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Amid Recent Racist Attacks, A Group Of Asian Women Create A Safe Haven In Dallas
KERA | By Alejandra Martinez
Published April 6, 2021 at 7:00 AM CDT
The group Dallas Women of Asian Descent started because of the swelling of anti-Asian violence in the U.S. Recently the group of about 10 gathered for yoga and dumplings at Hello Dumpling in East Dallas to discuss the recent shooting in Atlanta and find ways to heal.
On a windy Saturday morning in April, a group of about 10 Asian women mingled over some dumplings and noodles at the Chinese restaurant Hello Dumpling in East Dallas.
The rise in anti-Asian violence across the country has brought together the group Dallas Women of Asian Descent. They're working to create a refuge amid recent racist attacks.
"We are a group of women who are looking to find community to focus on healing and focus on uplifting and amplifying each other's voices and experiences," Amy Tran-Calhoun, the group's lead organizer, said.
Earlier that morning they gathered for a restorative yoga healing session where they discussed how to change the narrative around Asian women in the U.S.
"We are collectively powerful. We are collectively strong and also soft. And I think these are things that don't really get talked about in the broader societal and racist narratives about AAPI women," Aileen Fullchange said.
A psychologist and member of the group, Fullchange calls it a "healing collective." They started organically. One person met another, and then another and so on. They were all looking for belonging and community.
They meet virtually or in person to process recent events like the recent shooting in Atlanta, where six out of the eight victims were women of Asian descent.
Courtesy of Stephanie Drenka
Eight women of Asian descent sit criss-cross on top of their colorful yoga mats. They've gathered for a restorative yoga healing session with the group Dallas Women of Asian Descent.
"Ever since the sort of the pandemic, I have felt like, I've been holding my breath, really worried," Cynthia Yung said.
Yung, who offered her house for the yoga session, said many of the women in the group were also hurting and suffering. They shared their stories and experiences over sun salutations.
"We cry together and we are there for one another because this is such an odd time with pandemic. We're also isolated, because of COVID. But then we also have this other fear that it's hard to share," she said.
The pandemic has personally given Yung a new appreciation for what it means to have a community to share your fears and anxieties with.
If you don't talk about those feelings and emotions, then you hold that trauma in your body and and, and other places that are ultimately unhealthy for your well-being.
Amy Tran-Calhoun, lead organizer of the group Dallas Women of Asian Descent
"I was really scared to go out of the house. And you know, my family was really scared for me. I've kind of been holding that for a long time. And it just got worse and worse and worse," she said. "I shared with the group [at the yoga session]. How much I still feel like I've been holding my breath."
The group centers their conversations around healing from trauma, building solidarity and "Asian visibility."
"If you don't talk about those feelings and emotions, then you hold that trauma in your body and and, and other places that are ultimately unhealthy for your well-being," Tran-Calhoun said. "And so we really just started as a space to connect and just see where we go."
Tran-Calhoun said that the group is fairly new but strong and wants other women to join too.
To join, you can email womenofasiandescent@gmail.com.
Got a tip? Alejandra Martinez is a Report For America corps member and writes about the impact of COVID-19 on underserved communities for KERA News. Email Alejandra at amartinez@kera.org. You can follow Alejandra on Twitter @alereports.
KERA News is made possible through the generosity of our members. If you find this reporting valuable, consider making a tax-deductible gift today. Thank you.
News Race & CultureKERA News
Alejandra Martinez is a reporter for KERA and The Texas Newsroom through Report for America (RFA). She's covering the impact of COVID-19 on underserved communities and the city of Dallas.
See stories by Alejandra Martinez
COVID-19, The Atlanta Spa Shootings Put Anti-Asian Bias Front & Center — But It Isn't New
How Anti-Asian Racism Fuels Discrimination & Violence
Asian American Women Share Testimonies At Dallas Town Hall Responding To Anti-Asian Hate
North Texans Flock To Frisco Shop For #StopAsianHate Doughnuts After Atlanta Shooting


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Land scarcity, high construction volume, and distinctive leases characterize Japan's rental housing markets
Jiro Yoshida (Case Study: Japan)
Editor's note: In case you missed it, watch an event held on April 21 discussing lessons from around the world related to policies to support stable, affordable rental housing.
The Japanese housing market is characterized by a large construction volume, rapid technological progress, fast depreciation of housing value, a thin secondary market, and low maintenance of existing properties. Legal and tax systems unintentionally encourage wealthy individuals to invest in studio apartments to rent out to young people living in urban areas. Thus, family housing is mainly available through ownership. The public sector played an important role in addressing housing shortages after World War II due to massive migration to large metropolitan areas. The public housing finance program encouraged homeownership, while public and quasi-public rental units provided shelter to low- and middle-income households. Roughly 36% of Japanese households rent their homes today. The biggest challenge is a mismatch between housing stock and demographics in a rapidly aging and shrinking society, exemplified by vacant housing units.
Overview of rental housing and renter households
Several distinctive factors related to Japan's physical geography and recent history provide important context to understand the country's housing market: scarce land, the prevalence of earthquakes, and economic trends following WWII.
Scarce land is the most fundamental factor defining the Japanese housing market. Habitable area—excluding inland water, forest, and woodland—accounts for only 29% of the country's land area. With a population of 128 million, per capita habitable area is only 800 square meters, compared with 19,300 square meters for the U.S. Urban area is further limited by land use regulations.
Another factor is frequent and significant earthquakes. Between 2000 and 2009, 212 earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 or greater occurred around Japan—accounting for 20% of high-magnitude earthquakes around the world.i Thus, Japan has developed technology to make structures resilient to earthquakes. The national building code has been revised after every major earthquake. Rapid technological changes make old structures obsolete and their value depreciate fast. The 1981 revision is particularly significant, creating a qualitative difference in property value between buildings built before and after 1981.
The third defining factor is a rapid change in housing stock, demographics, and lifestyle after WWII. After millions of houses were burnt down during the war, there was a housing shortage of around 4.2 million units in 1945. The first baby boom between 1947 and 1949 exacerbated the housing shortage. Postwar housing construction consistently increased with rapid economic growth, with 76.7 million units built between 1948 and 2020 for 54 million households. The economic and industrial system evolved to constantly supply the large construction volume that was frequently replacing older buildings. Based on the 2018 Housing and Land Survey (HLS), 76% of the housing stock is compliant with the 1981 building code (i.e., 37 years old or newer).
During the postwar economic growth period, a large portion of the population migrated from rural areas to urban areas, especially to the Tokyo metropolitan area.ii Between 1954 and 2019, cumulative migration into three of Japan's major metropolitan areas was 12 million—of which, 10 million moved to the Tokyo metropolitan area. This massive inter-region migration created a significant housing shortage in urban areas, especially during the 1950s and 1960s, alleviated in part by active public sector investments.
Physical characteristics of rental stock
In 2020, approximately 60% of Japan's newly constructed units were owner-occupied houses and condominiums, and the remaining 40% were rental units. Among the newly constructed units, 78% of ownership units are detached houses, most of which have wooden structures. Newly constructed rental units are primarily multifamily properties that have non-wooden structures such as steel-reinforced concrete.
Figure 1 depicts the occupied housing stock in Japan based on the 2018 HLS. The horizontal axis represents the number of units, and the vertical axis represents the average unit size in square meters. Thus, the area of a rectangle represents the total floor area for each housing type. The total number of occupied housing units is 53.6 million, and the average unit size for all housing types is 93 square meters.
The homeownership rate is 61.2% for all housing types. This rate has been stable at around 60% for the past half-century, but significantly varies by the age of the household head. The rate is consistently around 80% for household heads 60 years or older, and decreases for heads ages 30 to 39 (39%) and 30 or younger (15%).
Rental unitsincluding public rental, quasi-public rental,iii and corporate housingaccount for 35.6% of the total number of occupied housing units. Among rental units, private rental housing accounts for approximately 80% of both floor area and the number of units. The share of private rental housing has steadily increased from 24.1% in 1963 to 28.5% in 2018. However, rental units are significantly smaller than owned houses; thus, rental units account for only 19% of the total floor area. Public, quasi-public, and corporate rental housing have decreased their significance over time and account for only 7.1% of housing units.
Figure 2 depicts a skewed floor size distribution for private rental housing, in which the average unit size is 45.6 square meters. Non-wooden apartments are the most prevalent housing type (72% of all private rental housing). However, units smaller than 30 square meters account for 26% of the total. It is more difficult to find a detached house or a townhouse of a decent size for rent.
Rental housing type is also correlated with location. Thus, there is significant variation in rental housing size by location. Tokyo's rental housing is primarily small apartments in non-wooden buildings, whereas local cities have more detached rental housing and larger units.
According to the 2003 HLS, individuals own 85% of Japan's private rental units. Residential investments by corporations (including REITs) are still minor, despite rapid growth in recent years. Individual ownership was accelerated during the property market boom in the 1980s, because banks promoted the redevelopment of houses into medium-rise rental properties to create lending opportunities. The 2015 inheritance tax change accelerated individual ownerships.
Individual owners disproportionately provide so-called "one-room mansions"—rental studio apartments typically 30 square meters or smaller located in medium- to high-rise multifamily properties with non-wooden structures. Renting studios is popular among individual property owners because a single household living in a studio tends to have a quick turnover.
Renter households
Renter households have lower incomes than homeowners on average (Figure 6, Panel A). The estimated mean income is 5.15 million yen for homeowners and 3.51 million yen for renters. Renter household income varies by housing type (Panel B). Households living in public rental housing have the lowest income, with a mode of 1 to 2 million yen (approximately $9,000 to $18,000). Income distributions for private rental housing and quasi-public housing are comparable. The distribution for corporate housing exhibits higher income than homeowners. This is because large companies typically provide corporate housing as a fringe benefit to retain workers. The estimated mean income is 5.97 million yen for corporate housing, 3.51 million yen for private rental housing, 3.70 million yen for quasi-public rental housing, and 2.02 million yen for public rental housing.
Young households tend to live in private rental housing. Among heads of households younger than 30 years old, 82% live in private rental housing, and only 9% own houses. For households between 40 and 49 years old, the private rental share decreases to 44%, and the ownership rate increases to 49%.
According to the Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES), the ratio of housing expenditures to annual income was 7.6% in 1985, and gradually increased to 10.6% in 2001. The average ratio is about 16% for homeowners, 13% for renters, 10% for public housing renters, and 4% for subsidized corporate housing renters.
Institutional and policy environment of rental housing
Legal environment
Real estate leases are governed by the Act on Land and Building Leases (ALBL), enacted in 1991, as well as the Civil Code. The ALBL and case law provide strong tenant protections by making it extremely difficult for landlords to terminate leases or refuse lease renewal. A landlord needs to file a lawsuit and successfully establish just cause to refuse renewal after lease expiration or to terminate a lease even upon a tenant's breach. By contrast, tenants can renew leases indefinitely or terminate leases on one month's notice without just cause. These provisions expose landlords to a high degree of risk, making the housing rental business less attractive.
The ALBL was amended in 1999 to create an option to alleviate these strong tenant protections by introducing a new lease contract type called a fixed-term lease. As the name suggests, a fixed-term lease lasts for a period of time agreed upon by the landlord and the tenant, and does not automatically renew after the term expires. Fixed-term leases were expected to resolve the rental housing supply problem, but this lease type is not commonly used for residential leases even 20 years after its launch because of ambiguities and complexities in contracting.
The economic consequences of the ALBL's strong tenant protections have been extensively discussed (e.g., Seko 2014; Kanemoto, 2016). The limited rent adjustment at lease renewal can be considered a form of rent control, which has been shown to discourage the supply of rental housing. The ALBL can also result in longer vacant periods between leases. Professional and corporate investors have shied away from entering the rental market because of the risks involved. However, individuals motivated by tax advantages are willing to invest in "one-room mansions" rentals in large cities and select tenants who are less likely to stay for many years, such as college students and single young adults. As a result, high-quality rental apartments for families are scarce.
The public sector's role in developing, financing, and owning rental housing
To address the housing shortage after WWII, the government carried out a series of Five-Year Housing Construction Plans (1966 to 2005) with three major programs. First, the government established the Government Housing Loan Corporation (GHLC) to encourage housing construction and homeownership through long-term, low-interest, pre-payable fixed-rate mortgages. These generous mortgage terms were made possible by annual government subsidies and low-cost financing from postal savings and insurance and public pensions (Fiscal Investment and Loan Program [FILP]). Low- to middle-income borrowers benefited significantly from a 5.5% rate cap during the high-interest rate environment until the 1970s, and free prepayments during the low-rate environment in the 1990s. Between 1950 and 2007, the GHLC financed 19.4 million housing units.
Second, local governments constructed and operated public rental housing for low-income renters. The average rent for public rental housing is significantly lower than for other rental housing, particularly in major metropolitan areas (Figure 6). Because public houses are almost fully occupied (99.2%), there is significant rationing; in 2014, the admission rate was 6.5% for the Tokyo metropolitan area and 17.2% nationally. One issue is that sitting tenants tend to not leave public housing even after they become ineligible.
Third, the government established the Japan Housing Corporation (JHC) to address the acute housing shortage in urban areas.iv Many prefectures also founded public housing corporations. The JHC and public housing corporations provided quasi-public rental housing through large-scale development in urban areas using the FILP financing. This program is unique because it supplies housing for middle-income households without many rent discounts. (Figure 6).
After the housing shortage was resolved, the government enacted the Basic Act for Housing in 2006 by focusing on housing quality issues such as elderly persons' housing, low carbon emissions, and condominium management. The GHLC also stopped originating mortgages in 2007 and was reorganized as the Japan Housing Finance Agency (JHF) to securitize private mortgages in the form of covered bonds. The JHF assumes the credit risk of mortgage-backed securities but passes prepayment risks to investors, as in the U.S.
Tax incentives and subsidies
Japan's nationally uniform property tax rate is 1.4%, with an additional city planning tax rate of 0.3% in urbanized areas. The tax system treats residential properties preferentially relative to commercial properties and financial assets. First, real estate tax assessment is reduced, especially for rental properties—whether it be residential or commercial. For owner-occupied properties, tax assessments are typically 70% of land value and 60% of structure value. For rental properties, the assessment is further reduced by the deduction of the leasehold right (70% of the land value) and the tenant right (30% of the structure value). Thus, the assessed real estate value can be less than half of the market value.
Second, residential properties (both owner-occupied and rented) have additional tax advantages. The assessed value for residential land is reduced by two-thirds for property taxes and one-third for city planning taxes. Furthermore, the assessment reduction is enhanced for small residential land up to 200 square meters (by five-sixths for property taxes and two-thirds for city planning taxes). Moreover, for multifamily rental properties, the assessment reduction for small residential land applies to each apartment.
Third, the inheritance tax system also favors residential properties in a similar manner through a low tax assessment, the leasehold-right deduction, the tenant-right deduction, and the small residential land treatment. The inheritance tax advantage has driven rental apartment investment because the marginal inheritance tax rate reaches 55% for the highest tax bracket.
Lastly, a mortgage borrower has an income tax credit based on loan amount, not income deduction for interest payments. Overall, the tax system significantly favors residential properties.
Key challenges facing the rental housing market
The biggest challenge is managing the housing stock in an aging and shrinking society. Japan saw its population peak in 2008 and is aging quickly. The old-age dependency ratiov was 47 in 2019, compared with 25 for the U.S.
As aggregate housing supply exceeds housing demand, the national vacancy rate reached 13.6% for all housing types and 18.5% for rental housing in 2018. This high vacancy rate for rental housing is caused partly by tax distortions and heavy tenant protections. Wealthy individuals motivated by tax advantages supply small apartment units, but do not lower rents to fill vacant units because low-rent tenants will sit in the apartment for an extended period. At the same time, owners try to avoid renting to families because of low turnover. Thus, the tax-induced supply of rental housing does not meet the demand for affordable family housing.
Furthermore, among owner-occupied housing, there is underutilized housing stock in the form of unused rooms, especially for elderly households (Seko et al., 2021). Moreover, a significant fraction of old housing stock does not meet the current housing standards. Demolishing or redeveloping some of the old properties will be inevitable, but utilizing the old stock is challenging due to the difficulty in collective decisionmaking for condominiums.
i Cabinet Office, 2012 White Paper on Disaster Management, Figure 1-1-1.
ii Report on Internal Migration in Japan based on Resident Registration System. Table 5, Number of Net Migration by Sex for Japan, Prefectures and Major Cities: since 1954. Tokyo Area is composed of Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, and Saitama; Osaka Area is composed of Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, and Nara; and Nagoya Area is composed of Aichi, Gifu, and Mie.
iii Rental units provided by the Urban Renaissance Agency and Public Housing Supply Corporations. These corporations are explained in the institutional section.
iv The JHC merged with the Land Development Corporation and the Regional Development Corporation to become the Urban Renaissance Agency (UR).
v The old-age dependency ratio is the ratio of the number of elderly people aged 65 and over to the number of people of working-age people between 15 and 64 years old.
Associate Professor of Business – Pennsylvania State University Guest Associate Professor – University of Tokyo
© 2023 The Brookings Institution

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Reimagining refugee camps: what we've learned over 8 years in Dollo Ado
© UNHCR/Diana Diaz
There is a flurry of activity at one of the refugee camps in Dollo Ado, Ethiopia: livestock traders negotiate the sales of goats; farmers grow onions, maize, tomatoes and watermelons; women butcher meat; and team members in uniform play a lively football match. Nearby, students sit in front of stacks of books, focused on biology. There are banks, a petrol station and many cooperatives offering their members professional training, public services and a confidence boost. And it may not be evident, but refugees and locals work, play and study side by side, forming a cohesive community.
This vibrant and bustling scene is a far cry from the barren desert that was here just a decade ago, thanks to the joint efforts between the IKEA Foundation and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.
Together, we embarked on a new approach to helping refugees and their host community build better futures, for themselves and their families.
Beyond the traditional model
Between 2009 and 2011, hundreds of thousands of Somali refugees were forced to cross into the Somali region of Ethiopia to escape conflict and drought. Since then, we've invested nearly US $100 million in the five refugee camps in this remote region.
Through our partnership with UNHCR, we began by supporting the work around emergency relief and infrastructure. But soon, our focus shifted. We concentrated less on refugees' vulnerabilities and more on their capabilities.
We did this because these families were at risk of falling into the same scenario so many other displaced people face: getting stuck in a camp with no freedom of movement or chance to work. Instead, we wanted to move beyond the traditional refugee camp model. We wanted everyone in Dollo Ado—both refugees and local community members—to have access to jobs, education and the opportunity to live with dignity.
Unprecedented work
Eight years later, we looking back on this programme with the help of the Refugee Studies Centre at Oxford University. Supported by the IKEA Foundation, the RSC conducted a retrospective evaluation of the Dollo Ado programme's impact. They published a report and two policy briefs in 2020, along with a short documentary.
"The IKEA Foundation's work in Dollo Ado is unprecedented," says Alexander Betts, Oxford professor of forced migration and international affairs, who led the evaluation. "It is an attempt to apply private sector investment to engage in the market-based development of a refugee-hosting region. Its livelihoods programmes have measurably led to increasing incomes and living standards for thousands of refugees and host community members."And yet, "there is still a long way to go," adds Betts, noting that average incomes remain very low in Dollo Ado and few refugees have an income-generating activity.
We acknowledge that there is still much work to be done in Dollo Ado and around the world. This project provides "a model that we hope can be replicated elsewhere, as investing in refugee livelihoods boosts local markets and the economy," our CEO Per Heggenes wrote in 2019. "Investing in host community livelihoods helps them hone skills for future generations, prevents conflicts caused by unemployment and inequality, and nurtures peaceful communities."
The RSC evaluation has given us the knowledge to better inform future work in Dollo Ado itself, across the region and globally. It also offers valuable insight into creating sustainable economies in remote refugee-hosting regions worldwide.
The IKEA Foundation has learned five major lessons from this evaluation, which we can use when creating future programmes to help displaced people rebuild their lives. Interested in what those lessons are? Click here to see what we have learned and do some interactive learning yourself.
Learn more about this programme


A good honours degree and/or suitable professional experience. We consider all applications on the basis of relevant qualifications and experience.
This course is for practising teachers, classroom assistants, heads of department, and managers wanting to explore and deepen their professional practice through targeted reading and classroom-based practitioner research. The course is flexible, so you can focus on the topics most relevant to your job.
This fully online, three-year programme was developed to complement our highly successful iPGCE.
This programme comprises online modules with individual online tutorial support.
The programme uses a variety of assessment methods, including academic essays, reflective engagement with practice, and research report. The length of the final dissertation is 12,000–16,000 words.


McDonald's has recalled all of its "Step-iT" activity wristbands due to the risk of skin irritations and burns, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The recall involves about 29 million wristbands in the U.S. and 3.6 million in Canada.
McDonald's has received more than 70 reports of incidents, including seven reports of blisters, from children who wore the Chinese-made wristbands. They were distributed with Happy Meals and Mighty Kids Meals from August 9 to August 17.
According to McDonald's, parents should take the wristbands away from their children immediately and return them to any location.
Children will receive a replacement toy and either a yogurt tube or a bag of apple slices.


Online via SYDNEY TIMES & TICKETS. All major credit cards accepted (ex. Amex & Diners). Booking Fees Apply.
Festival films are restricted to persons aged 18 years and over unless specified. Festival tickets, once acquired, are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Lost or stolen tickets will not be replaced or refunded. All seating is reserved at Palace Norton Street. Seating is unreserved at Chauvel Cinema. For classification information, please see film pages.


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Current (https://current.org/2019/03/apt-selects-first-local-programs-for-new-hometown-create-feature/)
APT selects first local programs for new 'Hometown Create' feature
Dru Sefton, Senior Editor | March 5, 2019
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Iowa Public Television
"Iowa Ingredient" host Charity Nebbe shoots a scene for the program, which is now airing as part of American Public Television's "Hometown Create" feature on the Create lifestyle channel.
American Public Television has premiered a new one-hour weekly feature showcasing local programs on the Create lifestyle multicast channel.
Hometown Create will include "dozens of full-length cooking, travel, gardening and other how-to shows produced by our own Create TV member stations, with each episode reflecting the spirit of the communities they serve," said APT President Cynthia Fenneman in an announcement. Programs air at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time Mondays with a repeat at 2:30 p.m.
The first two series are Iowa Ingredient, produced by Iowa Public Television, which follows a single ingredient from farm to table and shows viewers how to prepare it; and the travelogue Mississippi Roads, from Mississippi Public Broadcasting.
"By providing a highly visible, national showcase for stellar local content, we are able to share programming which might not otherwise have a chance at a national reach yet have appeal at the national level," Fenneman said.
Hometown Create will also be archived at CreateTV.com.
APT is reviewing more programs for the feature. "We will see how the strand grows in terms of content and certainly hope to widen the geographic representation," Fenneman said.
The Create multicast channel is distributed and produced by APT, WNET in New York City and WBGH, Boston. It's carried by 242 public TV stations and features cooking, travel, home improvement, gardening and arts and crafts content.
American Public Television
Shawn Halford named EVP for American Public Television
The promotion is part of a leadership transition that brings Dan Soles to APT as VP and prepares for Eric Luskin's retirement in January.


Turns out, Teemu Selanne might not be hanging them up after all.
The 44-year-old Finnish Flash is reportedly contemplating a contract offer back home. That would see Selanne take his talents from Orange County to Helsinki, bringing his sure-fire Hall-of-Fame career full circle by suiting up for Jokerit's inaugural season in the Kontinental Hockey League. Selanne grew up in Jokerit's system before crossing the pond to play more than 1,500 total NHL games as a point-per-game contributor over 22 seasons.
Should that proposed deal get done — and it may mean playing primarily home games and only a few select road games — Selanne would be following in a long line of former NHL stars returning to their European roots. It's shocking, really, how many of those types were still going strong as recently as last season.
The list includes Sergei Fedorov (44), Martin Rucinsky (43), Slava Kozlov (42), Jozef Stumpel (42), Alexei Kovalev (41), Michael Nylander (41), Sami Kapanen (41), Martin Straka (41) and Miroslav Satan (39), who will join that 4-0 club in October. Even Petr Nedved (42), Sandis Ozolinsh (41) and Radek Bonk (38) were lacing them up overseas in 2013-14.
Talk about some blasts from the past. And that dozen is just the scratching the surface on the 613 former and current NHL players employed last season in 36 different professional leagues all across Europe and even in Asia.
Jesse Gill spent countless hours this spring scouring the various websites, leaving no stone unturned in coming up with this compilation that promises to take each and every hockey fan down memory lane sooner or later. He recently updated the list into a chart format, and added an interesting breakdown of NHL teams with former players now making a living abroad. Click here to jump to that section.
This encyclopedia of hockey knowledge lists each league and team outside of North America that featured players during the 2013-14 season with at least one regular-season NHL game on their resume. Some only played in the NHL briefly — as brief as one game — but there are also plenty of others who carved out lengthy careers in the NHL prior to heading overseas.
Jesse organized the leagues by the number of former or current NHL players, and the players for each league are listed from most regular-season NHL games played to least.
A link is provided for each player to display their HockeyDB profile by clicking their name, and an EliteProspects link is provided by clicking each player's rank, which is the best source for contract information.
The list has also been improved to include how many playoff games each player has played, which NHL teams they played for and how many games they played with each team. It also indicates each player's contract status as of the July 21 update.
20 Fredrik Norrena G 1973 (Finland) TPS Turku *Retired and is now Goalie Coach for team.
35 *Rasmus Ristolainen D 1994 (Finland) TPS Turku *(Also played with NHL – Buffalo Sabres and AHL – Rochester Americans) *Signed with NHL – Buffalo Sabres through 2015-16 then RFA.
42 Phil McRae *Father is Basil McRae F 1990 (USA) Blues / Tappara *Signed with NHL – St. Louis Blues 2way for 2014-15 then RFA.
6 Jim Vandermeer *5 hockey playing brothers including Peter, Ted, Bill, Dan, Joe. Peter is the only other one to play in NHL. D 1980 (Canada) Kloten *Signed with for 2014-2015 Season.
Note: Each category has the team's rank in brackets.
Jesse Gill is a former radio broadcaster and colour commentator who dreamed of anchoring TSN, but has since changed careers and now calls Medicine Hat, Alta., home. His passion for hockey has remained strong, as a lifelong Toronto Maple Leafs fan who also enjoys the junior ranks and the rougher side of the sport. Follow him on Twitter: @JesseGill3.


Just like in the computer world, automotive is constantly striving for bigger, better, and faster. This line of thinking is finally catching up with transmissions, as 6 and 7 speed gearboxes are no longer fascinating car enthusiasts. While a 7-speed is certainly going to grab the attention of most people, one can't help but marvel at the idea of more gears to play with. At the Geneva Motor Show, Land Rover will proudly unveil their newest wonder, the world's first ever production model 9-speed transmission; developed in collaboration with ZF, the world leader in transmission technology.
General Motors has announced plans to connect all of it's future U.S. and Canadian models to the Internet via the 4G LTE network, currently the fastest network, promising even more connectivity between vehicles and their users. We should start to see this technology roll out in 2014 models by Chevrolet, Cadillac and Buick, and GMC models in 2015. Deployed through the OnStar systems already present in roughly six million GM vehicles, the connection will be provided by telecommunications giant AT&T. This connectivity will be available with an OnStar package, and possibly with a subscription independent of the OnStar package.
The IS 250 / 350 series is certainly the sportiest of all the cars built by Lexus, the luxury subsidiary of Japanese automaker Toyota. The 2014 models have been completely redesigned, offering a surprising level of style that should surprise Lexus fans. In fact, the bold changes make the IS more distinctive, giving it an aggressive look. The first obvious change is the brand new grille and sleek new headlights accented by a bottom row of LEDs, seen as fashionable in recent years of automotive styling. Surprisingly, from a profile view, the IS looks like a BMW, which is not entirely displeasing. In general, everything in this new version of the IS aims to entice a younger audience that is eager to acquire a sporty set of wheels with qualities that exceed the usual standards. Lexus has taken a risk with the new IS, and it was well worth it, considering the results.
Since it's introduction to the North American market a few years ago, the Toyota Tundra has always had a difficult time beating it's major competitors. However, the Tundra possesses a number of qualities that should naturally attract a wide range of potential buyers. Nonetheless, it was very challenging to stand our from the RAM 1500, Ford F-150 or even the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and it's cousin, the GMC Sierra. For it's 2014 model, Toyota has decided to give a facelift to it's full-size pickup. Upon inspection, we discovered a new, more chiselled exterior design than we've seen in previous years.
At the end of last September, you may have noticed an unusually slow race through the streets of Montreal. It was the 6th edition of the Rallye Vert de Montréal (Montreal Green Rally), a race featuring models that demonstrate the possibilities of cars of the future. This race is not based on speed, as the vehicles run at normal operating speeds, but rather consumption and efficiency and it's a direct way to teach the public about the emerging technologies of alternative mobility. It consists of a combination of elements. For example, the time to travel a given distance in relation to fuel consumption, based on the registered vehicle's classification of category and function. The rally is restricted to vehicles using alternative fuels and energy.
Do you remember back in the early 90's when Korean automaker Kia first hit North America? Despite riding on the coattails of Hyundai who entered the arena a few years earlier, the company struggled through nearly a decade of earning approval from consumers. In a time when "Buy American" sentiment ran strong, Korean cars were viewed as inferior not only to the big 3, but also to Japanese imports who were finally gaining acceptance and the public's interest. The economy car maker eventually gained ground during tough economic times when it offered inexpensive new cars coupled with generous10 year warranties to reassure nervous buyers.
We're still in the midst of auto show season here in North America, having already hosted events in Detroit, Montreal and Chicago, and Toronto's show a few days in. New York's chance will be in March, and LA towards the end of the Year. Don't forget the Biggies in Geneva, Tokyo and Paris too. It's one thing to write about what's expected to be at a show, based on an assortment of press releases from the event hosts and automotive manufacturers. It's an entirely other thing to actually attend and experience it first hand. There are so many aspects to a show that rarely seem to get written about.
As you probably know, Fiat is the majority stakeholder in Chrysler Group. After a 27 year absence, Fiat recently returned to North American markets, and is bringing it's portfolio of brands with it. Fiat owns Ferrari, Lancia, Maserati and Alfa Romeo among others. Alfa Romeo is getting ready for this year's Geneva Motor Show and is preparing to unveil it's much-anticipated production model based in it's 4C concept car. The brand is renewing it's entire European range of vehicles, including hatchbacks, sedans, convertibles and crossovers. Since the 4C concept was introduced at the Geneva show two years ago, fans have been eagerly awaiting the production model.
Presented at the most recent Los Angeles Auto Show, the 2014 Ford Fiesta is an improvement over the 2012 edition. This little subcompact has been available in North America for two years, but slow sales motivated Ford to offer a version that packaged a more attractive design and energy efficient engines. Visually, what we initially see from the new front end of the Fiesta is a view that offers more modern lines and an "Aston Martin" style grill, typical of current offerings from American manufacturers. Truthfully, it suits the car well, giving the small subcompact a sporty and aggressive look. In it's category, it's difficult to find another car as attractive as this 2014 model.
The Audi A7 is one of the most stylish hatchbacks on the market. The S7 added a lot of sportiness to this large sedan. Audi's RS version is will be hitting the US soon. Will Canadians be able to get their hands on this exceptional sedan as well? The new Audi RS7, a high-performance version of the A7 sedan will be available to our southern neighbours this fall. It was unveiled at the last North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Developed by quattro GmbH, the performance subsidiary of Audi, the RS model is track tested, including 5,000 miles at full speed on the Nürburgring motorsports complex track in Germany, in order to gain the most performance and durability possible.
When the North American auto show season begins in Detroit, those of us in Toronto start getting excited, knowing that the Canadian International Auto Show (CIAS) in Toronto is just around the corner. Well, our wait is over, it starts this weekend! On Friday the show opens it's doors to the public, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Front St. In total, attendees can expect to check out the Canadian debut of at least 32 new vehicles, none of which made it to the Montreal show a few weeks ago. While we're not aware of any worldwide debuts happening in Toronto, it's still a possibility that something will show up to surprise and delight us.
Attendees of the Toronto International Auto Show are about to get a treat. For the first time, Toyota is bringing it's very futuristic Toyota Fun Vii concept to this year's event. Originally unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2011, the vehicle has never made it to Canada until now. A cross between a giant smart phone, a gaming device and of course, a car; the vehicle seems to attract curiosity seekers at every stop. Revered for their technological prowess, the Japanese have simply outdone themselves with this one. The thirteen foot long three seater is just a blank canvas, waiting for a (theoretical) owner to make it his own. Forget Microsoft's talking paperclip and Apple's Siri, this baby comes with a holographic concierge lady to help you navigate it's futuristic features and guide the driver via augmented reality.
The newest offering from Aston Martin, the Vanquish leaves one with absolutely no doubt why Aston Martin's cars are James Bond's preferred choice. Synonymous with Bond, the British manufacturer of luxury sports cars since 1913 is the perfect ride for any secret agent. The company's vehicles have been featured in nine Bond flicks, the Aston Martin DB5 in particular. The recently unveiled 2013 Aston Martin Vanquish doesn't come equipped with machine gun headlamps or a cement blaster, but the 183 mph (294 km/h) it gets should be able to whisk any driver to a more comfortable location. Passengers too, the new Vanquish has more room than previous models, and has more trunk space too. This dream car can shoot from 0- 100 in a mere 4.1 seconds.
A new Mercedes-Benz will soon appear in showrooms across Canada. The new CLA Class, a luxury compact sedan, will arrive this fall. Built on the Class A platform sold in Europe, the 2014 CLA Class will face off against the BMW 1 Series, Cadillac ATS, Audi A3 and other small luxury cars. Presented at the North American International Auto show in Detroit, the CLA250 , powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder generating 206 horsepower, is equipped with a seven-speed transmission with dual clutch that is also found in its European sister. The three setting suspension can be calibrated on the fly, and the car can be raised 3 inches if necessary.
We've been talking about this for a long time, perhaps too long! Up until now, electric long-range vehicles have been cars for the common people. Yes, I know they are expensive, but they bear the Nissan, Ford, Mitsubishi and Chevrolet logos. Although Infiniti has a project on the go (the LE), it seems that Cadillac will be the first luxury brand to launch an electric car with an extended range. We already covered this when talking about the Cadillac Converj concept back in 2011. However, we will need to wait until 2014 to see the first copies roll off the production line and onto North American roads. Global markets including China and Europe will get access afterwards.
With each new edition of the GT-R, fans of this spectacular sports car wonder what improvements Nissan has come up with this year to shake up the market leaders by providing a high performance vehicle at an affordable price. Remember, the Nissan GT-R offers superior power and performance at a lower price than an Audi R8 or a Porsche 911 Carrera S. The 2014 does in fact bring few changes compared to last year. We agree that this is more of a refinement of earlier versions rather than offering real major changes. Inside, the GT-R comes with a carbon fibre dash around the block instrumentation, audio and air conditioning controls. The finish is still rather spartan, but that's the charm of this type of vehicle.
Expected to outpace the broad passenger vehicle market, pickup truck sales are surging. In 2012, sales ended strongly with numbers around the 14.6 million unit mark, and 2013 numbers look like they will be even stronger with analysts predicting that the growth will continue. Trucks counted for two of the top three spots in last year's top 20 list, based on number of North American sales in 2012. Capitalizing on the trend, each of the Big 3 North American auto makers- Ford Motor Co, Chrysler Group and General Motors Co have launched revamped models of their pick up truck lines, showcasing them at the big auto shows such as the North American International Auto Show in Detroit early this year.
For the fourth year now Chrysler has released it's customized collectible car under the Mopar label. Celebrating it's 75th anniversary last year, Mopar is the Chrysler Group's badge for their parts, service and customer care division. Just as in the previous three years, they pull a car from Chrysler's current lineup, tweak it with all of the latest technological and performance developments and create a limited edition showcase. Previously working their magic on the Dodge Charger, Dodge Challenger and the Chrysler 300, all V-8 rear wheel drives; this year Mopar turned it's attention to the Dodge Dart, one of the newer members of the Chrysler Group's lineup.
Canadians like their small cars. All of the auto manufacturers know this. It may be the only thing saving Suzuki's presence in Canada. That's why we often get first crack at smaller, cute cars like the smart and the Mini. In other cases, the US may get a token single model while Canada gets the full line-up. Such may be the case with Fiat as they bring their new Panda MPV and their more established Punto to Canada, with no current plans to take them to the US. Buoyed by significantly higher Canadian sales than in the US (proportionally), Fiat is looking to make a bigger push up into the Canadian market. Canadian's love of small cars, often due to their lower pricing and fuel economy, combined with a more European mindset makes Canada the perfect place to gain a strong North American foothold for the affordable Italian car company.
Eschewing the prestigious auto show in Detroit, Toyota has opted to let Midwesterners have the first look at their newly redesigned 2014 Tundra pickup truck. Debuting for the first time, the world will get it's first look at the truck at the Chicago Auto Show which begins February 7. The Chicago Auto Show is traditionally heavy on trucks, which makes it the perfect venue for Toyota to launch the new Tundra as it seeks to find a place for itself with the big 3 in the crowded truck market. It's got heavy competition from the newly redesigned Ram 1500 which won North American Truck of the Year, and newly redesigned Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra models which will arrive this summer. Introduced in 2000, only 6.2% of the 2012 US truck market was captured by the Tundra. Still, it's sales climbed by over 22% which was more than any of the others.


CARL Book Beacon: Eisenhower Hall renovation ramps up CARL has moved to temp space.
Eisenhower Hall renovation ramps up CARL has moved to temp space.
Eisenhower Hall and the Combined Arms Research Library are undergoing a $35 million renovation that will shut down the buildings and nearby parking lot for more than a year.
The project will result in more than 40 upgraded classrooms for the School for Command Preparation, the Battle Command Staff Integration Course, and the Command and Control-Digital Master Gunner Course, as well as an upgraded DePuy Auditorium. The library renovations will move the children's library to the first floor and provide a quieter study area on the second floor. The information desk will be renovated and both floors will get new carpets and furniture.
"It will be a better quality library, not only for CGSC, but for the entire installation," said Chris Ibanez, engineering technician (facility design) for the Command and General Staff College.
Ed Burgess, director of the library, said the children's books, fiction, new release books and reserved books for CGSC and School of Advanced Military Studies electives will make up the bulk of what is immediately available at the on-post library during the transition."All services that we currently offer, we'll continue to offer, including community services like children's story time," Burgess said.
Much of the library's collection of more than 300,000 books will be stored elsewhere, so students conducting research may need to plan 24 hours in advance for a requested item. Delivery trucks will run each weekday from the off-site storage facility to the on-post temporary library, Burgess said. There will also be a few general-use computers available.
The entire project is scheduled to be completed by the spring of 2013, weather permitting.
See the article in the LAMP here.


The following are the guidelines we follow when adopting animals out as pets. You may download our Adoption Application and complete it if you wish to bring it with you to the shelter.
We check with the appropriate authorities to verify homeowner status or we obtain approval from your landlord. We do this because one of the top reasons we take in unwanted animals is because the landlord does not allow pets.
We verify a working relationship with your veterinarian for any current or previously owned pets. This shows us your intent to continue to provide necessary medical attention for your new pet and that you'll comply with State and Local ordinances.
Adoption application approvals take between 24-48 hours. We do not do same-day adoptions.
You'll be expected to surgically sterilize the new pet (if not already done) in a timely fashion. We do hold a deposit until the procedure is completed. Because we follow-up on this process, we'll only adopt unsterilized pets within a 50 mile radius.
We do not adopt to anyone under 18 years of age.
As a general rule, we do not adopt any pet to be an outside pet. For some of the animals, this is a matter of life and death. Some concessions may be made. We'll review your application and an inspection of the outside pet living quarters may be required.
Instead of adopting an animal of your choice for someone, we offer Gift Certificates. The person who will be the caretaker for the rest of the animal's life should make this personal decision. If adopting a pet for a child where you will be the caretaker, we make occasional exceptions. NO EXCEPTIONS will be made December 15 through December 25.
We do not adopt out black cats from October 19 to November 1.


text:
Proiectul de înființare în cadrul Complexului Național Muzeal "ASTRA" din Sibiu a unei unități muzeale de artă populară săsească a debutat în anul 1997 și a avut ca scop salvarea, conservarea și promovarea patrimoniului cultural material și imaterial aparținând acestei minorități, dat fiind faptul că Sibiul a reprezentat un spațiu fundamental de rezidență pentru sași.

Patrimoniul Muzeului "Emil Sigerus" s-a îmbogățit de-a lungul anilor prin donații și achiziții, însumând la ora actuală un număr de peste 8900 de piese, conservate în trei colecții: ceramică, port – textile - broderii și mobilier pictat.

Vernisarea, în noiembrie 1998, a expoziției de bază a prilejuit inaugurarea primului spațiu expozițional al muzeului, amenajat în subsolul imobilului din Piața Huet nr. 12, care adăpostește cea mai completă și valoroasă colecție de cahle din întreaga țară și printre cele mai bogate din Europa.

Atingerea obiectivelor muzeului se realizează și prin colaborarea cu diverse instituții de cultură, prin schimburi de informații și rezultate științifice cu alți cercetători români și din străinătate. In acest sens, amintim acordul de parteneriat semnat cu Asociația Muzeului Transilvănean din Gundelsheim (Siebenbürgisches Museum), la sfârșitul anului 1999, prin care s-au realizat, în colaborare, numeroase expoziții și s-au efectuat diverse campanii de cercetare în regiunile locuite de comunitatea săsească.

Colectivul Muzeului de Etnografie Săsească "Emil Sigerus", prin programul de valorificare a colecțiilor, organizează anual diferite expoziții temporare care prin tematica lor ilustrează cultura, civilizația și tradițiile sașilor din Transilvania. Menționăm doar câteva din șirul expozițional desfășurat de-a lungul anilor: Sași, landleri și români - model de conviețuire în spațiul transilvănean (2002), Meșteșug și artă în comunitățile săsești din Transilvania – mobilier pictat, cojocărit și olărit (2002- 2003), Broderii și țesături în universul locuinței (2002), Emil Sigerus – 150 de ani de la naștere (2004), Ceramica săsească din sud-estul Transilvaniei (2004), Maghiarii și secuii din Ardeal. Valori identitare ale patrimoniului cultural tradițional (2005), Meșteșugari habani în Transilvania. Influențele artei habane în arta populară săsească (2005), Valorile comunității săsești sub amprenta timpului (2005), Morala creștină – călăuză în viața de zi cu zi a comunității săsești (2006), Mobilier pictat transilvănean (2007), Ceramică și broderie. Elemente de ornamentică transilvăneană (2008).

Depozitele în care sunt păstrate colecțiile au fost reamenajate în mansarda clădirii denumită Casa Artelor, monument istoric (), restaurat, atestat documentar în anul 1370, în incinta căreia din anul 2007, funcționează sediul muzeului.

Note
Drepturile de autor au fost notificate prin declarația trimisa la Wikipedia si înregistrată cu numărul OTRS 2009021210056291 Co-autori: prof.dr. Corneliu Bucur, Camelia Ștefan, Karla Roșca

Legături externe

 Muzeul de Etnografie și Artă Populară "Emil Sigerus"

Muzeul ASTRA
Emil Sigerus

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Das Waldecker Land ist eine Region im westlichen Nordhessen. Die Region umfasst im Wesentlichen die Gebiete des ehemaligen Fürstentums Waldeck.

Für den Tourismus ist das Waldecker Land vor allem durch den Edersee, einen der größten deutschen Stauseen, bekanntgeworden. Direkt bis an den Edersee heranreichend erstreckt sich südlich davon der Nationalpark Kellerwald, einer der jüngsten deutschen Nationalparks, der vor allem wegen seiner alten Buchenbestände bedeutsam ist. Weitere Stauseen im Waldecker Land, allerdings deutlich kleiner als der Edersee, sind der Diemelsee und der Twistesee, die ebenfalls für den Fremdenverkehr eine gewisse Bedeutung haben. Westlich des Kellerwaldes liegt die Waldeckische Schweiz, südwestlich des Diemelsees liegt das Upland mit dem bekannten Wintersportort Willingen.

Oberhalb des Edersees befindet sich das Schloss Waldeck, oft auch als "Burg" bezeichnet, deren älteste Teile auf das 13. Jahrhundert zurückgehen. Die gleichnamige Stadt hat heute etwa 8000 Einwohner und besitzt bereits seit dem 13. Jahrhundert das Stadtrecht.

Deutlich größer ist die ehemalige Residenzstadt des Fürstentums, Bad Arolsen, die seit 1997 den Titel "Bad" im Namen führt. Hier befindet sich auch das Residenzschloss Arolsen, das dem Schloss von Versailles nachempfunden wurde. Die Nachkommen der ehemaligen Fürsten bewohnen noch heute Teile des Schlosses.

Als Kurort hat das Staatsbad Bad Wildungen die größte Bedeutung erlangt. Aufgrund dessen gab es bis 1991 vom Ort eine durchgehende Bahnverbindung nach Amsterdam, die viele Kurgäste aus dem Ruhrgebiet für ihre Anreise nutzten.

Die größte Stadt des Waldecker Landes ist mit etwa 24.000 Einwohnern Korbach, das heute auch Kreisstadt des Landkreises Waldeck-Frankenberg ist. Früher war Korbach als einzige hessische Stadt Mitglied der Hanse.

Der Waldeckische Geschichtsverein und die westfälische LWL-Kommission für Mundart- und Namenforschung sammeln Sprachproben des "Waldecker Platt", einer westfälischen Untermundart.

Literatur
Wolfgang Medding: Waldecker Land. Deutsche Lande – Deutsche Kunst, München/Berlin 1961

Weblinks

Einzelnachweise

Region in Hessen


There is a strange whistling in the air in the sleek, modernist library in David Attenborough's home in southwest London. Could it be some exotic bird that he has brought back from a trip to the rainforest? No, nothing as exciting as that. It is simply his hearing aid malfunctioning. He chuckles and gives it a quick tweak. Apart from his slightly stooped posture the hearing aid is the only clue that Britain's most beloved naturalist celebrated his 92nd birthday this year.


Grayshott Pottery is proud to be supporting The Royal British Legion with two exclusive pottery pieces to commemorate the WW1 Centenary this year.
It was important to the team at Grayshott Pottery to help celebrate the work of the Royal British Legion. Commenting on the launch of the commemorative pieces, Managing Director, Glenn Myers said: "We're proud to be supporting a great charity like The Royal British Legion. This is such an important cause and the work The Royal British Legion does to support current and ex service personnel is beyond inspiring. We're glad to be giving back and hope the community will get behind us to help raise money for the charity".
Grayshott Pottery has designed handcrafted ceramic poppies and are donating 200 of them to Grayshott Parish Council to create a display in the Memorial Garden in the village. The Parish Council will be raising money for the Royal British Legion through sponsorship of these poppies.
The team at the Pottery has also made the special edition ceramic garden poppies available to customers who may also want to mark and celebrate the event, with £5 from every sale being donated to the important charity.
Alongside this, Grayshott Pottery's resident artist Donna Cockram has designed and created a Limited Edition Small Oval Platter "Remembrance", with £20 from every sale being donated to the charity.
The Commemorative Poppy can be bought online for a price of £22.50 or in store for £18.50. The limited-edition WW1 Centenary Platter can be bought online or in store for £100.