In April 2016 Andrew and I embarked on an epic road trip through France and into Switzerland. Our first stop in Switzerland was Lausanne. I honestly didn't know much about Lausanne but Andrew had heard that it was beautiful so I did my research and we had a wonderful time. Here are some of our recommendations on what to see and do!
We rented through Booking.com and ended up in a cute apartment above a woman's clothing store. I love not staying in a giant hotel because you feel more like a local. You get to know your neighborhood, frequent a favorite coffee shop or bar and just feel more at home in general. We have been fortunate in our AirBnB and Booking stays and have yet to have an unpleasant experience.
Did you know that the Olympic Museum is in Lausanne? Until I started researching I had no idea! I always assumed that it would be in Greece, but here it was in Lausanne Switzerland. It was a rainy day when we decided to venture into the museum and I am so glad that we did. There was so much history packed into one space! It was a very interactive museum, great for children and adults alike. My favorite parts were the torches and medals that were on display.
Could you jump this high?
Lausanne is a very easy city to get around, public transportation is great and it's also safe enough to walk around, get lost and not be worried! It's also a great mix of old and new, and when you look at the architecture it's very clear. We were staying in the older, more historic section but a short walk away was Flon. This is a great little shopping area with funky buildings and boutiques. We stopped in Pomp it Up to get some La Coq Sportifs and stumbled across a really cool building. Side note: If you're not buying unique clothes and accessories when traveling, you need to start! Andrew's Coq Sportif collection grows every time he sees a store.
It's all in the details in this little city. The buildings were just so pretty.
A couple of other great beer bars that we went to were The Great Escape, which had a collegiate feel and La Grenette, very kid friendly and had a great vibe. Both bars were mainly outside spaces while Pi Bar was inside only.
Another place to drink with the locals is Blackbird Coffee and Breakfast Club. They have the best coffee in Switzerland in my opinion and the food was amazing. I love going to funky places that aren't necessarily listed in a travel guide and Blackbird fit the bill. It's a must stop for a delicious, filling breakfast before heading out for the day.
Lake Geneva, or Lac Leman as the locals call it is massive and beautiful. It was a dreary April when we visited but you still cannot deny the beauty of this largest body of water in Switzerland. So grab your camera and enjoy the swans.
I hope you enjoyed this little list and think of Lausanne when you travel next!


Even your permanent resting place can be a status symbol — and no cemetery proves that better than Hollywood Forever. Tons of celebs and semi-famous types are buried on its grounds, from old school movie stars and publishing titans to rockers and even a couple of gangsters. The cemetery is also a social hub, hosting one of the city's most popular outdoor movie screening series. Consider it a thoroughly modern case of adaptive reuse.
Founded as Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery in 1899, when filmmaking wasn't yet an industry, it grew along with the movie business. In fact, the original owners — Isaac Lankershim and his son-in-law Isaac Van Nuys — sold swaths of their land to Paramount and RKO. No wonder so many studio heads are buried there. By the 1980s, it had fallen into disrepair, thanks to crooked owner Jules Roth, an oil swindler and convicted felon. The 1994 Northridge earthquake further damaged several crypts. When Roth died in 1998, it became apparent how many financial and physical problems the cemetery had.
Hollywood Forever was added to the National Register of Historic Places in May 1999.
You might catch Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom or the 1944 film noir Double Indemnity at Cinespia, the al fresco movie series. Screenings occur on the Fairbanks Lawn after sunset. Bring blankets, food, booze and low chairs as you and your friends picnic the night away. The screenings, which run from May through September on Saturday (and sometimes other) nights, are extremely popular. Buy your tickets in advance and arrive early!
On the grounds sits the old Masonic Lodge, which now plays home to concerts, comedy shows and movie screenings. It's a great midsize venue that makes big-time acts like Chvrches and Garbage feel intimate while giving smaller acts a larger stage to play on.
Americans have Halloween. Mexico has Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a tradition that dates back to the pre-Hispanic cultures of Mesoamerica. What better place to honor that tradition than in a cemetery? Hollywood Forever's annual Dia De Los Muertos celebration has become a day-long festival with gorgeous altars, decorated calaveras (skulls), bands, Aztec dancers, a ritual procession and more.
There are hundreds of famous and formerly folks buried in Hollywood Forever. On its website, the cemetery offers an interactive map, conveniently divided into categories such as actors, musicians, etc., that details their locations. Here's a sampling.
William Andrews Clark, Jr. - The philanthropist who founded the LA Phil and helped fund construction of the Hollywood Bowl is buried in the private family mausoleum that he built on the island in Sylvan Lake. His son and both of his wives are also entombed in the mausoleum.
Yma Sumac - The Peruvian-born singer was famous for her five-octave vocal range and exotic image, both of which she showcased on several popular lounge music albums beginning in the 1950s.


Gibson F-5, signed by Lloyd Loar on June 12, 1923. This Loar (sn 73671) went through a tough spell, leaving it with a big crack in the back, a crack in the rim, and some missing pieces in the back. Patches were spliced in (and are pretty obvious from the non-matching wood grain). And then it was sent to Gibson for a complete refinish. What didn't kill it made it stronger -- at least in sound.


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National Park & Preserve Alaska
First Meeting of Denali National Park and Preserve Aircraft Overflights Advisory Council
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Contact: Kris Fister, 907-683-9583
The Denali National Park Aircraft Overflights Advisory Council was established on September 21, 2007, and is authorized to operate under the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The Council will identify and address impacts from aircraft flights over Denali National Park and Preserve. It will convene for the first time on Thursday, February 7, 2008. The meeting, which is open to the public, will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Frontier Room of the Best Western Lake Lucille Inn. The Lake Lucille Inn is located at 1300 West Lake Lucille Drive, Wasilla, AK, 99654. (907) 373-1776.
Acting Superintendent Elwood Lynn said, "We are glad to have this group established as it's an essential part of implementing the Backcountry Management Plan and continuing the public involvement process."
The Denali National Park Aircraft Overflights Advisory Council will advise the Superintendent, through the Secretary of the Interior, on mitigation efforts that should be made to reduce the impacts from aircraft overflights at Denali National Park and Preserve. The group will develop voluntary measures for assuring the safety of passengers, pilots, and mountaineers and for achieving desired future resource conditions at Denali that were outlined in the 2006 Backcountry Management Plan. Council membership contains broad representation of interested stakeholders and has a balance of local, state, and national interests.
During the multi-year planning process to complete the 2006 Denali National Park and Preserve Backcountry Management Plan, the public identified impacts from aircraft overflights and airplane landings as a critical issue. Aircraft are an important means of visitor access to remote areas of the Denali backcountry, but overflights and landings, generally unrestricted by management plans in the past, have resulted in substantial changes in the natural sound environment and generated new conflicts with park users on the ground.
In response to public comment, the Backcountry Management Plan directs the National Park Service "to establish an aircraft overflights working group, which would include scenic air tour operators, commercial airlines, general aviation organizations, and other concerned parties."
Information on the Advisory Council can be found at https://www.nps.gov/dena/parkmgmt/currentprojects.htm
Information on Denali's 2006 Backcountry Management Plan is located at https://www.nps.gov/dena/parkmgmt/gmp.htm
The meeting is open to the public with time allocated for public testimony. Written comments are also welcome and can be brought to the meeting or mailed to Mike Tranel, Chief of Planning, Denali National Park, 240 W. 5th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501.
-NPS-
Denali Park, AK 99755
A ranger is available 9 am—4 pm daily (except on major holidays). If you get to the voicemail, please leave a message and we'll call you back as soon as we finish with the previous caller.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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The publication of the journal began at the Institute for Byzantine Research (IBR) –and now Section of Byzantine Research of the Institute of Historical Research (National Hellenic Research Foundation)– in 1966 under the title ΣΥΜΜΕΙΚΤΑ. Since that time seventeen volumes of the journal have been published, approximately one every two years. The journal is the primary publication medium for research carried out at the Section of Byzantine Research, either by its own research staff or by external collaborators. The focus of ΣΥΜΜΕΙΚΤΑ laid mostly in Byzantine history, literature and archival research. In 2007 IBR reviewed the journal's mission, and decided to expand its scope and open it up to the international scholarly community engaged in Byzantine Studies.
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Zindulka Yachtcharter is one of the biggest Czech charter agencies that is present on the market for almost 25 years. They offer more than 15000 yachts from attractive destinations for direct booking on their website.
For some people yachting is just a variety of everyday life and for some it is the life its self. I personally belong to the second group.
Zindulka, s.r.o. is one of the biggest Czech charter agencies that is present on the market for almost 25 years. At the beginning Zindulka, s.r.o. was organizing cruises on Polish boats and in the Mediterranean. Mr. Jiri Zindulka is the company's General Manager. He was present on a lot of those cruises himself, because he was the boat captain. Furthermore, he even became the youngest captain with a master license in the Czech Republic. Soon he expanded the area of sailing to Turkey, Greece and northern European countries, which brought the company more clients and he even organized one of the first sailing courses in the Czech Republic. Zindulka, s.r.o. kept its passion for yacht charter and sailing, and today is also very active in preparing regattas, corporate events and team-buildings.
Since the field of work was rapidly expanding, there were more and more clients each day, so the need of presenting online offers was rising too. For long time most of the work was done manually and that took too much time, money and unnecessary effort. That is why Zindulka Yachtcharter decided to automate their work by using Booking Manager's data export service. With it they can automatically present boats on Zindulka Yachtcharter website, with all prices, discounts, pictures, extras, etc. and all that in real time. Database of 3500 boats available for direct booking was carefully integrated with Mr. Zindulka's idea of complete yachting website, where one can find all information about yacht charter, sailing courses, sales of boats and different events. Now, each client can find and choose a boat on his own, directly on Zindulka Yachtcharter website, he can choose all the extras that are offered and automatically check the calculation and his final price, with only few clicks.
By connecting with Booking Manager System, Zindulka Yachtcharter presents all last minute offers and discounted weeks on their website, which gives them the opportunity to offer a charter for the clients that did not plan to go sailing until last minute. They can see all offered boats, compare prices and discounts, choose a skipper, hostess or any additional extras, and in just a few steps their boat is booked and they can prepare for the yacht charter holiday. That kind of work enables Mr. Zindulka and his team to save precious time and money and to achieve more with less work.
To find out more about Zindulka Yachtcharter, please visit their website.


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t / +27 72 840 2433
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Lord's Taverners UK
Case study and testimonial for Wishlist Media's work for the Lord's Taverners UK tour to South Africa in March 2020.
The Lord's Taverners are a UK-based charity organisation that is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. As part of the celebrations, they opted to visit South Africa to help raise funds for their local chapter, which included raising awareness for Table Cricket, an adapted version of the game designed to mentally and physically disabled children the chance to participate in team sports.
There were two major challenges facing the Taverners: little to no knowledge of the local media landscape, and a short turnaround time of less than a month. Without the proper media coverage, the main purpose of their trip - to raise awareness and the profile of Table Cricket - would fall flat.
We reached out to the major sporting publications in the country and on the continent to cover the trip, and arranged all photographers and videographers for the duration of the week-long tour. We also ran PR at all the events, which included two cricket matches, a Table Cricket demonstration on Table Mountain, kit handover in a local township, and a coaching clinic.
The Lord's Taverners' tour was covered extensively by some of the biggest publications, including Sport24, ESPN, Cricket World, Independent, Reuters and CricBuzz. As a result, Table Cricket and the kit handover to unprivileged communities featured prominently in local media, and by the end of the tour, more than 20 new tables (at R10 000 each) had been sourced for various special needs schools around the Western Cape.
"Being a UK-based charity and needing to devise, plan and deliver a short communications campaign in Cape Town, we were struggling to meet our planned objectives - until we started working with Wishlist Media. The geography was no issue as they quickly understood the brief and started delivering results immediately, with advance publicity for our activity and also a content strategy which delivered results over and above our expectations. This understanding of what was required, and logistical support, meant that I could get on a plane safe in the knowledge that everything we had discussed would be delivered - which it was both in terms of impactful content creation and media engagement. Andrew and Ryan have shown a deep-seated understanding of how and why things happen in the media world and their mastery of the brief, allied with their enthusiasm and professionalism, allowed them to handle complex, often difficult demands from a wide variety of interested parties. I would unhesitatingly recommend their services." - Mike Hartwell, Head of Marketing and Communications for the Lord's Taverners UK
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Fortunately, it's only necessary to keep a pending-transaction pool for the current best branch. When a new block arrives for the best branch, ConnectBlock removes the block's transactions from the pending-tx pool. If a different branch becomes longer, it calls DisconnectBlock on the main branch down to the fork, returning the block transactions to the pending-tx pool, and calls ConnectBlock on the new branch, sopping back up any transactions that were in both branches. It's expected that reorgs like this would be rare and shallow.
With this optimisation, candidate branches are not really any burden. They just sit on the disk and don't require attention unless they ever become the main chain.
I'm planning to run an automated test with computers randomly sending payments to each other and randomly dropping packets.
It's very attractive to the libertarian viewpoint if we can explain it properly. I'm better with code than with words though.


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Three Decades as a Leading Maryland Law Firm
We're prepared to put our reputation and skill to work for you
DuBoff & Associates, Chartered, has been a family-owned and operated law firm in Maryland since its inception more than 30 years ago. Ever since we opened our doors, we have taken pride in extending our family to include our clients. Every client we have represented over the years has benefitted from the complete focus, determination and skill of DuBoff & Associates.
Do not delay if you or a loved one has a legal matter in the state of Maryland and requires the services of a:
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Time is of the essence. In many personal injury and criminal cases, individuals have very limited amounts of time to file legal action before they forfeit their rights. Contact DuBoff & Associates, Chartered today.
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In 1981, Joel DuBoff hung out his shingle as the president and founder of DuBoff & Associates. Bringing with him years of experience as a member of the U.S. Army Legal Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney as well as his education from the National Law Center of the George Washington University law school, he quickly earned an outstanding reputation as a trial attorney with an aggressive zeal for every one of his clients.
This dedication did not vanish at the courtroom door. Joel also earned a reputation as a lawyer who cares, showing exceptional compassion and understanding for his clients during every phase of the legal process.
Over the years, DuBoff & Associates has grown in size and reputation. Our attorneys currently bring more than 50 years of combined experience in the areas of:
Personal injury, including auto accidents
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But then above all, we have grown in our commitment to the original mission of our founder. We are the law firm that cares — and as a result, we have forged lifelong relationships with clients and the communities we serve.
A law firm ready to fight for you
If you do not believe a law firm can base its identity and mission in compassion, you can learn differently by contacting DuBoff & Associates, Chartered. We serve a range of clients across Maryland and in Washington, D.C. and have done so for more than 30 years. Contact us online or at 301.495.3131 to arrange a consultation regarding your case today.
Home and hospital visits are available to our seriously injured clients who are unable to make it to our office and we offer evening and weekend appointments when necessary. We are pleased to offer free initial consultations in personal injury cases and offer contingency fee arrangements when appropriate.


Sharp and Japan Display are moving aggressively to compete with Samsung and LG to provide OLED screens for high-end iPhones in the coming months, according to a report out of Taiwan this morning.
Sharp, which is owned by Foxconn, and Japan Display, a joint venture by Hitachi, Sony and Toshiba, hope to take on Samsung, which remains Apple's lone supplier of OLED panels. LG will begin shipments of OLED panes for the iPhone in the second half of this year, 9To5Mac reported earlier this month.
The latest development, which was initially reported by DigiTimes and picked up on by 9to5Mac, has Sharp churning out OLED screens as early as the second quarter of 2018, with screens from Japan Display to follow. "The overall OLED panel production capacity from panel makers in Korea, Japan and China will definitely far surpass that of actually demand in coming years leading to oversupply of the panels," DigiTimes reported, citing anonymous sources.
Apple has been scrambling to diversify its portfolio of OLED panel makers to meet demand for its iPhone X, which has seen constrained stocks due to manufacturing problems. Google last year was reportedly looking to invest $880 million or more in LG Display to boost production of OLED screens for its Pixel lineup.
Vendors of high-end phones are increasingly looking to OLED screens rather than LCD products. Samsung recently secured a $4.3 billion deal to supply OLED screens for the next iPhone, according to multiple reports, building on a previous agreement to supply 100 million OLED screens for the device. The iPhone 8 has long been rumored to be Apple's first device to feature an OLED screen, and Samsung reportedly began ramping up production of OLED displays by more than 50% last year to meet demand from Apple and other smartphone vendors.


Carly Anna, Wellbeing and organisational culture coach, self-professed behavioural psychology lover. Advocate of your right to thrive and flourish in work and life.
A couple of years ago, I spent every Sunday night worried about work. Every night during the week I would lie awake, worried about the next day.
Thoughts running through my mind… Will I be able to handle it? What do I need to prepare myself for… Maybe I should check my work emails to make sure I know what's coming… I hope that client doesn't yell at me… What am I going to do if he does?
We worry for a reason. Once upon a time, back when we lived in caves and spent our days hunting, planning for potential dangers was a survival mechanism. Bred through years of natural selection. Those who could plan for and respond to danger the fastest, wins.
Nowadays, sabre tooth tigers aren't waiting around every corner. Despite this, we are still programmed to expect danger and to plan for what may harm us. So we worry about what is to come and stay up all night trying to plan for situations that may or may not happen.
What once kept us alive, is now sucking away our happiness.
When I found out that all my worrying had an explanation behind it, I was relieved, then frustrated… Is there anything I can do about it?
There are obviously times in which planning for potential dangers or difficulties is still useful. So, being attuned into when this is needed and choosing to stop worrying from stampeding into your brain and taking over, is going to be a useful skill.
These strategies below are inspired by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which is a behavioural therapy which teaches clients to accept what is out of their control, and commit to actions which create a rich and fulfilling life. It's a therapy which has been used with positive effects on work stress and burnout, depression, anxiety, amongst other things.
When we become entrenched in unhelpful cognitions and emotions, this is called fusion. We are literally fused with our internal processes, forgetting to pay attention to everything else that is presently going on. When we are in a state of fusion, our behaviour is influenced by what is happening internally, meaning that we are less flexible with what is happening presently, externally. We are psychologically and behaviourally, inflexible.
You will have experienced this at some point before. Perhaps you weren't quite present while talking to a friend, instead thinking about work tomorrow. Perhaps you overreacted to a client because you were caught up in what they did yesterday, instead of responding to what they were doing differently, today.
Notice when your mind is getting swept away from the present moment.
Create distance between yourself and the thought by saying "I'm noticing that I'm having the thought that …." or, thank your mind and your ego for trying to keep you safe. Bring acceptance and compassion for responding the way you were conditioned to.
Expand your awareness of what is happening around you, using all of your senses to experience your present moment. Notice three things that you can see. Two things that you can smell? What are five things that you can hear? What do your clothes feel like against your skin? (This is not to replace the internal experience, rather to remind yourself that you can choose to focus on other, more resourceful experiences).
Breathe. Take 10 slow deep, diaphragmatic breaths. Through your nose, right down deep into your belly, out through your mouth. This engages the resting response, shutting down the stress response.
Act. What actions can you take that will set you towards your goals and values? Task these and start right away.
This is just one of the strategies that I use to teach my clients to better manage their stress, anxiety and burnout. If you'd like to chat further about how I can support you or your organisation, please book a time with me here.
What do you do to release your monkey mind from all its chattering?
Has this strategy, or one like it, helped you?


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Home ⁄ The Wire ⁄ [FANTASTIC FEST 2018] 'BETWEEN WORLDS' IS SURPRISINGLY DULL TRASH
[FANTASTIC FEST 2018] 'BETWEEN WORLDS' IS SURPRISINGLY DULL TRASH
Sep 22, 2018 Fantastic Fest 2018, Featured, Reviews	Tagged Between Worlds, Fantastic Fest 2018, Franka Potente, Gwendolyn Mulamba, Maria Pulera, Nicolas Cage, Penelope Mitchell	Comments 0
The premise of BETWEEN WORLDS is ridiculous. There is no doubt of that. It feels a bit like Zalman King tried his hand at writing a Twilight Zone episode and filled it with his usual doses of heavy melodramatic erotica. Add to that equation Nicolas Cage playing a tortured truck driver with a tragic past who is seemingly always high on over-the-counter speed/booze/weed and you would seem to have the recipe for some good, trashy fun. Instead, the results are disjointed and surprisingly dull.
Joe (Cage) is an extreme caricature of a southern truck driver. Sporting a few weeks worth of beard, stringy long hair hanging out the back of his trucker cap, and the exhausted expression of a man who stays up days on end, Joe is not exactly the picture of mental or physical health. When he stumbles upon Julie (Franka Potente) being viciously choked by a man in the bathroom of a truck stop, he beats the shit out of the creep, proclaiming, "We don't choke women, down South!" Yes, that is indicative of the dialogue found throughout the film.
Instead of being grateful, Julie is pissed at Joe. In an exposition dump that can only be described as breathtaking, she explains that she had a near-death experience as a child and can now travel to the area between life and death to make contact with spirits. When Joe interrupted her choking, she was trying to contact her teenage daughter Billie (Penelope Mitchell) who is in a coma from a motorcycle accident. To make it up to her, Joe takes on choking duties and they successfully return Billie's spirit to her body. Or did they?
In a further exposition dump, Joe lays out his tragic back story. His wife was a fragile person who hated being alone. She begged him to give up his job as a truck driver since he was always away from home. But he didn't listen to her and, one night, while he was on the road, she fell asleep smoking in bed and burned down the house, killing not only herself, but also their daughter. Got all that?
Joe and Julie strike up a romance, but the labored plot groundwork is complicated even further by Billie's strange behavior. She is dismissive toward her friends, cold to Julie, and throws seductive looks at Joe. Given the loopy twists in the film to that point, it is no surprise when Billie claims to actually be his dead wife.
The love triangle that results from Billie's revelation is more than a little icky. Writer/director Maria Pulera mostly jettisons the supernatural angle in favor of a hot-and-bothered sexual melodrama. The problem with taking that angle is that the film eventually boils down to two beautiful women (one of whom is eighteen-years-old—at least physically) grinding up on Nicolas Cage as if he was every guy in MAGIC MIKE rolled into one.
Don't get me wrong; Cage can still be a magnetic screen presence when he chooses. But—extreme trucker clichés aside—he is a little too believable at portraying a semi-crazed man in his 50's who has gone to seed to make me buy that he is the object of over-the-top lustful desires of such a very young woman. Even if that young woman is supposed to be possessed by his late wife.
But the discomfort of the May-December romance is only one of the problems that BETWEEN WORLDS faces. Julie's ability to bring spirits back from the realm between life and death is brought up and then mostly dropped with only fuzzy reasoning to explain how her power works. Maybe the scenes related to her power wound up on the cutting room floor. That would explain why the film feels so awkwardly edited with its rushed conclusion. At a certain point in the second act, the need to justify the action happening on screen seems to be abandoned by Pulera and the film just meanders through stock clichés like a nurse (Gwendolyn Mulamba) with an understanding of Julie's power showing up to spout yet more exposition.
It is disappointing that BETWEEN WORLDS is such a mess of half-assed plotting and clashing tones because Cage and Potente are actually a fun duo in the early scenes. Cage employs his usual odd mannerisms and line readings, but they work for the character. Potente brings a grounded nature to a thankless role and genuinely seems to be enjoying herself. Together, they find a decent comic chemistry that does allow me to buy the idea that Julie would consider a loser like Joe as a potential romantic partner. But that is as close as the film comes to something resembling actual human behavior.
I wanted to have fun with BETWEEN WORLDS, but other than some of the interplay between Cage and Potente, much of the film is a chore to sit through. The plot twists promise something bonkers, but the tone turns so flat and the editing/directing is so sloppy that it ends up boring. An out-of-nowhere ending that over-reaches is too little too late when it comes to the sort of crazed tone that the rest of the film should have supplied. Sometimes a mess of a film can be worth watching, but sometimes it's just a mess.
Tags: Between Worlds, Fantastic Fest 2018, Franka Potente, Gwendolyn Mulamba, Maria Pulera, Nicolas Cage, Penelope Mitchell
Prev [FANTASTIC FEST 2018] JEREMY SAULNIER'S 'HOLD THE DARK' IS HIS BLEAKEST FILM YET
Next [FANTASTIC FEST 2018] 'TERRIFIED' COMES VERY CLOSE TO LIVING UP TO ITS TITLE


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Commentary :: Human Rights
Targeting Whistleblowers: Truth Telling Endangered
by Stephen Lendman
Email: lendmanstephen (nospam) sbcglobal.net	 13 Jun 2010
dissent and whistleblowers endangered in America
Targeting Whistleblowers: Truth Telling Endangered - by Stephen Lendman
On April 16, journalist John Cole wrote:
"The message is clear - you torture people and then destroy the evidence, and you get off without so much as a sternly worded letter. If you are a whistle blower outlining criminal behavior by the government, you get prosecuted."
In fact, it's worse. Under Bush, torture was official policy. It remains so under Obama who absolved CIA torturers, despite unequivocal evidence of their guilt. But leaking it risks criminal prosecution for revealing state secrets and endangering national security.
On June 7, New York Times writer Elisabeth Bumiller headlined, "Army Leak Suspect Is Turned In, by Ex-Hacker," explaining that US Army intelligence analyst Specialist Bradley Manning told Adrian Lamo that he leaked the following materials to WikiLeaks:
-- "260,000 classified United States diplomatic cables and video of a (US) airstrike in Afghanistan that killed 97 civilians last year," and
-- an "explosive (39 minute) video of an American helicopter attack in Baghdad that left 12 people dead, including two employees of the Reuters news agency." Manning called it "collateral murder," a crime he felt obliged to expose.
Lamo told the military, saying "I outed Brad Manning as an alleged leaker out of duty. I would never (and have never) outed an Ordinary Decent Criminal. There's a difference." He didn't explain or how any criminal can be decent.
On June 7, the military command in Iraq arrested Manning, saying in Pentagon boilerplate:
"The Department of Defense takes the management of classified information very seriously because it affects our national security, the lives of our soldiers, and our operations abroad."
So far, Manning is uncharged and is being held in Kuwait pending further action.
On June 6 in wired.com, Kevin Poulsen and Kim Zetter broke the story in their article headlined, "US Intelligence Analyst Arrested in WikiLeaks Video Probe," explaining:
The Army's Criminal Investigation Division arrested Manning after Lamo outed him. The State Department said it wasn't aware of the arrest.The FBI had no comment, then later the Defense Department confirmed his arrest for allegedly leaking classified information. According to army spokesman Gary Tallman:
"If you have a security clearance and wittingly or unwittingly provide classified information to anyone who doesn't have security clearance or a need to know, you have violated security regulations and potentially the law."
Manning said:
"Everywhere there's a US post, there's a diplomatic scandal that will be revealed. It's open diplomacy. World-wide anarchy in CSV format. It's Climategate with a global scope, and breathtaking depth. It's beautiful and horrifying. (The documents describe) almost criminal political back dealings. (They belong) in the public domain, and not on some server stored in a dark corner in Washington, DC. (Our government is involved in) incredible things, awful things."
He exposed cold-blooded murder of innocent civilians and reporters, the perpetrators laughing on video like it was a game - the public unaware that Pentagon rules-of-engagement (ROEs) target Iraqi and Afghan civilians as well as alleged combatants.
On June 11, New York Times writer Scott Shane headlined, "Obama Takes a Hard Line Against Leaks to Press," saying:
"In 17 months in office, President Obama has already outdone every previous president in pursuing leak prosecutions," citing actions against Thomas A. Drake (discussed below), and Times columnist James Risen, subpoenaed (by Bush and Obama) to disclose his sources for his book, "State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration."
Lucy Dalglish, executive director for Reporters Committee for Freedom, explained:
"The message they are sending to everyone is 'You leak to the media, we will get you.' As far as I can tell there is absolutely no difference (between Bush and Obama), and (he) seems to be paying more attention to it. This is going to get nasty."
Attorney General Eric Holder approved the subpoena, his Justice Department spokesman, Matthew Miller, saying: "As a general matter, we have consistently said that leaks of classified information are something we take extremely seriously."
Risen's lawyer, Joel Kurtzberg, explained that the subpoena relates to his report about covert CIA measures to subvert Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program. "We will be fighting to quash" it, he said. "Jim is the highest calibre of reporter and adhered to the highest standards of his profession. And he intends to honor the promise of confidentiality he made to (his) source or sources."
Risen's publisher, Simon and Schuster, is handling the matter, but a Times statement said:
"Our view, however, is that confidential sources are vital in getting information to the public, and a subpoena issued more than four years after the book was published hardly seems to be important enough to outweigh the protection an author needs to have."
First brought in 2006 by Bush Attorney General Michael Mukasey, the grand jury session expired without resolution. Holder will impanel a new one. Risen faces possible prosecution and jail time for honoring his confidentiality commitment, what no reporter should ever violate.
WikiLeaks - What It Is, How It Operates
Calling itself "the intelligence agency of the people," WikiLeaks says it's "a multi-jurisdictional public service designed to protect whistleblower, journalist and activists who have sensitive materials to communicate to the public" that has a right to know.
Only when they're told "the true plans and behavior of their governments" can they decide whether or not they deserve support, or as Jack Kennedy said on April 27, 1961:
"The very word secrecy is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths and to secret proceedings. We decided long ago that the dangers of excessive and unwarranted concealment of pertinent facts far outweighed the dangers, which are cited to justify it."
WikiLeaks believes that "Principled leaking has changed the course of history for the better; it can alter the course of history in the present; it can lead us to a better future." It can expose abuses of power by "rel(ying) upon the power of overt fact to enable and empower citizens to bring feared and corrupt governments and corporations to justice," and help make nominal democracies real ones.
Secrecy and Targeting Whistleblowers and Journalists Under Obama
More than ever under Obama, we live in a secret society, in which whistleblowers and journalists are targeted for doing their job - why Helen Thomas, unfairly pilloried by the pro-Israeli chorus, last July said his administration was "controlling the press," during a White House Robert Gibbs briefing, then afterward added:
"It's shocking. It's really shocking....What the hell do they think we are, puppets? They're supposed to stay out of our business. They are our public servants. We pay them."
In a July 1, 2009 interview with CNSNews.com, she said even Nixon didn't exert press control like Obama, saying: "Nixon didn't try to do that. They couldn't control (the media). They didn't try....I'm not saying there has never been managed news before, but this is carried to (a) fare-thee-well for town halls, the press conferences. It's blatant. They don't give a damn if you know it or not. They ought to be hanging their heads in shame."
In February 2009, the Free Flow of Information Act was introduced in the House and Senate. In March, the lower body passed it overwhelmingly, after which it stalled in Senate Committee.
At the time, the Obama administration weakened it in opposition to strong congressional support - on the pretext of national security considerations over the public's right to know, to let prosecutors judicially force reporters and whistleblowers to reveal their sources. Though the bill never passed, the administration uses it to prevent exposure of information it wants suppressed, more aggressively than any of his predecessors, another measure of a man promising change.
Thomas Drake was an Obama administration target, a former National Security Agency (NSA) "senior executive," indicted on April 15, 2010, on multiple charges of "willful retention of classified information, obstruction of justice and making false statements," according to Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division.
The 10-count indictment alleges he gave Baltimore Sun reporter Sibohan Gorman classified NSA documents about the agency. In fact, she wrote about waste and mismanagement in its "Trailblazer" project (a program analyzing data on computer networks), and illegal spying activities, saying on May 18, 2006 in her article headlined, "NSA Killed System That Sifted Phone Data Legally" that:
"Once President Bush gave the go-ahead for the NSA to secretly gather and analyze domestic phone records - an authorization that carried no stipulations about identity protection - agency officials regarded the encryption as an unnecessary step and rejected it."
Her stories, however, focused mainly on the Trailblazer $1.2 billion initiative that one insider called "the biggest boondoggle going on now in the intelligence community," what the public had every right to know.
Drake's leaks exposed illegal NSA spying, its enormous amount of waste and fraud, and the formation of a public/private national security/surveillance state, incentivizing profiteers to hype fear for their own bottom-line self-interest.
As a candidate, Obama promised transparency, accountability, and reform of extremist Bush policies. As president, he usurped unchecked surveillance powers, including warrantless wiretapping, accessing personal records, monitoring financial transactions, and tracking emails, Internet and cell phone use to gather secret evidence for prosecutions. He also claims Justice Department immunity from illegal spying suits, an interpretation no member of Congress or administration ever made, not even Bush or his Republican allies.
As a result, his national security state targets activists, political dissidents, anti-war protestors, Muslims, Latino immigrants, lawyers who defend them, whistleblowers, journalists who expose federal crimes, corruption, and excesses who won't disclose their sources, and WikiLeaks, cited in a 2008 Pentagon report as a major US security threat, important to shut down by deterring, discouraging or prosecuting its sources. More on that below.
At a time of extreme government secrecy, lawlessness, and betrayal of the public trust, exposes and public debate more than ever are vital - whistleblowers, WikiLeaks, and courageous reporters essential to an open society, one endangered without them.
WikiLeaks March 15, 2010 Release: "US Intelligence planned to destroy WikiLeaks"
The group's founder, Julian Assange, described a 32-page February 2008 counterintelligence investigation "to fatally marginalize the organization." However, after two years, without success, at least so far.
It called WikiLeaks "a potential force protection, counterintelligence, operational security (OPSEC), and information security (INFOSEC) threat to the US Army, (jeopardizing) DoD personnel, equipment, facilities, or installations. Such information (could help) foreign intelligence and security services (FISS), foreign military forces, foreign insurgents, and foreign terrorist groups (by providing them) information (they could use to attack) US force(s), both within the United States and abroad" - typical Pentagon boilerplate to hype threats and deter whistleblowers from exposing government crimes and excesses, what the public has every right to know.
In response, WikiLeaks said protecting the identity of leakers takes high priority. It operates "to expose unethical practices, illegal behavior, and wrongdoing within corrupt (government agencies and) corporations (as well as) oppressive regimes" abroad, some in collusion with Washington.
The goal - expose wrongdoing, demand accountability, and support democratic principles in a free and open society - what governments are supposed to do, but when they don't, organizations like WikiLeaks exhibit the highest form of patriotism, to be lauded, not spied on, pilloried, or destroyed.
Among its many accusations, DOD claimed WikiLeaks:
-- has possible DOD moles giving it sensitive or classified information;
-- uses its site to post fabricated and manipulated information;
-- has 2,000 pages of leaked army documents with information about US and coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, including on the kinds and numbers of equipment assigned to US Central Command;
-- Julian Assange wrote and co-authored articles, based on leaked information, "to facilitate action by the US Congress to force the withdrawal of US troops by cutting off funding for the war(s);"
-- leaked information "could aid enemy forces in planning terrorist attacks, (choose) the most effective type and emplacement of improvised explosive devices (IEDs)" and use other ways to target US military units, convoys, and bases;
-- data published is misinterpreted, manipulated misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda;
-- a November 9, 2007 report said US forces "had almost certainly violated the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)," and has 2,386 low grade chemical weapons in Iraq and Afghanistan;
-- the same report charged DOD with illegal white phosphorous use in the 2004 Fallujah attack;
-- the Bush administration was accused of torture and denying ICRC representatives access to Guantanamo detainees;
-- details were provided on DOD's use of asymmetric tactics, techniques, and procedures in the April 2004 Fallujah assault; and
-- many other accusations and concerns were listed, including whether "foreign organizations....foreign military services, foreign insurgents, or terrorist groups provide funding or material support to Wikileaks.org."
DOD concluded that successfully identifying, prosecuting, and terminating the employment of leakers "would damage and potentially destroy" WikiLeaks' operation and deter others from supplying information. It also stressed "the need for strong counterintelligence, antiterrorism, force protection, information assurance, INFOSEC, and OPSEC programs to train Army personnel" on ways to prevent leaks and report "suspicious activities."
Julian Assange is a man with a mission - total transparency. WikiLeaks is a vital resource by providing key information on how governments and corporations betray the public interest. Given America's tradition of war crimes, corruption and other abuses of power, no wonder DOD is concerned, thankfully so far without success, or according to WikiLeaks:
Its activities are "the strongest way we have of generating the true democracy and good governance on which all mankind's dreams depend," and may have a chance to achieve from their work and others like them - grassroots activism, power and determination, the only way change ever comes, never from the top down, a lesson to internalize, remember, and act on.
On June 10, Daily Beast writer Philip Shenon headlined, "Pentagon Manhunt," saying:
"Anxious that WikiLeaks may be on the verge of publishing a batch of secret State Department cables, investigators are desperately searching for founder Julian Assange."
In early June, he was scheduled to speak at New York's Personal Democracy Forum, but was advised against it for his safety. Instead, he appeared via Skype from Australia.
Interviewed about Assange, famed whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg believes he could be in danger, saying:
"I happen to have been the target of a White House hit squad myself. On May 3, 1972, a dozen CIA assets from the Bay of Pigs, Cuban emigres, were brought up from Miami with orders to 'incapacitate me totally.' " Ellsberg asked if that meant to kill him, and was told "It means to incapacitate you totally. But you have to understand these guys never use the word 'kill.' "
Is Assange now in danger? "Absolutely. On the same basis, I was....Obama is now proclaiming rights of life and death, being judge, jury, and executioner of Americans without due process" at home or abroad, besides non-citizens anywhere as well, the rule of law be damned. "No president has ever claimed that and possibly no one since John the First."
Ellsberg's advice to Assange:
"Stay out of the US. Otherwise, keep doing what he is doing. It's pretty valuable....He is serving our democracy and serving our rule of law precisely by challenging the secrecy regulations, which are not laws in most cases, in this country. He is doing very good work for our democracy," something Obama, like his predecessors, works daily to subvert.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen (at) sbcglobal.net. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/.
http://sjlendman.blogspot.com


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Christian Eriksen: Inter Milan set to terminate contract of Danish midfielder
By Matthew Roscoe • 17 December 2021 • 9:05
Christian Eriksen: Inter Milan set to terminate contract of Danish midfielder.
INTER MILAN look set to terminate the contract – by mutual consent – of Danish midfielder, Christian Eriksen.
Italian Football Federation rules dictate that Eriksen is unable to play in Serie A with a defibrillator – which he had fitted following his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020.
Gazzetta della Sport are reporting that "Inter supports and respects Eriksen" and that allowing to leave the club to play elsewhere is best for all parties.
The 29-year-old has not played since collapsing during Denmark's opening match of Euro 2020 against Finland although the former Tottenham player returned to training earlier this month, joining up one of his former clubs, Danish side, Odense Boldklub.
A spokesperson for the club told Reuters on December 2: "Eriksen reached out to us, and he is now training by himself.
"It's natural for him since he played here in his youth and lives around the corner. We are very happy to be able to provide training facilities for him."
The Internazionale midfielder received life-saving treatment on the pitch at Copenhagen's Parken Stadium before being taken to a nearby hospital. He then had a cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) device implanted in October.
Since his worrying collapse, which shocked the world, many other footballers have had heart attacks/ problems causing people to question whether the COVID-19 vaccine is linked.
However, "Christian Eriksen did not receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and is therefore not the reason for his collapse during Denmark's Euro 2020 opener," according to Reuters.
An official announcement is expected soon which would mean that Eriksen will be free to consider proposals from other countries.
In related news, former Manchester City legend Sergio Agüero confirmed his retirement from football at the age of 33 due to a heart condition.
Matthew Roscoe
Originally from the UK, Matthew is based on the Costa Blanca and is a web reporter for The Euro Weekly News covering international and Spanish national news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at [email protected]


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Tax expert lost job after claiming people cannot change their biological sex
Maya Forstater stated: 'I think I have the same right to talk about my understanding of sex and the Equality Act as others'
Jamie Micklethwaite
Published friday 11 Mars 2022 - 19:19
A tax expert who lost out on a job role after claiming people cannot change their biological sex repeatedly asked the organisation to give her space to air her views, a tribunal has heard.
Maya Forstater's contract at the Centre for Global Development (CGD) was not renewed in March 2019 after she posted tweets opposing proposed reforms to the Gender Recognition Act that would make it easier to change a person's legal gender.
Ms Forstater took her case to an employment tribunal on the grounds that her dismissal constituted discrimination against her beliefs.
Employment judge James Tayler originally dismissed her claim but High Court judge Justice Choudhury later ruled that the judgment had "erred in law".
Transgender rights row breaks out in Commons as Tory MP states 'a woman is an adult female'
Finding in her favour in June, the High Court judge said her views "may well be profoundly offensive and even distressing", but said they "must be tolerated in a pluralist society".
The CGD described the ruling as "a step backwards for inclusivity and equality for all".
The organisation said it accepted that gender critical beliefs may be protected in law, but that it would be bringing the case back to the lower Employment Tribunal "to dispute Maya Forstater's version of events".
On Friday, the lower tribunal heard that Sara Godfrey, who worked for HR, sent an email to colleagues in December 2018, which attached the organisation's anti-harassment, and health and safety policies.
Ms Godfrey's email read: "All staff have a responsibility to read and fully understand these policies and the procedures. Should you have any questions, let me know.
"We will have a chance to discuss the anti-harassment and bullying policies at the January 15 workshop, which all CGDE staff are required to (attend)."
Ms Forstater replied to all recipients: "I welcome the spirit of this policy, but I have a couple specific comments."
She then suggested making a distinction between "sex" and "gender" under protected characteristics.
She also objected to the policy of "prohibiting the sharing of any message that might be taken as offensive to any group's religion or belief", arguing that "seems to be an overly broad prohibition which goes beyond being an inclusive institution".
Later, she added: "I know that some people are offended by the statement that males who identify as women are not women.
"However this is in line with how the Equalities Act defines woman (as a 'female of any age') and how the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women defines 'discrimination against women' (as being on the basis of sex).
"Thus circulating these definitions from the Equalities Act or the CEDAW might be viewed as offensive and could potentially be prohibited under this policy!"
Asked about why she sent the email to everyone, Ms Forstater said: "I did not want to take up a considerable amount of time explaining these issues (at the workshop).
"And I did want to raise them and share them with my colleagues."
Olivia-Faith Dobbie, representing the CGD, suggested that Ms Forstater was "repeatedly asking for space to air your views".
She added: "It is part of a pattern of yours to compel CGD to give you space to share your views."
Ms Forstater said she was responding to what she saw as an invitation to comment on the proposals.
Ms Dobbie also put to the claimant: "You thought that you should be able to use the workplace to air your gender-critical views – that you have a right to persuade colleagues that you are right."
Ms Forstater replied: "I think I have the same right to talk about my understanding of sex and the Equality Act as others."
Commenting on the start of the tribunal, Amanda Glassman, executive vice president of CGD, said: "The Centre for Global Development always aims to maintain a workplace and an environment that is welcoming, safe, and inclusive to all, including trans people.
"As these proceedings will make clear, the decision to not renew Maya Forstater's unpaid affiliation was the result of a lengthy and carefully considered process and allowed us to remain true to our commitment to an inclusive workplace.
"The Centre for Global Development values and has always fostered an environment of intellectual debate and differences of view, but we strongly believe that this debate must be grounded in mutual respect and that all people must be treated with dignity.
"The Centre for Global Development's mission is to reduce global poverty and inequality through economic research that drives better policy and practice by the world's top decision-makers, and we continue to focus on this important agenda."
gender news trans


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Home. > Press Room
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THE WAY DEMOCRACY WILL BE
For Immediate Release / July 13th 2009
FairVote's Adam Fogel Advises DC Council to Pass Election Reform
District has opportunity to be 'beacon of democracy'
Paul Fidalgo, communications director - paul(at)fairvote.org
Adam Fogel, Right to Vote director - afogel(at)fairvote.org
Adam Fogel, director of FairVote's Right to Vote program, testified before the Washington, D.C. City Council's Committee on Government Operations and the Environment on Monday, June 13th in support of the Omnibus Election Reform Act of 2009. Fogel told the committee that this important bill lays the foundation for making the District's election laws among the most progressive in the country, giving the city the opportunity to serve as a shining example to rest of the nation.
"This bill will…lay the groundwork for a 21st Century voter registration system that anticipates participation as opposed to the current 19th Century system that places hurdles along the way to the ballot box," said Fogel. "Washington, D.C.'s voter registration and election system should show the rest of the country that this city is a beacon of democracy, one that serves as a model to others and demonstrates our commitment to securing full and equal voting rights."
Mr. Fogel leads FairVote's efforts on issues of voting rights and youth participation. Since joining the organization in 2007, he has run field experiments in civics education, wrote the 40-page voting curriculum Learning Democracy, co-authored a report on reforming the presidential nominating process and led a research team that surveyed hundreds of swing state election administrators. His writing has recently appeared in the Washington Post.
Fogel highlighted key provisions of this sweeping election reform bill that will encourage participation, simplify the work of election administrators, and increase transparency with such reforms as pre-registration for 16-year-olds, primary voting for 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the general election, and Election Day registration. He also emphasized the need for education in civics and the mechanics of political participation for D.C.'s young voters. "We can improve election laws by passing this bill," he said, "but the important work begins after this bill is passed-by registering and educating students in our schools and creating a new generation of informed, active participants in our democracy."
Adam Fogel is available for comment at afogel(at)fairvote.org, 301-270-4616.
Remarks as prepared, also available in PDF:
Testimony of Adam Fogel
Before the Washington D.C. City Council
Committee on Government Operations and the Environment
Bill 18-345, the "Omnibus Election Reform Act of 2009"
Thank you for inviting me to testify today. My name is Adam Fogel; I live in the District and am the Right to Vote Director at FairVote, a nonpartisan, nonprofit election reform and voting rights organization founded in 1992. We're an active member of the D.C. Voting Rights Coalition and appreciate the opportunity to provide testimony on this sweeping election reform bill.
The Omnibus Election Reform Act of 2009 is a first, bold step towards modernizing Washington, D.C.'s Election System. In the short term, it will improve voter registration and give more D.C. residents a chance to vote in elections. This bill will also lay the groundwork for a 21st Century voter registration system that anticipates participation as opposed to the current 19th Century system that places hurdles along the way to the ballot box. Washington, D.C.'s voter registration and election system should show the rest of the country that this city is a beacon of democracy, one that serves as a model to others and demonstrates our commitment to securing full and equal voting rights.
I'll focus my remarks today on four provisions of the bill and offer my recommendations on continuing to move the District's elections forward.
The bill establishes two new policies for newly eligible voters. It sets a uniform pre-registration age of 16-years-old, which will improve the current registration system in two ways. First, it will create the space necessary to allow high schools to conduct systematic, annual voter registration drives. Students registering at 16 or 17 will have plenty of time to learn about the election process, creating more informed voters. Second, this policy will decrease the last-minute rush of registration forms the Board of Elections receives before the deadline every election cycle, because this policy makes voter registration a year-round activity. Systematically registering youth as they reach voting age will also decrease the need for third party partisan and nonpartisan groups to conduct registration drives before each election, allowing those groups to focus on get-out-the-vote campaigns and voter education.
The bill also allows 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections if they will be 18 by the general election. Nearly half of states have adopted this policy because it gives voting-age young people a voice in who appears on the general election ballot. It also encourages young people to vote in the first election for which they are eligible, which has been shown to promote lifelong political participation.
This bill also establishes a best practice that has helped bring down barriers to participation in 9 states already, Election Day Registration. According to Demos, voters in states with EDR were 7-percentage points more likely to participate in the 2008 election. In implementing EDR, it is important that poll workers across the District are properly trained so there is uniformity in how the policy is put into practice. It is also important that the Board of Elections allow a broad range of forms of identification for voters to prove their residency.
While Election Day Registration is a best practice for our current voter registration system, other options exist to modernize voter registration in more significant ways. The provision mandating a feasibility study on Automatic Voter Registration is one that should be taken seriously. Washington, DC has an opportunity to lead the nation in the percentage of eligible voters on the rolls. The United States is an outlier in having a self-initiated, opt-in system of voter registration. In most other democracies, the government shares the responsibility of maintaining full and accurate voter rolls. Through the use of existing government databases, including the DMV, the Office of Tax and Revenue and public assistance agencies, D.C. can automatically register eligible residents to vote and automatically update their registration when they move. Several states are currently debating this policy and it has the support of a broad range of national civil rights and voting rights organizations, including the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the Brennan Center for Justice and Common Cause.
The Omnibus Election Reform Act of 2009 is a comprehensive bill that lays the foundation for making the District's election laws among the most progressive in the country. One factor this committee and the Council should consider after this bill is passed is how to best inform the public of these new policies. Educating the public-with a particular focus on youth- about these laws will promote greater transparency in the election process and improve the public's perception of D.C. elections, especially after the controversy surrounding last year's primary contests. I recommend that the City Council, in conjunction with D.C. Public Schools, make civic education and teaching the mechanics of participation a priority. Far too many young people leave high school without learning the basics of voting-including how to register to vote and what to expect on Election Day. Far too many of these students' parents do not vote and many are intimidated by the process. With a mandate from the D.C. City Council, that can change. We can improve election laws by passing this bill, but the important work begins after this bill is passed-by registering and educating students in our schools and creating a new generation of informed, active participants in our democracy.
Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to testify today and I urge your adoption of this significant piece of legislation.
Established in 1992, FairVote is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that educates and enlivens discourse on how best to achieve a democracy that respects every voice and every vote. We pursue innovative research, strategic outreach and civic education in order to promote fair access to political participation, fair elections with transparent election administration and meaningful choices, and fair representation grounded in majority rule and proportional representation for all. For more information, contact communications director Paul Fidalgo at [email protected] or (301) 270-4616.


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Senior Arts Exhibition & Awards
Students, staff and families, immersed themselves in the arts on Tuesday night, enjoying the talents of our senior visual and performing arts students.
Commencing with the Senior Arts Exhibition in the Marian Foyer, the College's most prestigious visual arts awards were announced (see below). We were delighted that special guest and past student Marcia King was able to attend for the announcement of the JRS Award and to meet the recipient, Soraya Knight.
The evening's entertainment and fun continued with performances by the Years 10 and 11 Drama students who presented their final ensemble and solo performances.
Speaking about the evening, Mrs Louise Richardson, Head of Arts, said, "This evening is not only a way to showcase beautiful artworks, clever designs and competent skills across a range of platforms, it is also a recognition of the consistent effort and dedication it takes to work through a creative process. Pushing and forming ideas into something that will inspire for weeks, sometimes months. The journey includes learning of new skills, exploration, failures and successes. It is about taking that initial idea and turning it into something special – making it the best it can be, whether it be an artwork, a piece of design, video or a performance. Thank you to all the parents who have travelled through this process as well. We congratulate our arts students for the dedication and effort they have displayed this year and we sincerely thank the individuals and organisations who support our arts students by sponsoring these awards."
SENIOR ARTS AWARDS 2018 RECIPIENTS
Religious Art Award
Lilly Skipper (Year 11, VT8)
The Religious Art Award is given by the College Faith Team and encourages students to celebrate and express our Christian faith in creative and life-giving ways. The award-winning piece, titled 'Dinner's Cancelled', will be exhibited at the MacKillop Arts Exhibition which opens on 16 November in Sacred Heart Cathedral.
The JRS Award
Soraya Knight (Year 12, JR10)
The JRS Award is presented by artist and past student Marcia King, to a graduating Year 12 student who demonstrates strong talent in folio development and very high skills in the production of their final artwork.
Newly re-named, the 'JRS' stands for Josie Lowerson, Rhonda Alexander and Sharon Cruise in recognition of the teaching staff who inspired and helped ignite Marcia's passion for the arts.
Margaret Bowden Memorial Award
Jayde Kellett (Year11, CH10)
Given by the Friends of the Bendigo Art Gallery, the Margaret Bowden Memorial Award is presented to a Year 11 student who is strong in their art studies, continuing with their visual art studies into Year 12 and has been active in the promotion of arts in the wider community.
The award has been re-named in 2018 in honour of Margaret Bowden who was a strong advocate for the arts and instrumental in establishing this bursary for all VCE schools in Bendigo.
La Trobe University and Catherine McAuley College Acquisition Award
Harrison Skinner (Year 12, MY11)
The Acquisition Award is sponsored by La Trobe University and Catherine McAuley College and goes to a Year 12 student who has demonstrated excellence and passion in the production of their art folio. The acquisition piece becomes part of the Catherine McAuley Arts Collection.
Cavalier Art Prizes
Ella McDermott (Year 10, MK8)
Po Tu (Year 11, JR10)
Sadie Coughlan (Year 11, MK7)
Donated by Cavalier Art Supplies, these prizes are given in recognition of consistent effort and an improvement in art results.
Arts Award Winners
Soraya Knight with Marcia King
The JRS Award: Soraya Knight
Religious Art Award: Lilly Skipper
Religious Art Award: Lilly Skipper - detail
Acquisition Award: Harrison Skinner
Jayde Kellett - Folio
Cavalier Art Prize: Po Tu
Arts Awards Night


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Philadelphia, PA, July 17, 2008 – Scott Greenman, Assistant Coach at Princeton University, has been appointed to coach the USA Youth Men's Basketball Team at the 18th "Chai" World Maccabiah Games in Israel, July 2009. Greenman, an alumnus of Princeton, where he was a four-year Starter and All-Ivy Basketball Player, also played for the USA Open Men's Basketball Team at the 17th World Maccabiah Games in 2005 and the Maccabi Australia International Games in 2006.
He finished his college career eighth all-time Princeton with 139 three-point shots. After graduating, Greenman played professional basketball in Israel for B'nei Ha'sharon, and helped lead his team to a final-four finish in the Israeli league championship. He was appointed as assistant coach for the Princeton Tigers in 2007.
When asked for a reaction to his appointment as Head Coach, Greenman replied, "I am extremely excited, and it is an honor to be appointed the head coach of the Youth Men's Basketball Team that will be traveling to Israel next summer. The Games are an amazing experience and I cannot wait to go to Israel with our Team and have a great time, both on and off the court. I have been involved with the Games before, and they left such a great impression on me that I wanted to remain involved, even if not in a playing capacity."
Greenman's love of coaching and familiarity with the Maccabiah Games will be an added bonus for his team.? He expects to field a team that will play unselfishly, care incredibly for each other and compete together to perform as well as possible during the Games.? Interested athletes should visit the Maccabi USA website athttps://maccabiusa.com/ to learn more about eligibility and apply for the team.
Maccabi USA/Sports for Israel (MUSA) has an extensive history of enriching Jewish lives through athletic, cultural and educational programs.? The organization is the official sponsor of the United States Team to the World Maccabiah Games, the Pan American Maccabi Games and the Maccabi competitions in Europe and Australia, as well as a co-founder of the JCC Maccabi Games for teens in North America.? As the official Maccabi representative in the U.S., Maccabi USA supports Jewish athletic endeavors, enhanced by cultural and educational activities in the United States, Israel and throughout the Diaspora.
MUSA develops, promotes and supports international, national and regional athletic-based activities and facilities.? We strive to provide Jewish athletes the world over, the opportunity to share their heritage and customs in competitive athletic settings.? We support programs that embody the Maccabi ideals of Jewish continuity, Zionism and excellence in sport.?
"Now more than ever, we need to get involved and committed to building a proud Jewish Identity among our young people in the U.S., Israel and the Diaspora," stated Ron Carner, General Chairman, USA Maccabiah Team. "The Maccabiah (Games) is not just about sports, but about providing for these young people a Jewish awareness of who they are, where they come from and where they are going."
The World Maccabiah Games are a quadrennial event that takes place in Israel.? The 18th World Maccabiah Games, scheduled for July 13 – 23, 2009 will be the world's third largest international athletic competition.? Over 9000 of the world's best Jewish athletes from six continents and over 60 countries will compete at the Games.


Russian singer/songwriter Elena Temnikova (Елена Темникова) shared an exciting new track just over a month ago. Written and co-produced by Temnikova herself, 'Под Луной' features very forward-looking arrangements inspired by deep house, with smooth beats and catchy pop vocals.
Temnikova came to prominence as one of the three members of Russian pop outfit Serebro, which represented Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 and rapidly became one of the most successful girl bands in Russia. In 2014 Temnikova to start a solo career and between 2016 and 2017 she released three EPs (TEMNIKOVA I, TEMNIKOVA II and TEMNIKOVA III – НЕ МОДНЫЕ) which set the tone for her new sound, combining vigorous dance, introspective deep house and a touch of urban beats.


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