text:
Middle Class Exit 'Lost Decade' With Little Hope: Pew Report
By Jillian Berman
Things aren't looking great for America's middle class, and they know it.
A significant share of the middle class say it will be a long time before they recover from the severe shocks of the past 10 years, dubbed "The Lost Decade" in a Pew Research Center report released Wednesday.
"There's not a lot of good news for the middle class," Rich Morin, senior editor at the Pew Research Center and a co-author of the report, told The Huffington Post. "The middle class has shrunk in size, it's declined in income and in wealth, and has lost a little bit of that characteristic faith in the future that defines Americans broadly, but particularly the middle class."
The report suggests that five years after the financial collapse, middle-class Americans have yet to fully recover, and many think it will be years before they do. Of those middle-class households who said they're worse off since the recession, 51 percent said they won't recover for at least five years and 8 percent said they never will. And 85 percent of people who described themselves as middle class said it's harder to maintain a middle-class standard of living now than it was a decade ago.
The consequences of a disappearing middle class could be dire. Morin noted that political scientists speculate a functioning middle class could be key to a functioning democracy.
"If you lose the middle class, you're in danger of losing a lot," he said.
As middle-class households -- which the report defines as those making between two-thirds and twice the national median income -- feel they're struggling to make ends meet, their wealthier neighbors are making gains.
Over the past four decades, upper-income Americans have increased their share of overall U.S. household income, from 29 percent in 1971 to 46 percent in 2010, according to the report. During the same period, the middle-class share of income dropped from 62 percent to 45 percent.
Unless steps are taken to reverse this trend, Morin predicted, America will see "the rich getting richer and more numerous as the poor grow poorer and more numerous and the size of the middle class dwindling."
In addition to losing a major share of America's income, the middle class saw its wealth wiped out over the last decade. A volatile stock market and a major housing bust pummeled middle-class assets, decreasing their net worth by almost 30 percent and "erasing two decades of growth," according to the report.
"The fact that for the first time since the end of World War II incomes have declined, that's amazing," Morin said. "We've obviously had recessions in the past -- we've had two in the past 10 years -- but there's always been a bounce back."
Within the middle class, some lost more than others. Yet one of the more surprising findings of the report, said Morin, is that minorities and young people -- two of the groups that were hit hardest -- are actually the most optimistic.
Seventy-eight percent of blacks and 67 percent of Hispanics said they're optimistic about the country's future, compared to 48 percent of whites. Sixty-seven percent of 18- to 24-year-olds said the same thing, while only 52 percent of those 50 and over -- a group who emerged as one of the biggest winners of the past decade -- said they're upbeat about the country's future.
Minorities and young people, "according to the economic data, were disproportionately negatively affected by change in the past decade," Morin said. "But they remain as a group less likely to say that it's harder to maintain a middle-class lifestyle, they're less likely to say it's harder to get ahead, and they tend to be a little bit more financially secure now than 10 years ago."
Below are some sad facts about America's middle class from the Pew report:
Facts About The Middle Class' 'Lost Decade'
Jillian Berman
Associate Business Editor, The Huffington Post
Middle Class Recession Lost Decade Middle Class Lost Decade Americas Middle Class Great Recession


The teams that gathered over the weekend built data-driven projects using a Census Bureau toolkit.
Pres Adams talks #SocEnt to open the proceedings.
As Artscape crowds sweated below, about three-dozen people came together in a University of Baltimore room to Hack for Diversity and Social Justice over the weekend.
Organized by Presidential Innovation Fellow Tyrone Grandison and Startup Maryland, the event was designed to let civic-minded people in Baltimore work with the U.S. Census Bureau's CitySDK, which brings government APIs together.
The teams were given a rundown on the Census Bureau's dev kit and some ideas to open the proceedings from organizations like the White House Council on Women and Girls on Friday night. On Saturday, the teams reconvened for a full day session to begin working on ways to address the issues.
There wasn't prize money given out, but each team will get support from connected organizations as they look to take their ideas to the viable product stage.
"The community was terrific and we felt it would be unfair to all the teams to name 'winners,' so we are going to work with all of them to help them along," Grandison said after the event.
Working with Kimberlyn Leary of the White House Council on Women and Girls, this group sought to create an app that would find whether there are correlations between high rates of school suspension for girls of color and other community challenges such as domestic violence, unplanned pregnancy and gun violence. The visualization app would use APIs from Open Baltimore and the Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance's Vital Signs index.
This team, which included Baltimore civic hackers Ryan J. Smith and Jake Marold along with Rachel Shorey (who works by day at the Sunlight Foundation), sought to make data from Baltimore tax lien auctions more widely available. The annual auctions are known to surprise even property owners' whose property end up for sale, and are not widely publicized beyond groups of developers. The team is working on a map of properties that went to tax lien auction in a given year, as well as an infographic on individual auctions and cleaning of the city's data.
Led by Laurin Hodge and her mother Teresa Hodge of Mission: Launch, this group is planning a hackathon in the winter to work specifically with Baltimore re-entry data. (Our sister site, Technical.ly DC, profiled their efforts in D.C.) They came to Hack for Diversity and Social Justice to find out the data that was available about how many people are released from prison within given timeframes in Baltimore, as well as access to services. "We came to see what data existed so that we can start the ground work between now and the hackathon in the new year," Laurin Hodge said following the event.
This group is looking to make a platform for community organizing data. With the data, they want to inform community decision-making, and help empower youth and families. Along with community organizers, the data could be used by foundations and human service providers. Data could be gathered through a survey that may be promoted on social media, and within neighborhoods.
This team plotted locations of bike racks and bike lanes in Baltimore, then overlayed it with income and ethnographic data. The data showed that the bike racks and paths were in whiter, richer areas of Baltimore. A visualization could be used to convince policymakers to rethink placements in the future.


text:
Runner's World+
Download Training Plans
Meet RW+ Members
RW Apparel
Runner's World 2022 Calendar
Health & Injuries
Nutrition & Weight Loss
Daily Calories Calculator
Running Shoes & Gear
Best Running Shoes
Minimalist Running Shoes
Best Walking Shoes
What to Wear Tool
Socks for Runners
Winter Running Hats
Best Jogging Strollers
High Impact Sports Bras
Running Headlamps
Interval Running
Tempo Run
Tapering
Running Pace Calculator
Race Times Predictor
Age Grade Calculator
Pace Converter
Training Pace Calculator
Run Walk Pace Calculator
Races & Places
Runner's Stories
Trail Running Gear
How to Stick to Your Goal Pace During Intervals
Running Can Help Keep Your Liver Healthy
The Best Folding Treadmills That Save Space
What Are BCAAs and Should I Be Using Them?
New Running Challenges to Try After a Marathon
Ultra-Mom: Liza Howard
The unassuming Howard won the Leadville Trail 100, the USATF 100-Mile National Championship and the USATF 50-Miler in the last year—after just getting into racing as a new mom.
By Lisa Jhung
Thirty-nine-year-old Liza Howard hit the ultramarathon scene with instant success, not long after having her son Asa, now 3½. Her first trail race was the Zane Gray 50-K in 2008, eight months after giving birth. She followed that up with the 2009 Cactus Rose 100-miler, which she won in just over 21 hours. Last year, she competed in four more ultras: a 60-K, two 100-milers—including the prestigious Leadville Trail 100, which she won—and The North Face Endurance Challenge 50 Mile. (She won all but The North Face race.) So far in 2011, Howard has won and set the course record for the USATF 100-Mile National Championship, won the USATF 50-Mile National Championship, and recently became a sponsored runner as a New Balance Ambassador.
Howard didn't run in college or high school, and now juggles motherhood to a toddler, her job that has her out in the woods for days at a time, and training to be a successful ultrarunner. This is a balancing act that is, in her words, "a big challenge," but she seems to be doing a lot of things right.
Here's what she has to say.
How is the balancing act?
Motherhood is a lot more than I expected! I often feel like I'm just keeping my head above water balancing being a mom, spouse, teacher...and runner. So it's been really a treat to do well. It makes me feel better about the dirty dishes, un-cleaned bathrooms, and piles of laundry around the house.
When do you get your training in now?
I try to run in the mornings, but I just can't do it. Asa goes to preschool three days a week from 8:30-2:30...and on weekends I'll run. When I'm peaking, I'll run from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. when he's at school. It's not straight running the entire time; it's a lot of rocky trails, so the mileage isn't all that high.
On the weekends, Amanda usually has me do one longer run, and one behind it [the next day]. Sometimes I'll leave at 4 a.m. to drive to a trailhead, get running by 5 a.m. before it gets hot.
What's the trail running like there in San Antonio?
We don't really have long hills, but we definitely have rocks. It's super fun, and I feel like it's a benefit to train here and go other places.
You get acclimatized to the rocks and the heat for sure. It is tough. It doesn't cool off a ton at night, so there's not a huge benefit to getting up at 4 a.m. It'll get into the 100s, high 90s, and the humidity makes it harder.
Tell me about your job and what that entails?
I work quarter-time for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) as an instructor. I go away for a weekend class here and there. I have a 3½-week trip coming up.
So, your husband watches your son while you're gone?
Yes. He's a rock star. He helps with Asa while I train a lot, too. He knows it's better if I'm running than not running.
How was your pregnancy, and did you run much while pregnant and after giving birth?
I had all these thoughts that I'd run all through my pregnancy...that I'd be one of those moms...But it just wasn't any fun running shortly after my first trimester. And I didn't pick it back up for a while. I wanted to do some trail runs in San Antonio. Austin has a trail running group, but I didn't think I'd be back in good enough shape to join them after having my son.
I really didn't do much that first year. I was kind of a disaster, to be quite honest with you.
But I started running about a month or so after my son was born. I'd go out for just 20 minutes.
What was your first race?
I did the Zane Grey 50-K in 2008. A friend who works for NOLS just kind of said, "Why don't we do this?"
I did fine. I just went along with my friend and he had a hard time. I was nursing at the time, so I had to make it to the aid station so I could nurse. Ultimately had to leave my friend because I was super uncomfortable. I think I was the third female or something. I had a good experience there, though.
I hadn't run ultras before being pregnant. I had done my own 50-mile run on the roads.
Can you explain that--your own 50-miler on the roads?
I could never fit in an ultra because of the traveling I was doing. So I created the first and second "Liza Invitational" in 2006 and 2007. I did 25 miles out on these Texas roads, and 25 miles back. Thinking about it now, it was just nutty.
Did you carry water, or how did that work?
My husband Eliot would drive ahead, and douse me with water when I ran by. It was super hot, but running just makes me really happy.
I meant to head out super early in the morning, but I got really scared. We lived out in the country across from an exotic animal park, and there were all these noises...I had to wait until light.
What got you really interested in racing ultras competitively?
After I did Rocky Raccoon in 2009 and did okay, well under 24 hours [21:32:48] I was like, "You know, if I'm going to do this, I'm going to try and have a coach." Being coached by Amanda McIntosh has made a major difference. In 2010, I wasn't nursing or anything, but I dropped close to six hours off my time [she ran 15:45:03; and was the first woman and second overall in 2010; in 2011, she ran 15:33:09, beating the second-place woman by over seven hours].
Amanda's a single mom with two kids, and has won Leadville twice. She's very understanding with me trying to balance stuff.
What did she have you change, specifically, with your training?
I started doing higher mileage, slowly. I became more consistent, because I had a coach saying I needed to do these certain things. I couldn't postpone long runs.
Can you talk about winning Leadville last August?
I had a pretty bad race. I'm having a hard time figuring out my nutrition. It was a bit of a gut-wrenching experience.
So what are you doing differently these days in regards to nutrition?
I'm now trying to take in calories more often and in smaller amounts. I'm a small person [5'1", 95 pounds], and was taking in two gel packs an hour, which is appropriate calorie wise, but I think it was too much for me to process. And now I'm adding in other things. Everything regarding nutrition is just calculated for the standard-size person. Plus, as you get faster, what once worked once doesn't work anymore. I'm still just figuring it out.
What's your favorite distance?
The 100-mile is my favorite. It's just what I'm good at. I'm not particularly fast. But I can just keep going. After 60 miles, that's where any talent I have can come out.
What sports did you do growing up?
I swam a bit in high school. My family lived in Berlin, and that's when it was divided. Anyway, anyone who wanted to join the swim team could join. We came back to the (United) States my senior year, and lived in Newport, Rhode Island. I was on the cross-country team for half a month.
What are your plans for the rest of the year?
I got into Western States by winning Bandera [the USATF 100-K Championship]. I got accepted into Western last year, but had plantar fasciitis, so I didn't do it.
I'll do Leadville, and try to have a good race.
Lisa Jhung Lisa Jhung writes about all things adventure and is the author of Running That Doesn't Suck: How To Love Running (Even If You Think You Hate It) and Trailhead: The Dirt on All Things Trail Running.
More From Trail Running
The Best Hiking Apps for Trail Runners
How Your Body Handles Trail Versus Road Running
What is Fastpacking?
How to Actually Prep for a Trail Race
Power Hiking While Trail Running Is Totally Okay
A Quick Guide to Surviving Animal Encounters
How Runners Can Celebrate Earth Day Every Day
Expert Advice for Trail Running Newbies
Created for From Runner's World for Created by Runner's World for
5 Reasons to Run Trails
Watch Jim Walmsley Attempt the Hardrock 100 Record
Moms on the Run
Super Mom
Ultra Mania
Go Ultra
Ultra Progression
A Part of Hearst Digital Media Runner's World participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Online to decline, stockpiling to stay post COVID-19
Health and safety will remain a top concern for consumers once stay-at-home restrictions are lifted, according to a nationwide survey, Eating 2020: How COVID-19 Will Change Consumer Engagement With Food. The vast majority of those surveyed want grocery stores to have employees wear face masks and encourage social distancing. However, when presented with all safety options, shoppers are most concerned about the perceived health threat posed by other customers, more so than employees.
"These findings contribute data to what we've believed to be true, that groceries should prepare to meet consumer expectations for health and safety for some time to come," said Hinda Mitchell, president of Inspire PR Group. "Clearly defined protocols around how these businesses will keep their customers safe — mostly from other customers — will be critical to restoring trust and confidence."
National PR firm Inspire PR Group and full-service market research firm Illuminology released the results of the survey, which gauged more than 1,800 U.S. consumers' food purchasing trends before, during and after the COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions.
Online to Decline
Additional insights reveal that although grocery chains saw a surge of new customers for online pickup and delivery orders in April 2020, these platforms are likely to see significant declines back to pre-COVID-19 levels or lower after stay-at-home restrictions are lifted. The survey found that of the recently acquired shoppers, more than one-third are unlikely to use online pickup and nearly half are unlikely to use online delivery when restrictions are lifted.
The research was conducted April 17-20 and surveyed 1,300 U.S. consumers and an additional sample of 500 Ohio consumers. The survey asked respondents about their grocery and restaurant behaviors in the first two months of 2020 before COVID-19 became a crisis in the U.S., behaviors during stay-at-home orders in April, and how consumers anticipate their behaviors will change in the first 60 days following when orders are lifted.
"Overall, these data tell a story of consumers' changing purchase patterns before, during, and after an incredible shock to our economic and health systems," said Orie Kristel, CEO of Illuminology. "Groceries and restaurants need to be especially cautious when planning their operations after COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions are lifted. Although many customers likely crave a great dining or shopping experience, many customers are also concerned about potential monetary or health issues."
Additional insights from the U.S. survey of 1,300 respondents revealed:
Grocery Store Behaviors Will Change
Stockpiling extra nonperishable foods and household supplies is likely to continue, with four in 10 respondents saying they are very likely to buy and store these items after stay-at-home restrictions are lifted.
Consumers are fearful of other shoppers making them ill. Approximately 23 percent of shoppers most prefer that customers wear face masks and 18 percent prefer that the number of customers in the store be limited.
When the shelter-in-place restrictions are lifted, in-store visits will increase, but online shopping will decrease or remain flat.


text:
Deze lijst van voetbalinterlands is een overzicht van alle officiële voetbalwedstrijden tussen de nationale teams van China en Hongkong. De landen speelden tot op heden 22 keer tegen elkaar. De eerste ontmoeting, een kwalificatiewedstrijd voor de Azië Cup 1976, werd gespeeld in Hongkong op 9 mei 1975.  Het laatste duel, een wedstrijd tijdens de Oost-Azië Cup 2022, vond plaats op 27 juli 2022 in Toyota (Japan).

Wedstrijden

Samenvatting

Wedstrijden bepaald door strafschoppen worden, in lijn met de FIFA, als een gelijkspel gerekend.

Details

Achtste ontmoeting

Hongkong
China

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Pennsylvania wound care centers treat various types of wounds, including non-healing surgical wounds, burns and leg ulcers. In many cases, patients who come to the facility are experiencing complications of wound infections. These difficult-to-heal wounds are commonly caused by medical conditions such as diabetes and vascular disorders. Search our database to locate one of the many Pennsylvania wound care centers in your area.


Energi . AngryBunny. MMcappuccinoMM. AuroraClark.
VickyMouneMiaStarXsalma4uLAURENBERTER .280291forgetmenot62WildLionsToryNICE .VickyMouneYourdreamMydreamNeonnisexxybunnynalyna .OliviaEndlerHornyHulk69VickyMouneLAURENBERTER .EleectrasexxybunnynalynaSweetBlondiiacristiangrey .EleectraZvezdaShowLadyPearl08madinochka .MissKellybbYuliethSmithSuharinaToryNICE .KarolKim2naughtyguyx87AnniBrillianceMissKellybb .Nagisa55LadyPearl08dirtysoniataniasexi .ExquisiteYasminHornyHulk69MMcappuccinoMMVickyMoune .LollyGreatLegsmadinochkaCandysamiraCandyWannaPlay .
OliviaEndlerAuroraClarkMakeMeSinCandyWannaPlay .BabisandraSexyNatasha79JustineLuvPlay08SamuelBOG .sexblackgodessxHotIrinkamrmrsboejanglesgorminet .MMcappuccinoMMsalma4uMissKellybbSuharina .ShyEmma108SamuelBOGCRISSvsJUSTINLollyGreatLegs .CatyLittleBunnyLorenaClio1DIRTYQUEEN19YuliethSmith .BrunoRobsonbigballs19CandyWannaPlayMiraAndCarina .DenisseBBYSoCuteJinaDIRTYQUEEN19ExquisiteYasmin .SexyNatasha79BrunoRobsonNicoleBaltitaniasexi .BlackyCatLindaHot4uxxDianthagorminet .CatyLittleBunnyEternityLovenaughtyguyx87OliviaEndler .


text:
TheDissertation - Business - Economic Sanctions Something On Your Choice But Ask Firstly
Free Economic sanctions (something on your choice) (but ask firstly) Dissertation Example
Subcategory: Design
Words: 18150
Whether economic sanctions influence fluctuations in Global Oil Prices? A Research Proposal
Professor's Name
Economic sanctions are acknowledged as one of robust and coercive diplomatic measures next that influence international relations. Sanctions are also considered as an effective alternative to military aggression in regulating the unjustified and undesirable measures that are adopted by certain nations to disturb international relations. On the contrary, some economists believe that political motives play a major role in influencing the decision of imposing sanctions on the respective nations. Likewise, certain economists speculate that sanctions are often imposed to regulate global economy. Sanctions that are witnessed globally are classified into three types; diplomatic, financial, and trade sanctions. Financial and trade sanctions are jointly referred as "economic sanctions." Any sanction is based on three principles; signaling (expression of genuine concern over the activities of a nation), restriction (dissuading the respective nation from future misconduct), and coercion (compulsion to change the undesirable behavior of the nation in question). The world has witnessed various episodes of sanctions over the past five to six decades. In fact, the history of economic sanctions is traced back to the Peloponnesian war (Yahia & Saleh, 2008).
Although the reason for sanctions varied, the impact of sanctions could be felt on the crude oil price (more commonly referred as oil price shocks) and fluctuations on the macroeconomic variables of those countries that imposed sanctions and nations on whom sanctions were imposed (Bahgat, 2004, Tyll et al., 2018, Yahia & Saleh, 2008). However, there is no conclusive evidence on the influence of sanctions on the macroeconomic variables of the sanction-imposing nations and the nations on whom sanctions are imposed as a function of fluctuations in the crude oil price of the respective nations.
Research Questions and Objectives of the Proposed Study
This research proposal will explore one primary research question "Whether economic sanctions influence fluctuations in Global Oil Prices?" The primary research question will be answered based on the comparison on the impact of sanctions on the Russian and Iranian economy. The proposed study will help to understand the fluctuations in global economy as a function of sanctions imposed on the major crude oil producing nations. Different SRQs (secondary research questions) will be explored for answering the PRQ (primary research question) comprehensively.
Section 2: Literature Review
The fluctuations in globe crude oil price have been historically influenced by strategic decisions. One such strategic decision is the imposition of financial and trade sanctions. Tyll et al. (2018) stated that developed nations are primarily involved with the imposition of sanctions. However, sanctions could be imposed on developed as well as underdeveloped or developing nations. The U.S. and the U. K. have been traditionally viewed as sanction-imposing nations. The EU (European Union) also evolved in imposing sanctions along with their western counterparts. An overproduction of crude oil by certain nations coupled with the imposition of sanctions on those nations (whose economy also depends on the export of crude oil) significantly influences the economy of the respective nations. Tyll et al. (2018) further suggested that the volatility in global crude oil price is stringently manipulated based on socioeconomic and geopolitical decisions. Abeysinghe (2001) stated that the imposition of economic sanctions create shocks in global oil price. Such shocks became evident from 1985 and continued for few years. However, the situation got reversed during 2000 to 2008.
During this period, the U.S. and the EU had to confront the pitfalls of the economic fluctuations that are traditionally witnessed before the onset of the global economic crisis. The growth of Russian and Chinese economy during this period prevented further shocks in the global crude oil price. Yahia and Saleh (2008) stated that the growth of these two economies played a significant role in preventing the monopoly of U.S. and their allies in the European Union in regulating the price of crude oil. The hostile measures adopted by the U.S. and the U.K. during time to time to regulate world economy forced Russia and China to develop strong bilateral trade relations with the Middle-East (including Iran) and Africa countries. Caruso (2008) stated that Iran would continue to play a strategic role in influencing major geopolitical and sociopolitical decisions. Nephew (2015) highlighted that the improved bilateral relations of Iran with Russia and China helped the nation to negate the effects of sanctions that were imposed upon them by the U.S. and their European allies from time to time. As a result, the United States and their allies reverted to the strategy of imposing sanctions on these nations that developed bilateral relationships to negate the austerity measures of the U.S. and their allies. Such strategy led to the development of historical shocks in global crude prices that was evident from 1985 and beyond. Although the motive of any sanction is to regulate the unlawful and undesirable act of any nation that imposes threat to the global socioeconomic and geopolitical scenario, there can be different factors that underpin the decision of such sanctions. The historical fluctuations in global crude oil price and their possible reasons are presented in Fig 1.
Fig 1: Historical fluctuations in global crude oil price and their possible reasons (Source: Energy Information Administration, June 2016 and Deloitte University Press)
One such factor that underpins the decision of sanctions is the regulation of global economy by the superpowers of the world. It is contended that sanctions can influence the macroeconomic variables of different nations either through the fluctuations in global crude oil prices or without these fluctuations. For example, the sanctions imposed by the U.S. and the U.K. were to address the Russian aggression in the Ukrainian territories. However, the underpinning motive of such sanctions was to prevent the emergence of Russia and China as the superpowers in regulating world economy (Niblock, 2001). The U.S. significantly increased their production of crude oil before they decided to impose sanctions on Russia. A Bloomberg report suggested that the U.S. produced almost 14MBD (Million Barrels Per day) from 2014 onwards and became the highest producer of crude oil in the globe. To complement the decision of the United States, their Arabian allies also started to overproduce crude oil. Such strategic decisions translated into a significant fall in the Russian crude oil price.
To recall, the European Union was the highest buyer (almost 12%) of Russian crude oil before sanctions were imposed on Russia. Tyll et al. (2018) highlighted that a fall in Russian crude oil price led to the devaluation of the Ruble against the U.S. dollar. Hence, there are implications that sanctions could influence macroeconomic variables of the nations on which sanctions are imposed. Hence, Dreyer and Popescu (2014) highlighted that economic sanctions are effective tools for the developed nations in regulating global economy. Baghat (2004) and Yahia & Saleh (2008) highlighted that economic sanctions imposed on Libya not only set fluctuations in the Libyan crude oil price but also impacted the macroeconomic variables such as unemployment rate and inflation rate of the nation. Likewise, Tyll et al. (2018) highlighted that the sanctions imposed by the United States and the United Kingdom on Russia increased its rate of inflation along with the shocks in Russian crude oil price.
Lee, Ni, & Ratti (1995) highlighted that imposition of sanctions have traditionally impacted the crude oil price across the nations on whom sanctions are imposed. On the contrary, certain authors (Tiwari, Dar, & Bhanja, 2008) showed that fluctuations in crude oil price can influence currency exchange rates by interacting with different macroeconomic variables (including crude oil price). However, the nations on whom sanctions are imposed respond by undertaking stringent countermeasures that help them to negate the impact of sanctions. For example, India emerged as one of the highest buyers of Iranian crude oil post-imposition of sanctions on Iran by the U.S. and their allies. Although the preliminary literature review reflected that sanctions could influence global crude oil prices and macroeconomic variables, evidence is lacking regarding the possible interaction between these variables and its impact on sanction-imposing nations, nations on whom sanctions are imposed, and nations with whom such nations continue to maintain bilateral trade-offs post-sanction.
Section 3: Investigative Approach and Methods
Data Collection and Study Design
The proposed research would incorporate a mixed-methodology approach for addressing the research questions. Therefore, this research would incorporate different qualitative and quantitative data to answer the PRQ and SRQs. The secondary data for this study would be obtained for the period March, 2014 to October, 2016. The reason for such period will be to gauge the impact of international sanctions on the two global crude oil-majors; Russia and Iran. The data were collected based on two classifications; oil-importing nations and oil-exporting nations. The major oil importing nations that would be considered in the proposed study would include the United States, the United Kingdom, China, and India. On the other hand, the oil-exporting countries that would be considered for the proposed study will include Russia and Iran. The study would explore how the sanctions imposed on Russia and Iran impacted their crude oil price and macroeconomic variables and the result of the sanctions on the crude oil price and macroeconomic variables of the oil-importing nations (who were one of the highest buyers for Russian and Iranian crude oil).
The qualitative data would include the subjective responses of the study participants (n= 6 to 10). A semi-structured interview would be implemented to understand the views of the participants regarding the reasons and impact of economic sanctions on the global economy (Appendix-1). The participants would have a strong academic background on economics and econometrics who could be either employed in the industrial or the academic sectors. Hence, a purposive sampling would be undertaken to select the participants for the semi-structured interview. The verbatim of the study participants would form the basis of primary data. The quantitative data would be obtained from different online sources such as www.tradingeconomics.com, published reports of the International Monetary Fund, World Databank, and the International Energy Agency. The multiple sources would be accessed to ensure the viability and reliability of the secondary data analysis. The secondary data that would be considered for the proposed research include crude oil price, oil and natural gas price, unemployment rate, lagged oil price variable (crude oil price in the previous year), GDP growth rate, interest rate, Debt to GDP ratio, and inflation rates of the nations that imposed sanctions, on whom sanctions are imposed, and on those which continued to have bilateral trade-offs post-imposition of sanctions.
The macroeconomic variables such as crude oil price, oil and natural gas price, unemployment rate, GDP growth rate, interest rate, Debt to GDP ratio, and inflation rates for both oil-importing and oil-exporting nations would be collected for the period from March, 2014 to October, 2016 from the specified data sources. Logistic regression analyses would be constructed with crude oil price as the dependent variable and oil and natural gas price, unemployment rate, lagged oil price variable (price of crude oil in the previous year), GDP growth rate, interest rate, Debt to GDP ratio, and inflation rates as the independent variables. The first regression analysis would explore whether macroeconomic variables play a key role in influencing crude price and vice-versa. On the other hand, a second logistic regression analysis would be also constructed with crude oil price as the dependent variable and status of sanction (sanctions imposed/sanctions not imposed) and lagged oil price variable as the independent variables. The second regression analysis would explore whether the price of crude oil in the previous year and economic crisis (such as sanctions) play a key role in influencing crude price and vice-versa that is independent of the influence of macroeconomic variables. The step-wise regression analysis would help to explore the reasons that underpin the imposition of sanctions beyond its primary motive of regulating the unlawful behavior of nations on whom sanctions are imposed.
Secondary Research Questions and Hypothesis Testing
The secondary research questions (SRQs) that would be explored in the proposed study are as follows:
SRQ1: Whether economic sanctions significantly influence oil-price in the nation on which sanctions are imposed?
SRQ2: Do economic sanctions imposed on a nation influence oil prices in other nations with which it had bilateral relations before the sanction?
SRQ3: Whether countermeasures adopted by a nation to overcome the effects of economic sanction are effective in stabilizing oil-price in that nation?
SRQ4: Whether countermeasures adopted by a nation to overcome the effects of economic sanction are effective in stabilizing oil-price in a nation with which it had bilateral relations before the sanction?
SRQ5: Whether different economic indicators confound or interact with each other in influencing oil-price and vice-versa in the nation on which sanction has been imposed?
SRQ6: Whether different economic indicators confound or interact with each other in influencing oil-price and vice-versa in the nation with which it had bilateral relations before the sanction?
SRQ7: Whether economic sanctions on a nation influence oil-price in another nation that continues to maintain bilateral trade agreement with it irrespective of the sanction?
SRQ8: Whether different economic indicators confound or interact with each other in influencing oil-price and vice-versa in the nation that continue to maintain bilateral trade agreement with a nation on which sanction has been imposed?
Statistical Tests and Software
The SRQs will be analyzed based on hypotheses testing (involving the acceptance or rejection of the null (Ho) or the alternative hypothesis (H1). The statistical tests of inference that would be undertaken in the proposed study will be appraised at the 0.05 level of significance. The R-program software would be used to conduct the statistical analyses for the study.
Section 4: Ethical Considerations
Since the proposed research would not impose physical or mental harm to the study participants, the ethical considerations for conducting research with human samples would not be compromised in the proposed study. Moreover, the study participants who provide informed consent would be only included in the proposed research. The ethical guidelines governing the privacy of primary and secondary data would be also ensured at every step of the proposed research. Any violation on the ethical guidelines governing data privacy would be subjected to legal and academic litigations. Finally, any work (publications) done by the previous authors that would be used in the proposed research would be appropriately cited.
Section 5: Time Plan and Resources
The time plan and the resources that would be required for the proposed study is presented in table 1.
Deliverables Time line Resources
Literature Review and Constructing the semi-structured questionnaire 2 months Access to University library
Financial support for accessing paid articles for the Literature review= 200$
Travelling allowances for conducting the interviews=
Data Analysis 1 month Access to R-program software=Free access
Preparation of the Dissertation (Initial Draft) 1 month Stationary= 50$
Preparation of the Final Draft (after Professor's comments) 15 days Total: 4 month 15 days USD: 400$
Abeysinghe, T. (2001). "Estimation of direct and indirect impact of oil price on growth."
Economics Letters 73(2), pp. 147.
Bahgat, G. (2004), "Oil Terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Libyan Diplomatic
Coup." The Journal of Social, Political, and Economic Studies 29(4), pp. 373.
Caruso, R. (2003). The impact of international economic sanctions on trade: An empirical analysis. Peace Economics, Peace Science and Public Policy, 9, pp.2.
Dreyer, I., & Popescu, N. (2014). Do sanctions against Russia work. European Union Institute for Security Studies, pp. 35.
Lee, K, S. Ni and. Ratti. R (1995), "Oil Shocks and the Macroeconomy: the rol of Price
Variability." The Energy Journal 16(4), pp. 39-56
Niblock, T. (2001). The regional and domestic political consequences of sanctions imposed on
Iraq, Libya and Sudan. Arab. Stud. Q.,23 (4), pp. 59-67.
Nephew R (2015). Issue Brief: The Future of Economic Sanctions In A Global Economy, Columbia SIPA, Center on Global Energy Policy, pp. 4-25
Tyll, L., Pernica, K., & Arltová, M. (2018). The impact of economic sanctions on Russian economy and the RUB/USD exchange rate. Journal of International Studies, 11(1), pp. 21-33.
Tiwari, A.K., Dar, A.B., Bhanja, N. (2013). Oil price and exchange rates: A wavelet based analysis for India. Economic Modelling 31, pp. 414–422
Yahia A & Saleh A (2008). Economic Sanctions, Oil Price Fluctuations and Employment: New Empirical Evidence from Libya American Journal of Applied Sciences 5 (12), pp.1713-1719,
Appendix-1
Do you consider that economic sanctions have impacted global oil prices including your nation?
Responses: Yes, all nations are affected
Do you feel that economic sanctions are secondary to other macroeconomic variables in influencing global oil prices and vice-versa?
Responses: I feel they interact with each other
Do you feel that countermeasures that are planned to overcome the impact of sanctions are effective? If so, what is the basis of your response?
Russia was good in negating the U.S. sanctions
Do you feel that sanctions have a short-term impact or a long-term impact on the global oil prices or do you feel that both these impacts are waned off through appropriate trade offs?
The duration does not always count; it's the impact for which they are imposed
Please express your views on the fluctuations in oil-price as a function of predetermined political motives or it is actually a pseudo-crisis?
Fiscal health of the nation is the key decision making issue before sanctions are imposed. No pseudo-crisis


The Ladies who Rock our World!
Topic: The Ladies who Rock our World!
We all know the Wilson (Ann & Nancy) Sisters, Pat Benetar, Joan Jett, Janis Joplin, Grace Slick and of course Stevie Nicks but women have rocked this business at every level since the begining. As we started putting together next week's podcast with an all female line up of bands we started thinking about some of the amazing lesser know ladies who have rocked our world. Thanks to our friends who weighed in on Facebook, Tanisha Jackson, Bob Giacometti, Katie Simone, Brigitte Rios Purdy, Terry Filia-Popovich , B.c. Cliver , Tina Magnotti, Zosia West , Carla Sunseri Simmons , Bill Hathaway, Carla Bianco, Jeff Mazzei, Vince Ornato, Greg Richards. Birthday shout outs to J, Geils, Walter Becker (Steely Dan), Randy California (Spirit), Jon Brant (Cheap Trick), Kristy Wallace a.k.a. "Poison Ivy" (The Cramps), Kurt Cobain (Nirvana), Edwin Graham (The Darkness).
Loudini artists Highway 4, Sit Kitty Sit, and Unwed Mothers . All this PLUS Pittsburgh Kevin!
"With an ear open to the great influences of the past, performed with the intensity of today, and a clear vision of the future, Rock & Roll is in good hands with Highway 4."
~Tim Daugherty, Program Director, WONE-FM 97.5, Akron OH.
Highway 4 is a 4 piece progressive riff-rock band that combine Zeppelin's hard hitting classic style, melodic Pearl Jam-like hooks, and vocal undertones of Myles/Nicks into and intense and engaging live show.
The "Classic Rock" sound has come full circle, this time, with more power and grit to back it up.
The award-winning rock band from the North East is quickly rising to popularity and resurfacing the rock music scene. Eclectic influences of the 1970's era forged with the muscle of the 21st Century have been the backbone to developing the unique & reminiscent new genre known as "Progressive Riff-Rock."
-2013 Grassy Award from 97.7 The Rock Station's Grass Roots Show for "One Of These Days"
San Francisco based Hard Piano Rock duo, Sit Kitty Sit, takes the stage. It's a pretty girl in a cocktail dress and a handsome guy in black jeans. Simple. Unassuming. Armed only with piano and drums, this fiery team lets loose an expertly manipulated balance of blow-your-mind power rock and virtuosic intricacy that leaves audiences screaming.
In May of 2010, Kat Downs (Good Natured Mortals/Sparrows Point/Saints of Ruin) and Mike Thompson (Big Nasty/Tokyo Raid/Cougar Kick) teamed up to experiment with the combination of classical piano and rock drumming. Typically described as "The Dresden Dolls mixed with King Crimson and Fiona Apple", the music they create also reflects evidence of Zeppelin, Beethoven, Rush and Rachmaninoff. The combination of Kat Downs' ornate hands and hair flying with Mike Thompson's flawless percussive mastery makes this duo the consummate definition of a "dream-team".
from Nick Cave to Randy Newman, Amanda Palmer to Metallica in their work.
Following their 2010 and 2012 releases, "The Push" and "Beautiful/Terrible" respectively, Sit Kitty Sit hit the road and never looked back. Touring almost non-stop since 2013, the duo has built up a cult-style following all across the United States and have become known for consistently thrilling audiences with their energetically intense live performances. No holds barred, this group produces addictive rock n' roll – with only two people, and not one guitar in sight.
2014 unleashed the release of Sit Kitty Sit's third studio album, "Everlasting Fire". Based entirely on Dante's "Inferno", this storyline album showcases the extensive versatility of Downs and Thompson as a team. Spanning seven genres and boasting 15 guest artists, the release shows us an entirely new side of the band while maintaining their identity. The album has been receiving rave reviews since it's release.
This year, Sit Kitty Sit was a featured performer at NAMM 2015 as guests of Killer Q Instrument Straps, whose presentation booth went on to win Best In Show. After teaming up with Sleepless Sounds Music Group in Los Angeles, CA to release a new 2015 single and continuing to tour the U.S., Sit Kitty Sit will take the leap over the pond in late October 2015 with their first ever European Tour. New music and tour dates are always in the works so keep your eyes and ears open in their direction.
Kat Downs is a Musician, Artist, Teacher, Composer and Performer originally from Green Bay, WI. She began studying music in the 2nd grade continuing on through high school and college earning a BA Degree in Music from St. Norbert College in DePere, WI. Now based out of San Francisco, CA, Kat's current projects include the powerhouse Hard Piano Rock duo, Sit Kitty Sit, and the goth rock band, Saints of Ruin. She is the staff composer for Wily West Productions, the Music Consultant for Blue Scorpion Dance Theatre and has an exclusive studio of piano and flute students. Best known for her intense piano playing style and exceptional lyrical compositions, Kat tours nationally and has shared the stage with such names as LP, The Memorials, Chris Wyse, En Esch, Mona Mur, Erica Dilanjian, Shannon Curfman, Lennon, Javier Mosley and WASP.
Mike Thompson is a Drummer, Percussionist, Performer and Arranger hailing from the tiny town containing major talent, Westerly, RI. He started officially banging on the drums in private lessons at age 10 and went on to star in his award winning high school Jazz, Concert & Marching bands. He continued feeding his passion for music by studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA under drumming greats such as Jamey Haddad, Rod Morgenstein and Kenwood Dennard earning a BA Degree in Music Performance and Business. Having played in bands such as The Big Nasty and Tokyo Raid, Mike has shared the stage with many other bands and artists such as Gary Clark Jr., Pat Travers, Chris Wyse, John Vanderslice and Javie Mosley. Now living in the CA Bay Area, he is mainly devoting his time with partner, Kat Downs, to touring nationally and garnering more exposure for their powerhouse Hard Piano Rock duo, Sit Kitty Sit.
Unwed Mothers is a four-piece blues/indie-rock outfit from Edmonton, Alberta that formed in 2012. Making a name for themselves as "the little girl with the big voice", the band has become known for delivering a high energy, gritty style that boasts fat guitar sounds, heart shaking beats and power house vocals.
The release of their self-titled debut album in the April of 2013 was met with glowing response from multiple publications including Knowshi.com (Dallas) saying of the LP: "I'm not usually excited enough about what I hear to share it with everyone. But this album is something completely different". The 8 track compilation dabbled in multiple genres showing off their stylistic flexibility and impressive lyricism. Within months of forming the band was invited to showcase at Canadian Music Week 2013 in Toronto and soon after their return they were back on the road touring Western Canada. Later tour dates would include stops in the United States with shows in Washington and Oregon. With a steadily growing fan base Unwed Mothers entered the regular rotations on College Radio stations all over Canada charting at #1 on CHRW London, ON and entering the top 20 in multiple other cities. In September the band earned the coveted position of the Sonic 102.9FM Band of the Month which led to some additional exposure including a live performance/interview on Global Edmonton's Breakfast Television, a live acoustic webisode on Balcony TV and a slot at NXNE 2014 in June. Following their performance at NXNE, Unwed Mothers performed at Boonstock 2014 sharing the stage which popular acts such as Head of the Herd, The Airborne Toxic Event, City and Color and Mother Mother. The group also received two nominations for the Edmonton Music Awards for both "Rock Recording of the Year (Skeletons)" and "People's Choice". The band will be releasing a follow-up album titled "Workhorse" this summer.
Unwed Mothers is Julie Adams, Michael James, Jesse Northey and Kurtis Schultz.
Why David Bowie is SO important to rock and music in general. Is he REALLY dead?
The band hails from Pittsburgh when in 2007 five musicians disillusioned from their previous experiences decided to join forces in something « insanely different » from what they have been doing until then and "give a nod to the music we listened to growing up in the 80's. One of the more important aspects of the new project was to not take ourselves too seriously and have fun with it", tells the band's guitar player Drew Donegan.
It didn't take long for people to gravitate towards the band, as local media outlets began referring to the band as Pittsburgh's local 'Supergroup'. Furthermore, the bands first show sold out within minutes of doors opening !
Donegan describes Gene the Werewolf's sound as "classic rock with a modern vibe", similar to what bands like Kiss, Def Leppard, AC/DC and Motley Crüe would sound like if they released their music today... a far cry from the pop-punk bands the band members had been in previously. "We also like the term diamond-core, because diamond is the hardest rock known to man", Donegan adds.
When referring to "Rock n Roll Animal", the band's newest album, Gene exclaims: "It's the perfect soundtrack to a beer-infused Saturday night!"
Since the release of the bands debut "Light Me Up" in 2009, Gene The Werewolf have been featured in various national and local publications including Spin Magazine, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Tribune Review, Pittsburgh City Paper, and more. Gene was on SPIN magazine's Top 15 "Songs You Must Hear Now" in November 2009, and #2 on The Daily News "Best of 2009" list. The band has also enjoyed local and regional airplay along with frequent in-studio performances on 102.5 WDVE and 105.9 WXDX in Pittsburgh.
Late in 2010 Gene had the idea to cover a version of the 1978 local classic "Steelers Fight Song". Gene's version, named "Steelers Polka", went viral during the football season and received over 340,000 views on YouTube along with airplay from local and national radio.
In January of 2012, Gene's new single "I Only Wanna Rock N Roll" was added to full rotation to Pittsburgh's Clear Channel radio station 102.5 WDVE FM! It reached the "#1 most played single" on the station for over 5 weeks in a row, beating out the Foo Fighters and Nickelback.
In November 2012, Gene The Werewolf signed with European label Frontiers Records, home of iconic bands like Journey, Def Leppard, Night Ranger, Rick Springfield and more! Their international debut entitled "Rock N Roll Animal" was release in all of Europe on November 23 and in Japan on November 21.
Enter Monster Truck. There's something comforting about a band name that delivers exactly what you expect to hear. Born in 2009 from the ashes of various Canadian Indie bands, Monster Truck began as a sonic affront to the very industry its members were bred from. After feeling more like cogs in the music industry machine, Jon Harvey (bass & lead vocals), Jeremy Widerman (guitar & vocals), Brandon Bliss (organ & vocals) and Steve Kiely (drums & vocals) broke free to forge their own path, answering only to themselves. "It was admittedly a bit selfish from the get-go as we only were looking to please ourselves," laughs Widerman. Their unabashed approach to making and performing music became infectious. "We just wanted to mix all of our favorite hard rock, punk and classic rock favourites into something raw and basic," states Widerman, almost as if to suggest that no one had done it to his liking yet. The band was doing something right. A ground swell of regional fans quickly began rushing to any local venue to see the band perform live. Rock n' Roll is clearly not dead.Offers began to pile up for Hamilton, Ontario's prodigious sons, and the band soon realized they had to make a decision to jump in hip deep and take the record label and tour offers more seriously. "The decision was probably easier than I'd like to admit," adds Widerman, suggesting they were probably all kidding themselves thinking they weren't willing to make sacrifices once again in an attempt to make music for a living. What started as a fun and albeit 'selfish' musical side-project, quickly gained momentum and took on a life of its own. Monster Truck self-released a self-titled EP produced by Gus Van Go & Werner F (The Stills, Preistess, Hollerado) in 2010 and followed up with The Brown EP (2011) produced by Eric Ratz (Billy Talent, Cancer Bats, Three Days Grace) on Indie powerhouse Dine Alone Records. The Brown EP aggressively showcased the band's ability to keep a firm grasp in the classic roots that enabled them, while staying contemporary and true to their vast influences. Singles "Seven Seas Blues" and "Righteous Smoke" became runaway hits reaching Top 10 on Canadian Rock radio and true to their notorious maxim "Don't F*ck With The Truck", the band hit the road with a vengeance. Tours included a 2011 cross-Canada sold-out run with The Sheepdogs. Additional tours followed in 2012 when Monster Truck was handpicked to open for Slash on his North American tour, as well as sold-out dates in support of legends Deep Purple.
The album impressingly runs the gamut from crushing first single "Sweet Mountain River" which features a highly infectious chorus juxtaposed against a killer riff, to tracks like "The Lion" and its definitive old-school, boogie-rock vibe. "While the bulk of songs were written and executed in fairly quick fashion, tailoring the pace and fine tuning the transitions took longer than usual," says Widerman of the writing process. "We really wanted the songs to take the listener on an exciting journey." Gems like "Old Train" featuring epic gang vocals were in fact kept under wraps from the producer and the label until the band reworked them to their liking while "Power of the People" -- a Rage Against The Machine inspired track -- is a commentary on a society in turmoil and an anthem for those who wish to band together and make a difference.
The band intentionally challenged themselves with "For The Sun", spending more than a year playing the song live in order to perfect it. Slower-paced and with thought to ensuring every moment was well-crafted and building in intensity, Widerman spent 2 days in the studio just recording the intro and solos leaving other members of the band to wonder whether he would ever be satisfied with the end result. Finally, last minute addition "My Love Is True" shows a more soulful side of Monster Truck, and is another shining example of how even a down tempo song can shake you to your core.
The constant show regiment and recording process is sharpening the band's delivery and there's no doubt that anyone still interested in original and authentic rock music will be compelled to pay attention. Monster Truck will continue doing what they do best, steamrolling from town to town leaving legions of fans in their wake.
Where are your fans??? Learn the secret to finding the perfect fans!
THE VON is an American Indie/Electro/Rock band from South Florida formed in 2012 by vocalist/bassist Luis Bonilla and guitarist Marek Schneider. For much of their career, THE VON has been a trio with drummer Elisa Seda, who replaced their former drummer after the recording of the band's upcoming album (2015). All three members of THE VON came together and formed a bond by talking about their favorite rock n' roll legends; bands that are now big influences in their music. These passions are at the forefront of what the band brings to the crowd with their energy which is nothing short of contagious; they are not just a band but an experience.
In 2015, THE VON will release a brand new album entitled, Ei8ht. The album digs deeper into musical influences and infusing of their diverse cultures, yoga ideology, and overarching themes of living life fearlessly. By the beginning of 2015, THE VON released their first single Nothing to Fear, soon to be followed by Cry Of War this year. Currently, THE VON is preparing a National and European Tours in 2016.
There's no doubt about it, the state of Texas is well known world wide for its fiery blues guitar players.
Even just a cursory look will reveal the state's rich tradition, which easily rivals Chicago and Mississippi for producing players who have been both originators and contributors to the legacy of the guitar's significant role in the genre's history. Dating back to the 1920's with "Blind" Lemon Jefferson, continuing through the 1950's with such legends as Freddie King, T-Bone Walker and "Lightning" Hopkins, with the advent of the rock era of the 1960's the pressure cooker exploded.
Albino blues giant Johnny Winter, from Beaumont, in 1968 was signed to what was then the largest advance in the history of the recording industry—$600,000. Houston's ZZ Top, with the Reverend Willie G, i.e. Billy F. Gibbons – armed with a '59 Les Paul- during the 70's went from being "That little ol' band from Texas" to being world wide ambassadors with their unique brand of deep blues infused boogie rock.
Although disco and subsequently new wave lessened blues rock's influence in the late 70's, by 1983 it was another native Texan, Dallas born Stevie Ray Vaughan, whose combination of raw blues mixed with Hendrix styled pyrotechnics spearheaded yet another resurrection as the genre rose its evil head once again. A breath of much needed fresh air amongst the synth heavy offerings on MTV and radio airwaves of the time, the guitarist's massive influence has extended long beyond his untimely, tragic death twenty years ago.
A professional musician since the age of 14 when he began playing local bars in and around the New Orleans, Louisiana area, at 17 he was hired by soul great Johnnie Taylor, with whom he toured for six months. By 18 he was hired as the band leader of blues legend Lucky Peterson's band, spending three years touring throughout the world.
It was while with Peterson in Europe that he struck up a close friendship with the larger than life drummer Buddy Miles, subsequently becoming the guitarist for The Buddy Miles Express for a brief time. The former Band Of Gypsys legend would go on to mentor Lopez, leading to him co producing his debut album 'First Things First', along with Grammy winning producer Jay Newland (Norah Jones) which was released independently in 1998.
From 2003 to 2007 Lopez recorded, and released three studio and one live CD for a small independent label, Grooveyard Records – all of which were heavily influenced by another of the guitarist's main influences – Jimi Hendrix. Despite the hindrance of being released on such a label, the albums are all prime examples of post Hendrix heavy blues, filled to the brim with awe inspiring fretwork, which led to him garnering a cult following amongst guitar fanatics world wide.
After a three year break, Lopez returned with a Jim Gaines (Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, Santana) produced studio album 'Salvation From Sundown'. Intentionally conceived as a more traditional Texas blues styled offering, it's the guitarist's most mature recording to date, showcasing strong songwriting while still retaining the red-hot fretwork which has elicited none other than guitar god Jeff Beck to call him "A very exciting and intense blues guitarist". His first release on a major label MIG Music/String Commander. In Europe in November 2011 MIG Music released the follow up to 'Salvation From Sundown'. A very strong Hard Rocking/Blues offering entitled 'Handmade Music'. 'Handmade Music' is full of well crafted songs and Lopez's signature searing guitar work. Again, Lopez working with Jim Gaines, recorded this entire album in the legendary Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. Ardent was also where Led Zeppelin, ZZ Top, Stevie Ray Vaughan, George Thorogood and others made some of their greatest works. 'Handmade Music' shows him poised to take his rightful place as one of the finest blues players on the planet. Texas has its guitar heroes, not least of which is Johnny Winter, Billy Gibbons, and the legendary Stevie Ray Vaughan. And here's another to add to the list: Lance Lopez.
I love being an artist because it allows me to reimagine everything - including the way music gets into the hands of my fans.
Since 2010, I've been financially responsible for all of my projects, from recording to video production. I have learned so much and worked with some incredible people. But I'm now at point in the professional path where it takes more than my single income earnings to support my creation.Being limited in cash has NEVER prevented me from creating, but it has prevented me from sharing that creation with you - and that doesn't fully serve anyone in the long run, because I don't just do this for me. Your generous assistance means I can move up a level in my professional career by securing better resources and thus, give you more music.
What are the GREATEST Music Documentaries of all time?
There are some amazing music documentaries out there. Lou and Kevin discuss many of your favorites from our Facebook poll. The boys also run down the top 25 music documentaries of all time according to critics. Listen and let us know if you agree! All this and the boys continue their 2015 recap with some of their favorite bands including, Dirty Streets, InRegalia, Donica Knight, Ian Siegal and Album. Thank you Vinni Belfiore, Vivek Tiwary, Vince Ornato, Jared Greece, J. Richard Smith, and Vic DaPra from weighing in on Facebook.
The Dirty Streets are a young band from the Memphis area who are an obvious product of digging on the likes of MC5, Rolling Stones, James Brown, Cactus, Humble Pie & the Faces.
As a student at Auburn University in 2008 and 2009, Donica Knight would wait in line for hours for the student section gates to open for football games at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Even after leaving school to pursue a music career, Knight's love of Auburn football remained strong, and in 2013, she wrote and recorded "Great To Be," a celebration of the university's rich football heritage.
In early 2016, the talented and charismatic singer and songwriter will release her debut EP, Can't Buy a Southern Girl, which features an exciting blend of country, blues and gritty Southern rock inspired by the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Patsy Cline, Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Rolling Stones. A video for the album's scorching first single, "Love Ain't A Prize," directed by veteran cinematographer Noel Maitland, was released online in September of 2015 and promptly earned airplay around the country and a position on the IndiMusic TV Top 21 Video Countdown. Donica's success has led to a rigorous touring schedule throughout the southeast, during which she has performed more than 350 dates, opening for iconic acts including Hank Williams Jr., Luke Bryan, Kenny Rogers, The Band Perry and many more.
Donica has written and recorded duets with country legend Ronnie Milsap, and her music has been featured on the soundtracks of films including Halloween Party and Alabama Dirt.
Ladies and Gentlemen: Ian Siegal has entered the building. If you know the name, but not the game, it's high time you made his acquaintance. He's the multiple British Blues Awardswinner and hot tip of everyone from Mojo to Classic Rock. He's the songwriter whose recent CD releases sound like career peaks, but are only the start. From one night to the next, he might be a solo acoustic performer or a blood-and-thunder bandleader.
His 2005 album Meat &Potatoes has been universally praised and gained a maximum four star (excellent) rating in the Penguin Book of Blues Recordings – Ian is one of only two living British Blues artists to gain this distinction. Meat & Potatoes was later re-released as a limited edition together with a DVD of his stunning performance on the main stage at the North Sea Jazz Festival.
His Oct 09 release Broadside finally gave Ian the top spot in MOJO's annual Blues album chart.
Ian returned to north Mississippi in May 2012 to collaborate with another dream-team of local legends that he collectively coined The Mississippi Mudbloods. Joining Ian and Cody Dickinson were Cody's bother Luther Dickinson, and Alvin Youngblood Hart. Ian first met Alvin during The Skinny sessions, when the Grammy-winning guitarist swung by the studio and ended up tracking some guitar and backing vocals.
The end result of this second visit to the Zebra Ranch Studio is Candy Store Kid, which released October 2012 and quickly reached no.1 in the iTunes UK blues chart and garnered a swathe of awards in the UK and nominations in the USA.
In a twist to his career, Ian performed for several years with France's Orchestre National de Jazz in a program of Billie Holiday songs entitled "Broadway in Satin." Backed by a 12-piece orchestra of young hand-picked musicians and accompanied by the French singer, Karen Lanaud, Broadway in Satin has performed at major festivals across France and as far afield as South America and east Africa.
Today is International ALBUM Appreciation Day or #IAAD. We have been together for 8 years now and it just keeps getting better. We started as friends playing and writing music together and thats what it still is and will continue to be. ALBUM would like to thank everyone that has been there for us through out these years and waiting for the next bit of recorded music or next T-shirt. We are not planning on stopping anytime soon, we feel we are just hitting our stride right now, so spread the word of ALBUM. Stay tuned for new music and new merchandise.
JFB is a blues/rock band that has been performing orginal and cover music for more than a decade. The band has 2 CD's to their credit that showcase their writing and instrumentation: The Long Hard Road and the newly released Bottle Full of Blues which has been receiving critical acclaim in both the US and UK.
They have also had songs featured in film and television, including The Closer, Passions, and the Spanish film Tough Guy.
JFB has shared the stage with acts such as Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Ana Popovic, Chris Duarte, Mato Nanji&Indigenous, Molly Hatchet, and many others.


We're just back from 3 weeks on location in Kuwait, filming content for the World's largest museum project, the Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Cultural Centre. The centre will combine a series of art and science museums to create a new cultural quarter for Kuwait City that is due to open in mid-2018. We secured the contract to handle all the location filming for the project, working in partnership with the UK's leading museum fit-out and content creators. Our brief covers a huge range of subjects, including profiles of Kuwait's leading sportsmen and women. All material was shot in 5K using, our trusted Red Epic, and a small, specialist team mixing UK and Kuwaiti crew.


text:
Russian space weapons: Testing the Nudol and Putin's political warfare agenda
Rod Thornton and Marina Miron, Defence Studies Department, King's College London
Much has been made of last month's destruction by Russia of one of its defunct Soviet-era satellites (Kosmos 1408) in a test-firing of a Nudol direct-ascent anti-satellite missile (DA-ASAT). The possibility of the debris produced by this strike hitting the International Space Station (ISS) had its crew (including Russian personnel) making a precautionary boarding of a 'lifeboat' pod. And this debris field is not going anywhere soon: the ISS is now having to pass though it every 90 minutes in its orbit.
Considerable alarm has been raised in Western circles as to the 'recklessness' of Russia's action. In contrast, the 'success' of this missile test has been trumpeted in the Russian media. Indeed,for Russia, the brazenness of the test may be seen as also representing a form of strategic messaging. President Vladimir Putin, in authorising this act, is making it clear to Western audiences the risk appetite that his country has when it comes to utilising Russian military capabilities. As he pointed out in a speech last month, he wants to raise 'tensions' with Russia's NATO adversary. Where interactions with this adversary and its core states are concerned, he said, Russia needs to 'maintain a state of tension for as long as possible'.
In terms of maintaining this tension, the Nudol test can be seen alongside the likes of Russia's recent use of sabre-rattling military exercises; the reducing of gas supplies to Europe, and with its assistance in the dumping of refugees at the Polish border. It is all part of Moscow's familiar 'political warfare' agenda. (For a definition of 'political warfare' see the UK MoD's Integrated Operating Concept). The logic is that the more that tensions are raised with NATO countries then the more that the Alliance will be divided – between the hard-liners and the more accommodating countries – over how to deal with such Russian 'aggression'. Creating divisions is at the very heart of Russian political warfare. The homily that 'a house divided against itself…cannot stand' is well appreciated in the Kremlin. The strategists there understand that NATO 'cannot stand' if it is constantly subject to geopolitical pressures. Such pressures, to use a favoured word in Russian military writings, can 'neutralise' NATO.
The Western reaction to the Nudol test certainly showed that it did, indeed, raise tensions. But this test may also be seen, though, as indicative of why, from the Russian perspective, tensions need to be raised. It is all to do with Russian military 'weakness'.
The development of the Nudol can be viewed as a clear example of the Russian military's proclivity to engage in what it refers to as 'asymmetric warfare'. Going down the asymmetric line is born of a sense within the Russian military that its forces are inferior to those of NATO. This Russian military accepts it will lose in any direct conventional force-on-force confrontation with NATO (as it is currently configured). It has thus been adopting asymmetric techniques that can tilt the balance in its favour. Basically, the idea is to 'level the battlefield' by utilising both kinetic and non-kinetic means that do not try and match NATO strengths (and particularly those of the US armed forces) but instead attempt to subvert them – in both the sub-threshold space and, if necessary, during armed conflict. Information warfare (including in its cyber form) is a favoured tool here and all the various techniques that come under the term maskirovka.
One obvious example of Russian military weakness lies in the current advantage held by NATO, and by the United States more specifically, in terms of space capabilities. To appreciate this and to understand the importance of the Nudol as an 'asymmetric' weapon, some background is first needed on the current situation in regard to Russian space projects
During the Cold War, the Soviet Union could, of course, match the US in terms of space technologies. Moscow was, after all, the first to put a man into space and was sending robotic vehicles to Mars as far back as the 1970s. The Soviet Union was, in many ways, ahead in the 'space race'. No longer.
Anti-satellite missiles aside, things have not been going well recently in terms of Russian space projects. There have been very few launches of Russian satellites over the last few years, although enough have been conducted by the military to ensure that the GLONASS system (the Russian equivalent of GPS) is kept functioning. The GLONASS system is vital to Russian strategic interests, not least because it ensures that Russian nuclear missiles can find their targets. On the civilian side, the Russian space agency, Roskosmos, has, since the end of the Cold War, done comparative little apart from hiring out its rockets not only to help NASA to put elements of the ISS into orbit but also, and strangely, to put actual US military satellites up there as well. This source of hard currency, however, has dried up as indigenous means of launching satellites has now been developed in the US.
This change has left Roskosmos short of funds. It also suffers from a lack of suitably qualified staff, from a lack of high-tech components from the West (partly the result of sanctions) and, indeed, from corruption on a vast scale.
It is thus no surprise then that often when Roskosmos has tried to place Russian satellites into orbit it has run into difficulties. There has been a litany of recent failures. The latest was in July this year when Roskosmos launched a Nauka module to dock with the ISS. The docking was eventually successful (although not without alarms) but then the module's manoeuvring thrusters fired up unbidden and the whole ISS was sent spinning. The problem was eventually resolved but only when the malfunctioning thrusters had run out of fuel!
To have all this play out in the full glare of international publicity and risk the deaths of those on the ISS was hugely embarrassing for Russia, and thus also for Putin. The fact that Roskosmos was performing so poorly led to Putin, in October this year, actually banning Russian media from reporting on any Russian space-related activity. It also came as no surprise that, in this same month, Putin announced large-scale cuts to Roskosmos's budget.
Of course, when something does actually go well in space the Russian media do then have permission to report. So it was with the test of the recent Nudol DA-ASAT. Blowing up satellites that haven't worked for 39 years seems to be well within the compass of the Russian space programme. This, however, was not the work of Roskosmos but rather that of the military; specifically, its Space Forces (Kosmicheskie Voyska).
These Space Forces have a significant role to play in terms of the military's overall asymmetric approach. And the Nudol may be seen as one of its most significant means of 'levelling the battlefield' in space.
NATO forces have a distinct advantage over the Russian military in terms of C4ISR capabilities. The former's ability to engage in operational-level multi-domain integration and network-centric warfare is perceived by the Russians to give it significant battlefield advantage. And key to C4ISR operations is satellites. The US military has many more than its Russian counterpart and they are more sophisticated. As the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, noted just last month, 'One of its [the US's] main goals is to create a comprehensive military advantage in outer space.'
Thus, and in line with asymmetric thinking, the Russian military has adopted a 'counterspace' approach. The idea being that if Moscow cannot match the number and capabilities of US satellites then it can at least – if the need arises – disable/disrupt/degrade enough of those of its adversary to undermine its C4ISR capabilities. This can be done using electronic warfare means; by directed energy (laser) weapons; by 'killer satellites' that can fire weapons at targeted satellites and, in the case of the Nudol, by anti-satellite missiles.
The Russian development of ASATs does seem to be something of a success story. They come in the form of either missiles fired into space from high-flying aircraft or from the likes of the ground-launched Nudol. In the air-launched form, the missile – the Burevestnik – is still in the development stage. It is said to be nuclear-powered, allowing it to reach satellites well above low-earth orbit. Despite Putin lauding the Burevestnik in recent speeches, tests with this weapon are not going that well. Five scientists were reported killed in one test in 2019.
In contrast, though, the Nudol, and as November's test showed, is further ahead in its development. This was the tenth test of this particular missile but the first 'practical' one where it was actually used to intercept a satellite. The first of the nine previous test launches was in 2014. Several of these have been from mobile launchers.
As one Western analyst sees it, 'Russia [is] intent on creating a new norm where ASAT kinetic weapons testing is a key component of [its] deterrence and warfighting strategies.' Having high-tech counterspace systems like the Nudol naturally causes concern in NATO circles. And it is therefore important in Russian political warfare thinking that such concerns are amplified as much as possible. For a relatively weaker military, the capabilities of systems like the Nudol, as good an asymmetric tool as it is in a kinetic sense, also have to be leveraged to create maximum psychological effect on NATO. The Nudol is, at one and the same time, a kinetic weapon and also a tool of divisive political warfare.
As such, it was thus important that if Russia was going to test its Nudol 'practically' it was going to do so 'recklessly'. The target, Kosmos 1408, was a large satellite (1,750kg) and if the Russians had merely wanted to show that the Nudol could function effectively then they could have targeted a myriad of other, much smaller, retired Russian satellites that are in low-earth orbit and which would have produced much less debris. But they went for the spectacular; they went for the big impact. The test raised, as it was designed to do, concerns in the West – divisive tensions.
The Russian military knows it is not going to 'win' a kinetic war with the current version of NATO; but it can still be very much part of a political warfare agenda that seeks to neutralise NATO over the long term. In a zero-sum sense, the weaker NATO is made then the stronger, geopolitically, Russia becomes. Eventually, by this logic, Russia 'wins' but without fighting. The Nudol is not only a weapon that can help level any kinetic battlefield it is also one that can be used to raise the very important 'tensions' that Putin so desires.
December 3, 2021 December 3, 2021 sosscommsUncategorized
One thought on "Russian space weapons: Testing the Nudol and Putin's political warfare agenda"
Peter Farrell-Vinay
December 3, 2021 at 11:02	 Reply
But if they had taken out a smaller satellite they'd have shown their aim was even better.
Previous Post Which Greeks in the Western Way of War?
Next Post Local Libyan Perceptions of Russia's Wagner Corporation


text:
Is there Discrimination in Natural Medicine?
by Rachel Thomas
All over the world there is discrimination against ancient traditions and a glamorization of the modern. No matter where your ancestors came from, if you go far enough back in time, they all practiced earth-based medicine. Some of us have lost track of our ancestral wellness tools and so we look to other cultures who have maintained their natural medicine wisdom over continuous generations. Many Indigenous elders have chosen to start teaching outsiders so that the human race can find it's way back to its original earth-based practices.
One of our obstacles is that we are taught to believe what has been written down, lending validity to well-documented traditions such as yoga, acupuncture and Chinese Herbalism. Meanwhile the primarily oral traditions of Indigenous Americans and Africans are equally as rich as their Asian counterparts but struggling to survive in a modern world of books and technology.
Complicating the matter further, people who have suffered societal oppression have faced the marginalization and sometimes elimination of their health-promoting traditions. Ancestral ceremonies to heal the mind, create community and show respect for nature, have been especially targeted since colonization began 500 years ago. In many cases people have shared their plant wisdom with colonizers, by choice or coercion, receiving no recognition or even death in return. As of 2019, Indigenous people around the world are fighting for their lives to maintain their ancestral relationships with the lands that provide them their medicine.
It is time to change the tendency in modern societies to discriminate against the health-based wisdom of People of Color and Indigenous people. Here a few basic steps that we can follow in our daily lives to avoid contributing to the oppression of any culture's wellness traditions.
Be Open to Wisdom Sharers – Eurocentric education relies on finding an expert for information. Traditional education all over the world respects the wisdom of individuals, especially elders, to contribute to the wellness of the group. Learn to listen quietly to those who are generous enough to share their thoughts. Use your instincts when looking for a teacher instead of only judging a person on certificates or appearances.
Be Humble – No matter how much you have learned about a certain culture's medicine, if you can find a representative of that culture to share their wisdom with you, listen and learn with respect. Make sure that you have your teacher's permission before passing on any of their knowledge.
Be Real – When you go to your health food store and there are only a handful of books about Africana and Latino wellness traditions, find out why. Many of us have been programmed to value European and Asian based sciences over others, leading to a bias in whose cultural wisdom reaches "mainstream" alternative medicine.
Be Proactive – Once you have recognized that there are cultures outside of your own whose medicinal traditions have been subjugated, try to educate yourself. Whenever possible, find out about other cultures from members of that culture or, in their absence, at least those who have been authorized by representatives of that culture.
Be Responsible – If you are in a position to be supportive of a people whose ancestral medicine has been oppressed, you can offer your assistance directly to those people to see where you can best be of service. Find ways to help Indigenous and Africana communities to rescue and preserve their ancestral medicine by educating yourself and others and volunteering or donating to an organization. Avoid supporting anyone with discriminatory practices. Identify and support Indigenous and Africana teachers and businesses.
Image above shows traditional healers from Talamanca, Costa Rica, sharing their stories and struggles of practicing herbalism in a changing world. Taken by advocate herbalist Marc Williams. You can learn directly from these elders at Hidden Garden this Spring, during our Traditional Latino Medicine Intensive.
PreviousPrevious post:Race, Rights and Research in Caribbean EthnobotanyNextNext post:Tips for Herbalists
Tips for Herbalists
Race, Rights and Research in Caribbean Ethnobotany
Los Poderes Mágicos del Agua de Arroz
¿Qué es la Herbología Tradicional Latinoamericana?
A Botanical Story of Slavery and Survival
The Complicated History of the Smilacaceae Family
Gerardo says:
I like send me your topic


We're looking for employers to partner in our Adult Career Trek pilot on March 18-22, 2019.
Adult Career Trek is a joint pilot project of Career Trek Inc. and Essential Skills Manitoba (ESM) which takes participants to five different employers during a week to showcase various jobs and related essential skills. During this week the learners spend a full day with each employer and experience realistic job scenarios and skills that truly explain what a job in that field requires, looks, feels, smells, sounds, and even tastes like.
Following Adult Career Trek, ESM provides the participants with more focused training through Reach Forward modules to help them better connect the required skills and increase their confidence in pursuing these employment opportunities.
We work closely with employers to create a hands-on experience for participants that best suits the needs of both employees and employer with minimal disruption. Safety instructions and requirements, an orientation to the industry employment trends as well as reflection on their learning are facilitated during each day of the project.
Spend one day during the week of March 18-22 showcasing work that is done at your company to your potential employees!
They want to share your passion for this employment and your company!


Steve Yzerman was stuck in an elevator while the maple leaf flag was raised to the Bolshoy Ice Dome rafters Sunday.
SOCHI, Russia (AP) ? Steve Yzerman was stuck in an elevator while the maple leaf flag was raised to the Bolshoy Ice Dome rafters Sunday.
The NHL is thinking seriously about abandoning the Olympics, which has hosted the world's best since 1998. For all the excitement, attention and phenomenal hockey in Sochi, several owners still seethe at their multimillion-dollar investments playing for free ? and sometimes getting injured ? while their arenas sit empty for three weeks in February.
LIVE UNDERDOGS: While hockey's traditional powers dominated, a first-time Olympic nation and a perennial underdog made memorable impacts earlier in the tournament. Slovenia arrived in Sochi simply hoping not to get embarrassed, but the team with just one NHL player ? Los Angeles Kings star Anze Kopitar ? beat Slovakia and Austria on its way to the quarterfinals. Latvia also earned its first Olympic victory in 12 years before pushing mighty Canada in a 2-1 quarterfinal loss with a 55-save performance by Kristers Gudlevskis.
INJURIES ABOUND: Distance, time zones and lost revenue are obvious obstacles to the NHL's participation on Pyeongchang in 2018, but the spate of significant injuries in Sochi won't ease the owners' minds, either. Islanders center John Tavares is out for the season with a leg injury. Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello hurt his hand playing for Norway. Columbus defenseman Fedor Tyutin will miss playing time with an injured ankle. And both of the lowly Florida Panthers' representatives in Sochi ? Finland's Aleksander Barkov and the Czechs' Tomas Kopecky ? are coming home injured.
GOOD TIMES: Every future Winter Olympics will have difficulty matching the spectacular setup for hockey in Sochi, where organizers built five sparkling NHL-caliber rinks within 500 yards of each other on the Black Sea shores. Players could make the seven-minute trip from the athletes' village on bicycles. The centerpiece Bolshoy was a compact marvel of design and charm, leaving many players hoping a Kontinental Hockey League franchise will move in full time. For all the pre-Olympics worries about safety and distance, the Sochi tournament will be remembered fondly by almost everybody who laced up skates ? and everybody lucky enough to be there.