neural Design (2015) points toward a world of cognitive capabilities that are characterized by precisely these non-rational traits — traits that (when we reflect) are human indeed.
You are asking for too much.
This assumes that neurons are simple devices. But they aren't. Each is a self replicating chemical factory with ~1 gigabyte of DNA/RNA code and tens of thousands of molecular tools at its disposal. Quite possible that it is doing a good share of the total learning in the brain.


text:
layout: post
title: The Source is Open
date: '2005-08-11 14:16:28 -0700'
mt_id: 987
blog_id: 1
post_id: 987
basename: the-source-is-open
categories:
- go-daddy
- net-development
---

Awesome news! Michael Schwarz has released the source of the very useful Ajax.NET library, which I've used to great effect in the application I'm developing at work. Besides my team lead, other team leads have been impressed with the simplicity of its use and the power it affords. We're busily integrating it into our applications.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub