text:
Fox seems to be hosting a constant anti-immigrant Olympics
Ruben Navarrette
Posted8/15/2018 1:00 AM
Talk about a race to the bottom. There is a kind of xenophobia Olympics going on at Fox News.
Primetime hosts Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham appear to be locked in a fierce competition over who can say the ugliest thing about immigrants. These two media figures -- who can seem like a cross between demagogues and circus clowns -- keep trying to outdo one another. Every slight is worse than the one before.
Carlson seemed like a shoo-in thanks to his condescending attacks on any immigrant foolish enough to go on his show. A favorite piñata is Cesar Vargas, a Mexican immigrant and lawyer, who tends to get under Carlson's skin.
Maybe it's because the young man is self-made. Unlike Carlson, he didn't grow up in La Jolla, California, with a father who was a well-known television executive and a stepmom who was the heiress to a frozen food fortune. Unlike Carlson, he didn't start off on third base by going to a fancy prep school in Rhode Island and an expensive private college.
During one segment, Carlson questioned Vargas' intelligence and credentials. He said this: "I know you say you're a lawyer. ... I don't want to check your bar license." And this: "I'm not allowing you to teach American history on my show because you'd fail the course." Finally, since Vargas aims to become a U.S. citizen -- an honor bestowed on Carlson at birth with no effort on his part -- the host capped it off with: "I'm an American and you're not" and "I don't think you should become a citizen."
Vargas was stunned. It's like I always say: Mexicans are too nice. I would have liked to see Carlson try that garbage on an Irish immigrant in Boston at the dawn of the 20th century. A brawl would have broken out.
More recently, Carlson erupted when arguing with Vargas over whether the undocumented should have the right to vote. Vargas thinks they should.
"As a nation, we have matured from only free, landowner, white people [having the right to vote] -- to now women and African-Americans," Vargas said.
At that, the host shot back: "Don't hit me with the race (card). As a citizen of a country controlled by conquistadors, don't lecture me about this stuff." Then he told Vargas to be grateful that "we're not reporting you or having you, like, taken out by force."
Guess they don't teach manners -- or civics -- in prep school. Vargas has the right to stay in the United States because he has a green card.
Good try, Tucker. The anti-Catholic know-nothings of the early 20th Century would have been proud. But I'm afraid you only get the silver.
The gold goes to Ingraham, who showed last week that she can sling invective with the worst of them. She had the race card up her sleeve. She stirred a hornet's nest when she said that America -- this country of immigrants -- was being ruined by immigrants.
"In some parts of the country, it does seem like the America we know and love doesn't exist anymore," she said. "Massive demographic changes have been foisted upon the American people. And they're changes that none of us ever voted for and most of us don't like. From Virginia to California, we see stark examples of how radically in some ways the country has changed. Now much of this is related to both illegal, and in some cases, legal immigration that, of course, progressives love."
In other words -- as was said about the Italian, Jewish and Irish immigrants of a century ago -- there goes the neighborhood. And then we have the loony assertion that these "massive demographic changes" that give Ingraham the willies were "foisted" upon innocent Americans. Well, no one forced them to hire their housekeeper, nanny and gardener, did they? Americans aren't so innocent.
With her four-alarm code words, Ingraham isn't just out of line. She is also out of step with the mainstream. It's not just "progressives" who appreciate those who play by the rules and migrate legally.
A recent Gallup poll asked respondents: "Is legal immigration a good thing or bad thing for the country?" Eighty-four percent said it was a good thing; only 13 percent said it was a bad thing.
Times are hard. It's nice to know that the folks who make up that small minority always have jobs waiting for them hosting shows at a cable network that must find it difficult to cover a country it doesn't know the first thing about.
Ruben Navarrette's email address is ruben@rubennavarrette.com.
© 2018, The Washington Post Writers Group
Navarrette, Rueben


Combine apple juice, apple cider, white sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon sticks in a lg pot. Bring almost to a boil. Cover with lid lower heat and simmer for about 1 hour. Remove from heat and cool completely over night and strain through cheese cloth to remove sediment from cinnamon sticks.
Stir in alcohol, vodka and Fireball. Pour into clean sterilized glass jars. Store in the fridge.
this is his revised recipe form Allrecipes. Original can be found there.
You can add this Apple Pie Moonshine recipe to your own private DesktopCookbook.


text:
Mumbai outclass North East United 5-1
MUMBAI, Oct 28: India football captain Sunil Chhetri capped a superb display with a fine hat-trick to orchestrate Mumbai City FC�s 5-1 rout of North East United FC in the Indian Super League at the DY Patil Stadium here today.
Chhetri, who once again combined very well with Haitian Sony Norde and compatriot Subash Singh, scored from the penalty-spot in the 25th and 48th minutes, while volleying home from close range in-between in the 40th minute, to complete the second hat-trick of the season. Chennayin FC�s Steiven Mendoza had scored the first against FC Goa.
The triple strike took the diminutive Indian striker�s tally of goals to six - the highest so far in the league this season � and included his double strike against Delhi Dynamos and a lone goal against FC Goa, both won 2-0 by Mumbai.
Then Norde finished off the match as a contest with a controlled strike in the 51st minute before fellow-Haitian team captain Frantz Bertin headed home three minutes from regulation time to complete NEU�s humiliation.
NEU got their only goal of the game, which neutralised Chhetri�s opening goal, through Boithang Haokip in the 29th minute, before playing second fiddle right till the end to the home team.
The third successive victory, all at home, propelled Mumbai to the second spot on the table. They have ten points now, two points behind leaders FC Pune City and level with FC Goa who have an inferior goal difference.
The defeat, NEU�s fourth and all suffered away from home which broke their two-game winning sequence in Guwahati, left them stranded in seventh spot, one rung above cellar outfit Kerala Blasters, with 6 points.
Both teams missed a few half-chances to score before Mumbai shot into the lead in the 25th minute through a penalty award.
It came off a counter attack when a surprisingly unmarked Chhetri collected the ball on the right side of the field, darted into the penalty area and laid a measured pass to Subhash Singh on his right. � PTI

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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It is estimated that close to 1 million properties are put on the market but are unable to be sold each year in the United Kingdom leaving many homeowners in dire financial straits. When forced to do so, usually after being faced with the threat of repossession. many of these people choose to sell their homes for cash and take the "leaseback" option. This effectively means that they sell their homes to companies and then rent their home back while the company or a designated individual becomes their landlord. With little regulation of these rent back/leaseback schemes there is considerable risk involved to the homeowner turned tenant. If you are considering selling your home and renting it back, be sure to do a thorough analysis of the deal that you are offered before accepting just any terms. If you don't, in the long run you might still lose your home anyway.
There is one obvious benefit of selling your home quickly and renting it back: you can avoid having your home repossessed when you secure the proceeds of the sale quickly (and usually in cash). When these rent back/leaseback schemes work fairly, it means that the homeowners sells his or her property at a fair market value, and then simply rents it again for a fair market (per week or per month) rent. In between, the homeowner turned tenant needn't worry about packing up possessions, changing decorations, engaging the services of moving companies or wasting his or her time looking for suitable rental accommodations. It also means that individuals do not need to alter their commute to work, children do not need to change schools and life can generally carry on uninterrupted. Unfortunately, this is the best case scenario that is only achieved when both the company buying the home and the individual selling the home and renting back are both above board.
When rent back/leaseback schemes go wrong, they can go very, very wrong. From the beginning the offered price for the house may be well under fair market value, but if it covers the mortgage some sellers are so desperate to avoid repossession that they will agree. The level of rent that is asked may then be above the market average, and sharp rent rises may also come into play. Some sellers turned renters also agree to a time limit for their rent, meaning that at the end of a year or two year tenancy not only can the rent be raised but they may find themselves "evicted" or their lease un-renewed by their landlord. There is also the risk that the landlord himself may be unscrupulous and may not even pay the mortgage as he agreed, leaving the home open to repossession once again and this time the tenant at the mercy of their decisions.
The benefits and risks of selling your home and renting it back will differ for everyone, and thoroughly analysing the deal that is set before you is the only way to ensure that you are not taken advantage of.


text:
require "ffmpeg_composer"
require "fileutils"
require "benchmark"

file = File.expand_path("fixtures/result.mpg", File.dirname(__FILE__))
frame1 = File.expand_path("fixtures/img0.jpg", File.dirname(__FILE__))

bm = Benchmark.measure do
  1_000.times do
    FileUtils.rm(file) if File.exist?(file)
    composer = FFmpegComposer.new(file, width: 320, height: 240, fps: 25)
    composer.start
    composer.add_frame(frame1, 10)
    composer.finish
    print "."
  end
end
puts "\ndone"
puts bm

sleep

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


On August 1, 2012, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Department of Health and Human Services' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently collaborated to create six booklets with food safety advice for populations that are most susceptible to foodborne illness. The booklets in the "at-risk series" are tailored to help older adults, transplant recipients, pregnant women, and people with cancer, diabetes or HIV/AIDS reduce their risk for foodborne illness.
The booklets contain information on practical ways to avoid and prevent foodborne illnesses via charts, illustrated how-tos, and descriptions of why each group referenced is at a higher risk for foodborne illness. Tear-out cards with quick-reference tips for grocery shopping, cooking, and eating at restaurants are also included in the books for portability.
and 165 °F for all poultry and leftovers.
The booklets are another aspect to support the three core principles developed by the President's Food Safety Working Group: prioritizing prevention; strengthening surveillance and enforcement; and improving response and recovery. Both agencies mailed copies of the booklets to physicians around the country who treat patients in any of these six categories, and the booklets are available to the public free of charge. Additionally, the booklets are downloadable in PDF format.


text:
State v. DeSantis
State v. Hurns
¶ 7 S.J.'s aunt testified that she heard from S.J.'s older sister that S.J. was raped by Kevin and she told…
State v. Redmond
We can only interpret the law, not rewrite it. SeeGeorgina G. v. Terry M., 184 Wis.2d 492, 520, 516 N.W.2d…
76 Citing Cases
Full title:STATE of Wisconsin, Plaintiff-Respondent-Petitioner, v. John DeSANTIS…
Court:Supreme Court of Wisconsin
Copy Citations
155 Wis. 2d 774 (Wis. 1990)
456 N.W.2d 600
Supreme Court of Wisconsin
In State v. DeSantis, 155 Wis.2d 774, 456 N.W.2d 600, 602 (1990), the Supreme Court of Wisconsin considered "whether the circuit court abused its discretion and violated the defendant's constitutional rights to confront witnesses and to present a defense when it precluded testimony the defendant proffered concerning the complainant's prior untruthful allegations.
Summary of this case from Sussman v. Jenkins
See 7 Summaries
No. 88-1744-CR.
Argued March 7, 1990. —
REVIEW of a decision of the Court of Appeals. Reversed.
For the plaintiff-respondent-petitioner the cause was argued by Marguerite M. Moeller, assistant attorney general with whom on the briefs was Donald J. Hanaway, attorney general.
For the defendant-appellant-respondent there was a brief by Michael J. Devanie, and Phelps, Thompson Koby, Ltd., LaCrosse and oral argument by Michael J. Devanie.
(Reversing 151 Wis.2d 504, 445 N.W.2d 331 (Ct.App. 1989).)
SHIRLEY S. ABRAHAMSON, J.
This is a review of a published decision of the court of appeals, State v. DeSantis, 151 Wis.2d 504, 445 N.W.2d 331 (1989), reversing a judgment of conviction of second-degree sexual assault entered by the LaCrosse County Circuit Court, Michael J. Mulroy, Circuit Judge. The court of appeals reversed the conviction on the ground that the circuit court abused its discretion by precluding evidence the defense proffered of the complainant's prior untruthful allegations of sexual assault. We reverse the decision of the court of appeals.
Two issues are presented on appeal from the conviction: (1) whether the circuit court abused its discretion and violated the defendant's constitutional rights to confront witnesses and to present a defense when it precluded testimony the defendant proffered concerning the complainant's prior untruthful allegations; and (2) whether the circuit court abused its discretion when it permitted the state to present expert testimony regarding characteristic behavior of sexual assault victims after assault.
A circuit court's decision in the exercise of discretion will not be disturbed by an appellate court unless an abuse of discretion is shown. If the record indicates that the circuit court failed to exercise its discretion, the circuit court has abused its discretion. When a circuit court exercises discretion, the record on appeal must reflect the circuit court's reasoned application of the appropriate legal standard to the relevant facts in the case. If this court's review of the record indicates that the circuit court applied the wrong legal standard in the exercise of its discretion or that the facts of record fail to support the circuit court's decision, the circuit court has abused its discretion. An appellate court may engage in its own examination of the record to determine whether the facts provide support for the circuit court's decision. Hedtcke v. Sentry Insurance Co., 109 Wis.2d 461, 326 N.W.2d 727 (1982); State v. Alsteen, 108 Wis.2d 723, 728, 324 N.W.2d 426 (1982).
We hold that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion and that the exclusion of the proffered evidence did not violate the defendant's constitutional rights. We therefore reverse the decision of the court of appeals.
John DeSantis, the defendant, was found guilty of one count of second-degree sexual assault under sec. 940.225, Stats. 1987-88, and not guilty of burglary on charges stemming from events on the night of September 17, 1987.
Section 940.225, Stats. 1987-88, provides as follows:
(2) Second Degree Sexual Assault. Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a Class C felony:
(a) Has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with another person without consent of that person by use or threat of force or violence.
(5) Definitions. In this section:
`Sexual intercourse' includes the meaning assigned under s. 939.22(36) as well as cunnilingus, fellatio or anal intercourse between persons or any other intrusion, however slight, of any part of a person's body or of any object into the genital or anal opening either by the defendant or upon the defendant's instruction. The emission of semen is not required.
The defendant had filed a pretrial motion, sec. 971.31(11), Stats. 1987-88, seeking to introduce evidence at trial that the complainant had made prior untruthful allegations of sexual assault. Section 972.11(2)(b)3 allows the introduction of such evidence, providing in part as follows:
(b) If the defendant is accused of a crime under s. 940.225 . . . any evidence concerning the complaining witness's prior sexual conduct or opinions of the witness's prior sexual conduct and reputation as to prior sexual conduct shall not be admitted into evidence during the course of the hearing or trial, nor shall any reference to such conduct be made in the presence of the jury, except the following, subject to s. 971.31(11):
1. Evidence of the complaining witness's past conduct with the defendant.
2. Evidence of specific instances of sexual conduct showing the source or origin of semen, pregnancy or disease, for use in determining the degree of sexual assault or the extent of injury suffered.
3. Evidence of prior untruthful allegations of sexual assault made by the complaining witness.
Section 972.11(2)(a) defines sexual conduct for purposes of sec. 972.11(2)(b) as follows:
`sexual conduct' means any conduct or behavior relating to sexual activities of the complaining witness, including but not limited to prior experience of sexual intercourse or sexual contact, use of contraceptives, living arrangement and life-style.
At the hearing to determine whether the circuit court would allow the defense to introduce the evidence, the defendant produced a witness who had been a neighbor of the complainant at a University dormitory during the 1985-86 school year. The neighbor, Ms. N.G., testified that late one night during autumn 1985, the complainant came to N.G.'s room, crying and very upset, and stated that she, the complainant, had been raped outside the dormitory. The complainant did not provide any details or describe or identify her assailant. Neither the complainant, N.G., nor N.G.'s roommate (who was present in N.G.'s room when the complainant made the allegations but who never testified at the pre-trial hearing or at trial) reported the occurrence to campus authorities or the police.
N.G. further testified that in the spring of 1986, the complainant said that "it didn't happen exactly the way she [the complainant] had said that it did." N.G. interpreted the complainant's statements as a denial of being raped in the autumn of 1985. N.G. testified that she later heard that the complainant told a mutual friend that the 1985 incident involved "some guy walk[ing] up to her and put[ting] his arm around her and sa[ying] hey, where's the party."
A question about N.G.'s possible partiality and bias was raised by N.G.'s concession on cross-examination that the defendant was a friend of one of N.G.'s friends.
After hearing N.G.'s testimony, the circuit court ruled that her testimony would not be admissible under sec. 972.11(2)(b)3, which permits evidence of prior untruthful allegations of sexual assault. The circuit court characterized the testimony as "a lot of nebulousness" that would "lead to jury confusion," stating:
What we have basically is a lot of nebulousness and that basically was that in the fall of 1985 [the complainant] reported being raped and that — on two occasions in my notes — when asked about what the statements were in spring of 1986 indicated it didn't happen the way she said it did. I don't know how more nebulous you could get. There could be a great many variances from the time that it happened to the description of the individual . . . to all the circumstances of the sexual assault. I — To say that it didn't happen the way that she said it did does not, from my perspective, fall necessarily within the prior untruthful allegation of sexual assault contest of the state. I think it would, if it were admitted, lead to jury confusion, and from the perspective at least from what I've heard today, there was very little probative value in the evidence . . . I think to a great extent that the [rape shield] statute is designed to bring in those areas that I think were alluded to a certain extent where individuals make false accusations against other individuals that they later recant their testimony on or prove to be false. And here was a very general statement without identification of anybody involved that a sexual assault in some form had taken place.
At the trial, defense counsel examined the complainant about the 1985-86 incidents outside of the presence of the jury. The complainant denied ever telling N.G. that she had been raped and described the 1985 occurrence as follows:
There was a man there, approached me in front of the dormitory one night on my way home. He — I — He was walking over by Whitney Food Center. I thought it was someone I knew. As he got closer to me it was — I had kind of yelled his name across the street to him because at the time my roommate and I were looking to buy a carpet from somebody, and I thought it was Steve, and I was, you know, I was hey, Steve, you know, have any carpet? And as he got closer to me it was just wait a second, you're not Steve. And he was just like putting his arm around me. And I ran to the dorm. The man never pinned me down on the ground.
After hearing the complainant's testimony, the circuit court ruled that the defendant could not cross-examine the complainant about her prior allegations of sexual assault on grounds of "relevancy as well as remoteness."
During the trial, the complainant and the defendant presented different versions of what happened on the evening of September 17, 1987.
The complainant testified that she and several friends had gone to two taverns in downtown LaCrosse. At closing time the complainant abandoned plans to leave the tavern with a friend and walked alone to her apartment. According to her testimony, the complainant felt someone come behind her as she opened the door. The person stated, "My name is John. I know you want me. I've been watching you all night. . . ." The defendant pushed the complainant into her apartment, forcibly disrobed her and sexually assaulted her. During the assault, the defendant allegedly inserted his fingers and then his penis into her vagina. After the assault, according to the complainant, the defendant stated, "It's getting late. I got to get going home. I'm way over there off Division Street. . . ." The complainant then wrapped a comforter around herself, ran to the bathroom and locked herself in. When she emerged, the defendant was gone and money was missing from a table in her apartment. After getting dressed, she attempted to call several friends by telephone. She went to a local emergency room with an acquaintance and reported the assault to the police.
The defense called two witnesses who testified that the complainant had a reputation for being untruthful. One witness was N.G.; the other was L.S., the woman whom the complainant summoned after the defendant's attack. L.S. testified that the complainant's reputation for untruthfulness related particularly to the complainant's dating situations. A third witness, who was present at the tavern that night, contradicted the complainant's testimony that she had not seen the defendant in the hours before the attack. This witness also testified that the complainant was "very definitely" drunk that night.
The defendant testified that during the evening of September 17, he drank very heavily and smoked marijuana throughout the evening. Later that night, between 11:30 P.M. and 2:00 A.M., the defendant and the complainant and several other people went out drinking together at two taverns. At closing time, both he and the complainant were at the same tavern. The defendant testified that he had only "split-second" recollections of the events that followed his departure from the tavern and that he did not remember how he got to the complainant's apartment. The defendant remembers having his finger outside of the complainant's vagina, attempting to have intercourse, and finding that his penis was limp. The defendant realized that he was not at his own home and a woman was against the wall of the apartment with a strange look on her face. He got dressed, took some money from the table, and walked home. He said nothing to the complainant because he was embarrassed.
Despite his inability to recall how he got to the complainant's apartment or much of what happened that night, the defendant denied raping the complainant. He testified that whatever sexual contact there was must have been consensual.
After nine hours of deliberation the jury found the defendant guilty of sexual assault but not guilty of burglary.
The court of appeals reversed the conviction, holding that the circuit court abused its discretion by excluding defendant's evidence of prior untruthful allegations of sexual assault. The court of appeals concluded that the complainant's statement in the autumn of 1985 constituted prior untruthful allegations of sexual assault that came within the exception to the rape shield law, sec. 972.11, Stats. 1987-88. DeSantis, supra 151 Wis.2d at 510. The court of appeals further concluded that because the circuit court failed to discuss the criteria it applied under sec. 971.31(11) in excluding the evidence, the court of appeals would review the evidence de novo. The court of appeals concluded that the evidence was relevant to the issue of the complainant's credibility, and the probative value of the proffered evidence outweighed any prejudice. One judge dissented on the ground that the proffered evidence did not constitute prior untruthful allegations of sexual assault under sec. 972.11(2)(b)3.
The defendant contends that the circuit court abused its discretion by excluding the evidence of complainant's prior untruthful allegations of sexual assault and that the exclusion of the evidence violated his constitutional rights to confront witnesses and to present a defense.
The rape shield law proscribes the admission of evidence of a complainant's prior sexual conduct and permits the circuit court to admit evidence of prior untruthful allegations of sexual assault. The rape shield law expresses the legislature's determination that evidence of a complainant's prior sexual conduct has low probative value and a highly prejudicial effect. State v. Gavigan, 111 Wis.2d 150, 156, 330 N.W.2d 571 (1983); State v. Penigar, 139 Wis.2d 569, 585, 408 N.W.2d 28 (1987). Section 972.11(2)(b)3 permits evidence of certain conduct of the complainant to be admitted for a permissible purpose only after close judicial scrutiny.
Some states, like Wisconsin, have a statute expressly allowing prior untruthful complaints of sexual assault. In several jurisdictions, the courts have held that prior untruthful allegations are not barred by the rape shield act in the particular jurisdiction. See Cox v. State, 51 Md. App. 271, 443 A.2d 607, 613-614 (1982); Commonwealth v. Bohannon, 376 Mass. 90, 378 N.E.2d 987, 991 (1978); People v. Mandel, 61 A.D.2d 563, 403 N.Y.S.2d 63, 66 (1978), rev'd on other grounds, 48 N.Y.2d 952, 401 N.E.2d 185, 425 N.Y.S.2d 63 (1979), appeal dismissed, 446 U.S. 949 (1980), State v. Baron, 58 N.C. App. 150, 292 S.E.2d 741, 743-44 (1982). Some courts reason that evidence of prior false allegations does not constitute sexual conduct evidence because the defense usually attempts to demonstrate the falsity of the prior allegation.
For discussions of the rape shield law and this exception, see Letwin, " Unchaste Character," Ideology, and the California Rape Evidence Laws, 54 S. Cal. L. Rev. 35 (1980); Galvin, Rape Shield Victims in the State and Federal Courts: A Proposal for the Second Decade, 70 Minn. L. Rev. 763 (1986). See also Annot., Impeachment or Cross-Examination of Prosecuting Witness in Sexual Offense Trial by Showing That Similar Charges Were Made Against Other Persons, 71 A.L.R. 4th 469 (1989); Annotation, Impeachment or Cross-Examination of Prosecuting Witness in Sexual Offense Trial by Showing That Prosecuting Witness Threatened to Make Similar Charges Against Other Persons, 71 A.L.R.4th 448 (1989).
Neither party raises or discusses sec. 906.08(2), which provides:
(2) SPECIFIC INSTANCES OF CONDUCT. Specific instances of the conduct of a witness, for the purpose of attacking or supporting the witness's credibility, other than conviction of crimes as provided in s. 906.09, may not be proved by extrinsic evidence. They may, however, subject to s. 972.11(2), if probative of truthfulness or untruthfulness and not remote in time, be inquired into on cross-examination of the witness or on cross-examination of a witness who testifies to his or her character for truthfulness or untruthfulness.
Before it admits evidence of prior untruthful allegations the circuit court must make three determinations under secs. 972.11(2)(b)3 and 971.31(11): (1) whether the proffered evidence fits within sec. 972.11(2)(b)3; (2) whether the evidence is material to a fact at issue in the case; and (3) whether the evidence is of sufficient probative value to outweigh its inflammatory and prejudicial nature. Section 971.31(11) provides as follows:
(11) In actions under s. 940.225 or 948.02, evidence which is admissible under s. 972.11(2) must be determined by the court upon pretrial motion to be material to a fact at issue in the case and of sufficient probative value to outweigh its inflammatory and prejudicial nature before it may be introduced at trial.
The first determination the circuit court must make under sec. 971.31(11) is whether the evidence falls within the exception set forth in sec. 972.11(2)(b)3, that is whether the defendant has established a sufficient factual basis for allowing the jury to hear the evidence that the complainant has made prior allegations of sexual assault that are untruthful.
Section 971.31(11) should be read with sec. 901.04, Stats. 1987-88, which governs questions of admissibility generally, and provides as follows:
(1) Questions of Admissibility Generally. Preliminary questions concerning the . . . admissibility of evidence shall be determined by the judge subject to sub. (2) and ss. 971.31(11) . . . .
(2) Relevancy conditioned on Fact. When the relevancy of evidence depends upon the fulfillment of a condition of the fact, the judge shall admit it upon, or subject to, the introduction of evidence sufficient to support a finding of the fulfillment of the condition.
For a discussion of the federal analogue of sec. 904.01, see Weinstein and Berger, 1 Weinstein's Evidence Rule 104 (1989); Cleary, McCormick's Handbook of the Law of Evidence sec. 53 (3d ed. 1984); Maguire and Epstein, Preliminary Questions of Fact in Determining the Admissibility of Evidence, 40 Harv. L. Rev. 392 (1926); Morgan, Functions of the Judge and Jury in the Determination of Preliminary Questions of Fact, 43 Harv. L. Rev. 165 (1929); Laughlin, Preliminary Questions of Fact: A New Theory, 31 Wn. and Lee L. Rev. 285 (1974); Ball, The Myth of Conditional Relevancy, 14 Ga. L. Rev. 435 (1980); Saltzburg, Standards of Proof and Preliminary Questions of Fact, 27 Stan. L. Rev. 271 (1975).
See Federal Rules of Evidence, Rule 412(c)(2), relating to admission of victim's past behavior in sex offense cases provides inter alia: "Notwithstanding subdivision (b) of rule 104, if the relevancy of the evidence which the accused seeks to offer in the trial depends upon the fulfillment of a condition of fact, the court, at the hearing in chambers or at a subsequent hearing in chambers scheduled for such purpose, shall accept evidence on the issue of whether such condition of fact is fulfilled and shall determine such issue." Weinstein and Berger, 1 Weinstein's Evidence 412-2 (1989).
The rape shield statute provides little guidance regarding the sufficiency of the evidence for admissibility. Neither sec. 972.11(2)(b)3 nor sec. 971.31(11) sets forth the defendant's burden of proving prior untruthful allegations or the standard the circuit court applies before admitting the evidence. These questions implicate the proper role of the judge and jury.
The state asserts that the circuit court should admit proffered evidence of prior untruthful allegations only if the offering party "can show convincingly that the charge was made and that it was demonstrably false." State's Brief, pp. 22-23. We interpret the state's brief as urging us to require the defendant to prove at the pretrial hearing the existence of untruthful allegations by a preponderance of evidence and to require the circuit court before admitting the evidence to make a preliminary finding based on the offer of proof that it is more likely than not that the complainant made prior untruthful allegations.
The defendant contends that the jury, not the circuit court, must resolve any disputed evidence and determine the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be accorded to the evidence. The defendant appears to assert that he need not establish any factual basis at the pre-trial hearing to allow the evidence to go to the jury. He cites no authority.
All courts that have considered the issue, according to one commentator, have concluded that the defendant must establish some factual basis before the trial court admits the evidence of untruthful allegations. We conclude that the defendant should produce evidence at the pre-trial hearing sufficient to support a reasonable person's finding that the complainant made prior untruthful allegations. Before the circuit court admits the evidence the circuit court must make a preliminary finding based on the offer of proof that the jury could reasonably find that the complainant made prior untruthful allegations. In other words, in order to admit evidence of untruthful prior allegations of sexual assault, a circuit court must be able to conclude from the proffered evidence that a reasonable person could reasonably infer that the complainant made prior untruthful allegations of sexual assault. If the evidence does not meet this basic threshold, the circuit court must conclude that the evidence does not come within the exception provided by sec. 972.11(2)(b)3.
Galvin, Rape Shield Victims in the State and Federal Courts: A Proposal for the Second Decade, 70 Minn. L. Rev. 763, (1986).
Courts have divided regarding the appropriate standard of proof for determining the admissibility of evidence of prior untruthful allegations of sexual assault. A number of courts have determined that the offering party must show that a prior allegation of sexual assault is demonstrably false. See State v. Schwartzmiller, 107 Idaho 89, 685 P.2d 830, 833 (1984); Little v. State, 413 N.E.2d 639, 643 (Ind.Ct.App. 1980); State v. Johnson, 102 N.M. 110, 692 P.2d 35, 43 (Ct.App. 1984); State v. Sieler, 397 N.W.2d 89, 92 (S.D. 1986).
Still other courts hold that the trial court must, before admitting the evidence, determine that a reasonable probability of falsity exists. Clinebell v. Commonwealth, 235 Va. 319, 368 S.E. 263, 266 (1988); Smith v. State, 259 Ga. 135, 377 S.E.2d 158, 160 (1989).
See also People v. Alexander, 116 Ill. App.3d 855, 452 N.E.2d 591, 594-95 (1983) (evidence of prior false accusation inconclusive and not admissible); State v. Hutchinson, 141 Ariz. 583, 688 P.2d 209 (Ariz.App. 1984) (sufficient facts to show prior charge was unsubstantiated).
We believe that this reasonableness standard balances the public policies underlying secs. 972.11(2)(b)3 and 971.31(11). The legislature sought to respond to claims that rules of evidence served to humiliate and degrade complainants by allowing the defendant to put the complainant on trial and served to deter complainants from pressing charges. The legislature also sought to protect a defendant's constitutional rights to a fair opportunity to defend and to a jury trial, as well as the defendant's interest in avoiding erroneous preliminary fact-finding by the circuit court. We conclude that the reasonableness standard strikes the appropriate balance between these competing policies and interests and is consistent with legislative intent.
We turn to the record to determine whether the circuit court applied this legal standard. The circuit court never expressly ruled in the pre-trial hearing whether the evidence fits within the exception provided by sec. 972.11(2)(b)3. We agree with the court of appeals' analysis of the word allegations in sec. 972.11(2)(b)3 as including assertions of sexual assault whether reported to the police or not. DeSantis, supra, 151 Wis.2d at 510, n. 4.
The circuit court stated that the allegation did not necessarily fall within the prior allegation of sexual assault because of its nebulousness. At trial the circuit court declared the evidence inadmissible on grounds of relevancy and remoteness. It is unclear whether the circuit court concluded that the evidence came within sec. 972.11(2)(b)3. The circuit court apparently declined to admit the evidence under either the second or third determinations required by sec. 971.31(11).
The second determination the circuit court must make under sec. 971.31(11) before admitting untruthful allegations is that the evidence is material to a fact in issue. The defendant argues that the evidence of the complainant's prior untruthful allegation is "crucial" and "vital" because it goes to the complainant's credibility, a fact in issue in this case. The state acknowledges that the evidence has some relevance to the issue of the complainant's credibility, but argues that the relevance is extremely limited. The circuit court's decision is not clear.
At trial, the defendant attempted to develop two grounds of defense: that the sexual contact between himself and the complainant was consensual and that he was physically unable to consummate the act of sexual intercourse because of intoxication. Through attacks on her credibility, the defendant sought to discredit the complainant and to afford the jury a basis to infer that the complainant was an untrustworthy witness. Evidence of prior untruthful allegations of sexual assault was a more particular attack on the complainant's credibility.
Beyond an attack on the complainant's general credibility, however, we fail to understand how the evidence is "vital" or "crucial" to the defense. The defendant argues that N.G.'s testimony demonstrates that the complainant misstated the nature of her sexual relationships with men and therefore is relevant to the issue of complainant's consent. Even if N.G.'s testimony is accepted as true, we conclude that the circuit court was correct in concluding that it is of limited value in discrediting the complainant or her version of the events of September 17, 1987, or in proving consent.
Both N.G. and the complainant testified that the occurrence in autumn 1985 involved a nonconsensual touching. The complainant asserted she was forcibly assaulted by a stranger against her will. She never recanted this assertion. N.G.'s testimony does not impeach the complainant's credibility about charging a nonconsensual touching. No matter who is believed, the complainant's 1985-86 statements can be interpreted as truthful allegations of a nonconsensual assault. We do not understand how N.G.'s testimony describing complainant's truthful allegations of a nonconsensual assault in 1985 impeaches the complainant's testimony at trial that she was the victim of a nonconsensual sexual assault in 1987. Evidence of a possible exaggerated allegation in the 1985 assaultive situation has little bearing on whether the complainant consented, as the defendant alleges, in another assaultive situation arising in 1987.
Moreover, the circumstances of the 1985 and 1987 occurrences are significantly different, making the probative value of evidence of the 1985 occurrence on the issue of consent minimal. The 1985 incident occurred nearly two years before the complainant accused the defendant of rape. The fact that the prior incident was remote in time and dissimilar in circumstances further diminishes the value of comparing the two incidents and drawing conclusions regarding the complainant's credibility or her consent. State v. Fish, 101 N.M. 329, 681 P.2d 1106 (1984); State v. Johnson, 102 N.M. 110, 692 P.2d 35 (1984).
While the circuit court did not rule on materiality, it did characterize the evidence as having "very little probative value."
The third determination the circuit court must make under sec. 971.31(11) before admitting untruthful allegations is that the evidence of an untruthful allegation is of "sufficient probative value to outweigh its inflammatory and prejudicial nature." Evidence is unduly prejudicial when it threatens the fundamental goals of accuracy and fairness of the trial by misleading the jury or by influencing the jury to decide the case upon an improper basis. Lease America Corp. v. Ins. Co. of N. America, 88 Wis.2d 395, 401, 276 N.W.2d 767, 770 (1979).
See also sec. 904.03, which provides as follows:
Although relevant, evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence.
For discussions of this rule, see Dolan, Rule 403: The Prejudice Rule in Evidence, 49 S. Calif. L. Rev. 220 (1976); Gold, Federal Rule of Evidence 403: Observations on the Nature of Unfairly Prejudicial Evidence, 58 Wn. L. Rev. 497 (1983).
Exercising its discretion under sec. 971.31(11) the circuit court concluded that the evidence was not admissible and characterized the evidence as nebulous, remote, "of very little probative value" and as "lead[ing] to jury confusion." Although the circuit court did not discuss these factors at length, the record supports the circuit court's conclusion that the evidence was not of sufficient probative value to outweigh its prejudicial nature.
The evidence of prior untruthful allegations was in this case sketchy, vague, remote, disputed, and cumulative. N.G. and the complainant agreed that no rape had taken place. N.G. and the complainant disagreed over whether the complainant used the word rape. N.G. and the complainant also disagreed over whether the complainant recanted the rape allegation in the spring of 1986. As previously discussed, the complainant's original statement can be accepted as a truthful assertion of a nonconsensual touching, and its probative value to challenge complainant's credibility or to prove the complainant's consent to the defendant's touching is therefore minimal.
The evidence of untruthful allegations was also cumulative of other evidence attacking the complainant's credibility, further diminishing its probative value. The defense had already introduced evidence to discredit the complainant's reputation for truthfulness, her reputation for truthfulness about her relations with men, and her veracity regarding the events of September 17, 1987.
The record further supports the circuit court's conclusion in this case that the prejudicial nature of the evidence outweighed its limited probative value. The legislature sought to protect complainants from the humiliation and degradation associated with unfounded allegations regarding sexual history. Introduction of the defendant's evidence would have embroiled the trial in a dispute over what the complainant had said and what she had meant in autumn 1985 and whether that original statement was a prior untruthful allegation. The evidence might mislead the jury or overemphasize the complainant's behavior in a previous assault situation that had minimal relevance to the facts and defenses asserted at trial, potentially influencing the jury to decide the case on an improper basis.
We recognize that the circuit court may not deny the defendant a fair trial or the right to present a defense by a mechanistic application of rules of evidence. Davis v. Alaska, 415 U.S. 308 (1973). The rights to confront witnesses and to defend are, however, not absolute and may bow to accommodate other legitimate interests in the criminal trial process. Chambers v. Mississippi, 410 U.S. 284, 295 (1973). The evidence declared inadmissible was of a prejudicial and inflammatory nature and of minimal, if any, probative value. The exclusion of evidence of minimal, if any, probative effect in view of its highly inflammatory nature does not depart from general principles of the law of evidence or of constitutional law. We conclude that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion when it excluded the evidence and did not violate the defendant's constitutional rights.
The second issue is whether the circuit court abused its discretion by admitting expert testimony regarding the behavior of sexual assault victims. The court of appeals concluded that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion. We agree.
Without laying a foundation for the evidence, the state called a counselor from a local rape shelter to testify, over the defendant's objection, about the general behavior of sexual assault victims. The witness was never asked, nor did she testify, about the specific behavior exhibited by the complainant or about comparing the complainant's behavior to the behavior of other victims. The witness also never testified regarding the complainant's credibility. The witness described the series of emotional phases sexual assault victims generally go through that may bear on a victim's willingness to press charges. The evidence was introduced before defense counsel asked the jury to infer that the complainant was reluctant to press charges.
The defendant contends that the circuit court erred by not limiting evidence to those instances where the expert has made a diagnosis of the complainant. The defendant argues that the testimony served no purpose but to vouch for complainant's credibility. The defendant contends that admission of the testimony amounts to a denial of the defendant's due process rights under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution and art. I, sec. 7 of the Wisconsin Constitution.
We are not persuaded by the defendant's arguments. In previous cases, we have upheld the introduction of expert testimony on the behavior of sexual assault victims to educate the jury when the complainant's conduct is cast as inconsistent with the claim of sexual assault. Expert testimony will be permitted if it serves the "particularly useful role [of] disabusing the jury about widely held misconceptions about sexual assault victims." State v. Robinson, 146 Wis.2d 315, 431 N.W.2d 165 (1988). See also State v. Jensen, 147 Wis.2d 240, 432 N.W.2d 913 (1988). We conclude that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion by admitting the evidence in this case.
For the reasons set forth, we reverse the decision of the court of appeals and remand the case to the circuit court for proceedings consistent with this opinion.
By the Court. — The decision of the court of appeals is reversed.
discussing related claim of whether evidence properly excluded under Wisconsin's rape shield statute otherwise violated the defendant's constitutional rights
Summary of this case from Sarfraz v. Smith
In DeSantis, this court concluded that "the defendant should produce evidence at the pre-trial hearing sufficient to support a reasonable person's finding that the complainant made prior untruthful allegations."
Summary of this case from State v. Ringer
requiring an "offer of proof" from which the jury could reasonably conclude the statement was false
Summary of this case from State v. West
applying three-part test to § 972.11(b)3
Summary of this case from State v. Jackson
In State v. DeSantis, 155 Wis.2d 774, 456 N.W.2d 600 (1990) this court reviewed three determinations that a circuit court must make under sec. 971.31(11), Stats., before it admits evidence of prior untruthful allegations of sexual assault under sec. 972.11(2)(b)3.
Summary of this case from State v. Moats
In DeSantis, the supreme court laid out the test that is to be applied by a trial court when it is presented with such an admissibility question.
Summary of this case from State v. David R.W.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Sumner Regional Medical Center (SRMC) has been providing quality health care to Gallatin, Hendersonville and the surrounding areas for more than 50 years. Since opening in 1959 as Sumner County Memorial Hospital, SRMC has grown from a facility with just 50 employees and seven physicians to a comprehensive health care leader in the community with over 1,000 employees and 300 physicians.
Since 1994, SRMC has served as the flagship hospital of the healthcare entity, HighPoint Health System. SRMC is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and is governed by a local board of directors. The hospital is also one of the largest non-government employers in Sumner County.
Today, SRMC operates as a 155-bed healthcare facility and provides quality care in numerous areas, including cancer treatment, cardiac care, same-day surgery, orthopaedics, diagnostics, women's health and rehabilitation services. As the community grows, SRMC strives to continually improve its services and programs to meet the changing needs of Gallatin, Hendersonville and the surrounding areas.


text:
Madison Commons (https://madisoncommons.org/2020/05/05/the-arts-save-lives-dane-arts-looks-to-support-creators-through-crisis/)
'The arts save lives': Dane Arts looks to support creators through crisis
By Samantha Jones | May 5, 2020
Dane Arts Mural Arts. Photo supplied.
Each Friday at 5 p.m., Emida Roller has been hopping on Facebook Live to highlight the creativity bursting out the doors of Dane Arts Mural Arts (DAMA) on Madison's southeast side. As the COVID-19 pandemic has complicated things for artists and creators across the globe, DAMA has reacted by setting up a virtual gallery on their website to encourage folks to support their artisans and outreach programming.
DAMA, which was created as a Dane Arts program in 2014, has since gained independent non-profit status. Their staff of artists have been working with community members to beautify underserved neighborhoods in the county for the past five years, plastering feel-good messages in a range of public spaces.
From the whimsical soccer-playing sandhill cranes at Glendale Elementary to a sidewalk campaign about water contamination and the importance of drainage, DAMA is all about creating a more equitable — and aesthetically pleasing — future.
Photo supplied.
"As a mural program we strive to level the playing field by providing artistic opportunities to urban and rural youth who may have limited access to arts education," said Roller, who has served as DAMA's Executive Director since 2019. "Young people benefit by working alongside skilled, trained artists who understand that deliberate practice leads to success. Through their hard work, youth learn how to complete projects on time, increase their critical thinking abilities, and find a sense of belonging in their school and community."
In targeting children in underserved areas, Roller and DAMA hope to not only empower and build character within the youth they work with, but to build community-wide character and solidarity too.
"[Our] vision is to use mural making to help develop a network of communities whose members, especially youth, feel safe in their neighborhood and proud of their community," Roller said. "Each DAMA mural project presents a unique opportunity to address inequities and support unity by engaging at-risk youth, developing neighborhood partnerships, and inviting community members to participate in each step of the collaborative process."
Each time they complete a mural, DAMA is leaving behind more than just a vibrant piece of art or reminder of a unique experience — they are leaving behind a static reminder that we as neighbors should always be working to make the world around us more beautiful in whatever way we can.
Professional or not, the pandemic is greatly impacting the livelihoods of artists at many levels. As nationwide unemployment swells to 30 million over the course of six weeks, financial restraints or other concerns are likely to be exacerbated within the arts industry.
"Artists and organizations are being hit hard across all disciplines here in Dane County and throughout the country. And yet, where are people turning to in these horrific hours of COVID-19?" Dane Arts Executive Director Mark Fraire said. "They are turning to the arts… to music, dance, visual, literary, theater, performance and more, seeking creative outlets to soothe their spirits."
And thus, organizations like Dane Arts have scrambled to put together relief funding for artists unable to supplement for this loss in income. On March 17, Fraire was able to open up DANG!, or the Dane Arts Need Grant program.
However, in just two short days, funds were exhausted across 60 slots and 90 requests.
While Fraire is working to pull together more funding, the organizations under Dane Arts are getting creative to be able to sustain their services. This is where DAMA's virtual gallery comes in.
By live-streaming each week and opening up an online platform for patrons to appreciate (and purchase) the work put in by DAMA artisans, Roller and her staff are pulling out all the stops to remain open.
"The pandemic has halted all physical community-engagement programming, projects are being canceled, and contracts are being revoked. So, the monthlong celebration of art provides viewing, purchasing and donation opportunities, in addition to unique, weekly at-home participation experiences shared on our Facebook page," Roller said. "This is our first virtual gallery event and more than anything we're just happy to find a way to bring public art to people at home right now."
DAMA will continue their weekly social media engagement through May 22, and are asking community members to consider donating online or purchasing artwork through the virtual gallery. Five percent of proceeds will be donated to the Lussier Family Heritage Center, while remaining funds will directly go to DAMA's community engagement.
"The arts build community," Fraire said. "The arts save lives."
For updates on DANG! funding and operations at Dane Arts, refer to their website.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that Emida Roller became DAMA's Executive Director in 2019, after taking over for Sharon Kilfoy.


text:
Voices from Puerto Rico: Reflections Two Months After Maria (Report)
Samantha Artiga	Follow @SArtiga2 on Twitter and Barbara Lyons
Two months after Hurricane Maria made landfall, the Kaiser Family Foundation traveled to Puerto Rico to conduct focus groups and individual interviews with individuals affected by the storm. We spoke to 40 people from 10 different regions on the island (Appendix 1). See a companion video. Findings show:
Hurricane Maria was a terrifying and traumatic event for participants and their children. A number of participants suffered significant damage to their homes and property with some losing everything.
The storm had significant negative effects on physical and mental health, and many participants continue to experience depression, stress, and anxiety.
Two months after the storm, participants were continuing to face challenges meeting basic needs, and daily life remained extremely challenging due to lack of electricity and limited work options.
Participants felt that recovery efforts have been slow and insufficient.
Despite these challenges, many believe Puerto Rico will recover, although they recognize recovery will likely take many years and believe that the people themselves have an important role to play in recovery.
"I thought there was no end to it. We stood by the window, watching what was happening to my house. The wind and the rain wouldn't stop…It was endless."
"I saw the entire process of what happened to my house. It was a total loss. My dad was in tears out of helplessness in the face of that situation."
"The place where I felt okay was the bathroom. If I had to cry, I cried. And sometimes I tried to muffle my sobs with the bath curtain."
"I was not working for so long, because I used to work at schools and, if they are not open, I don´t work…that triggered a lot of anxiety….because…I used to be the one who made money."
"…after two months, there are people who still can't be reached because there is no road, they cannot leave their homes. They can't get food."
"And when he [President Trump] did his crazy things, throwing paper towels, he wasn't valuing what we were going through, our pain."
"They are taking so, so long, that I wonder, how is it possible that people who lost their homes aren't given priority."
"I would like Puerto Ricans on the outside and Americans to know there are brave people here, strong, and they are not giving up, because we are fighters."
Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands
Report and Video Highlight Challenges Facing Hurricane Maria's Survivors in Puerto Rico
Public Health in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria
Americans' Views of Puerto Rico's Recovery
Puerto Rico: Fast Facts
8 Questions & Answers about Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: Datos Básicos
Voices from Puerto Rico: Reflections Two Months After Maria (Video)
Voces de Puerto Rico: Reflexiones Dos Meses Después de María (Informe)


text:
Meiose é o processo de divisão celular através do qual uma célula tem o seu número de cromossomos reduzido pela metade.

Nos organismos de reprodução sexuada a formação de seus gametas ocorre por meio desse tipo de divisão celular. Quando ocorre fecundação, pela fusão de dois desses gametas, ressurge uma célula diplóide, que passará por numerosas mitoses comuns até formar um novo indivíduo cujas células serão, também, diplóides.

Nos vegetais, que se caracterizam pela presença de um ciclo reprodutivo haplodiplobionte, a meiose não tem como fim a formação de gametas, mas, sim, a formação de esporos. Curiosamente, nos vegetais a meiose relaciona-se com a porção assexuada de seu ciclo reprodutivo.

A meiose permite a recombinação gênica, de tal forma que cada célula diplóide é capaz de formar quatro células haplóides (três no caso da oogênese) geneticamente diferentes entre si. Isso explica a variabilidade das espécies de reprodução sexuada.

A meiose conduz à redução do número dos cromossomos à metade. A primeira divisão é a mais complexa, sendo designada divisão de redução. É durante esta divisão que ocorre a redução à metade do número de cromossomos. Na primeira fase, os cromossomos emparelham-se e trocam material genético (entrecruzamento ou crossing-over), antes de separar-se em duas células filhas. Cada um dos núcleos destas células filhas tem só metade do número original de cromossomos. Os dois núcleos resultantes dividem-se na Meiose II (ou Divisão II da Meiose), formando quatro células (três células no caso da oogênese). Qualquer das divisões ocorre em quatro fases: prófase, metáfase, anáfase e telófase.

História
Em 1885, Friedrich Leopold August Weismann (1834-1914) propôs uma hipótese para explicar a constância do número de cromossomos de uma geração para outra. Ele previu acertadamente que, na formação dos gametas, devia ocorrer um tipo diferente de divisão celular, em que o número de cromossomos das células-filhas seria reduzido à metade.

Na época, a observação mais importante sobre o comportamento dos cromossomos na formação dos gametas estava sendo realizada no verme nematóide Ascaris megalocephala, atualmente chamado Parascaris equorum, a lombriga de cavalo. As células desses vermes apresentam apenas quatro cromossomos de grande tamanho, o que facilita seu estudo.

Três citologistas merecem referência especial nos estudos pioneiros sobre os cromossomos na meiose: os biólogos alemães Theodor Heinrich Boveri (1849-1922) e Oscar Wilhelm August Hertwig (1849-1922) e o biólogo belga Edouard van Beneden (1846-1912). Eles descobriram que, durante a formação dos gametas, ocorrem duas divisões celulares sucessivas, após uma única duplicação cromossômica, de modo que as quatro células-filhas formadas ficam com a metade do número de cromossomo existentes na célula original (como Weismann previu que deveria acontecer. Essas duas divisões consecutivas são semelhantes à mitose).

Processo
É o tipo de divisão celular que leva à redução do número de cromossomos para metade, no qual ocorrem duas divisões nucleares sucessivas — Divisão I e Divisão II. Deste modo originam-se quatro células-filhas (três células-filhas no caso da oogénese) com metade do número de cromossomas da célula inicial, devido à separação dos cromossomos homólogos. Tendo cada célula-filha apenas um cromossoma de cada par de homólogos, esta é denominada célula haplóide (n).

A intérfase, que precede a meiose, é idêntica à que precede a mitose.

Divisão I ou Divisão Reducional
Separação de homólogos, [2n] → 2 [n]

Prófase I
Fase de grande duração, devido aos fenômenos que nela ocorrem e que não são observados na mitose. Os cromossomos - já com as duas cromátides - tornam-se mais condensados.

Ocorre o emparelhamento dos cromossomos homólogos – Sinapse (complexo sinaptonémico), formando um Bivalente, Díada Cromossómica ou Tétrada Cromatídica (4 cromatídios). Durante a Sinapse, podem surgir pontos de cruzamento entre as cromátides dos cromossomos homólogos – Quiasmas (quiasmata), ao nível do qual pode ocorrer quebra das cromátides, levando a trocas de segmentos dos Bivalentes – Crossing-over (que contribui para o aumento da variabilidade dos descendentes).

Desaparece o nucléolo e a membrana nuclear. Os centríolos migram para os polos da célula e forma-se o fuso acromático.

A prófase I é dividida em cinco subdivisões: leptóteno, zigóteno, paquíteno, diplóteno e diacinese.

Metáfase I
Os bivalentes ligam-se aos microtúbulos do fuso acromático pelo centrômero, com os quiasmas no plano equatorial e os centrómeros voltados para os pólos opostos.

Anáfase I
A anáfase I é caracterizada pelo deslocamento dos cromossomos homólogos para pólos opostos na célula. Neste caso, diferentemente da mitose, as cromátides irmãs não se separam, o que ocorre é  disjunção dos pares homólogos duplicados (constituídos por duas cromátides unidas pelo centrômero).

Telófase I
Descondensação do nucléolo e formação de dois núcleos com metade do número de cromossomos.

Citocinese
Pode não ocorrer – divisão do citoplasma, por ação do anel contráctil que leva à formação de duas células haploides (n).

Intercinese
Entre a meiose I e a meiose II ocorre um pequeno intervalo chamado de intercinese. Nesse intervalo não ocorre duplicação de DNA.

Divisão II ou Divisão Equacional
Separação das cromátides  2 [n] → 4[n]

Prófase II
É mais rápida que a prófase I. Os cromossomos tornam-se mais condensados (caso tenham descondensado na telófase I), desaparece a membrana nuclear e forma-se o fuso acromático.

Metáfase II
Os cromossomos ficam dispostos com os centrômeros no plano "equatorial" e com as cromátides voltadas cada uma para seu pólo, ligadas às fibras do fuso .

Anáfase II
Separam-se as duas cromátides irmãs, que passam a formar dois cromossomos independentes e ascendem para os pólos opostos.

A anáfase começa pela duplicação dos centrômeros, libertando as cromátides, que agora passam a ser denominadas cromossomos-filhos. Em seguida, as fibras cromossômicas encurtam, puxando os cromossomos para os pólos do fuso.

Telófase II
Na telófase II as cromátides irmãs são separadas, os cromossomos se descondensam, o fuso acromático se desfaz, a carioteca se refaz ao redor de cada lote cromossômico e os nucléolos reaparecem. A seguir, o citoplasma se divide (citocinese) formando duas células filhas. Na telófase I, duas células filhas são formadas, e cada uma sofre telófase II. Portanto, ao final da telófase II são formadas 4 células filhas provenientes de uma célula mãe.

Citocinese
Por fim, formam-se quatro células-filhas haplóides denominadas de tétrades (três células no caso da ovogênese), contendo cada uma apenas um cromossomo de cada par de homólogos (ou dos hemiomólogos).

Meiose nos ciclos de vida
Num ciclo haplonte, a meiose é pós-zigótica. (exemplo: maioria dos fungos)
Num ciclo diplonte, a meiose é pré-gamética. (exemplo: homem e animais)
Num ciclo haplodiplonte, a meiose é pré-espórica. (exemplo: plantas)

Importância da Meiose
A meiose é fundamental para a manutenção da vida dos seres pluricelulares, pois é através dela que se formam as células de reprodução (gametas: espermatozóide e óvulo) que se juntam para formar o ovo, ou também conhecido como zigoto.

Variação da quantidade de DNA durante a meiose
Na Intérfase que precedeu a Meiose, tal como na que precede a mitose durante a Fase S, a quantidade de DNA duplica por replicação. Só durante a Meiose vai ser reduzida duas vezes: primeiramente na Anáfase I - com a segregação dos Homólogos - e a seguir na Anáfase II - com a separação das cromátides.

Meiose e Fecundação como fontes de variabilidade
A meiose e a fecundação na reprodução sexuada são processos complementares, pois permitem que o número de cromossomos da espécie se mantenham constantes ao longo de gerações.

No ciclo de vida de um ser com reprodução sexuada, ocorrem duas fases:

 Haplófase - Que se inicia com a Meiose e leva à formação de células haplóides
 Diplófase - Que se inicia com a Fecundação e leva à formação de células diplóides.

Meiose e recombinação genética
As células haplóides resultantes da Meiose, apesar de conterem o mesmo número de cromossomos, não são iguais a nível genético, pois na Metáfase I a orientação dos cromossomos homólogos é aleatória. Cada par de homólogos orienta-se independentemente da orientação dos outros pares.

O número de combinações possíveis de cromossomos nas células haplóides depende do número de cromossomos da célula diplóide, que é igual a 2n (em que n é o número de pares de homólogos).

Se tiver em linha de conta que ainda pode ocorrer crossing-over, de tal modo que se podem formar cromossomos com associações de genes completamente novas, então a possibilidade de combinações genéticas é extraordinariamente alta.

Logo, a meiose permite novas recombinações genéticas e possibilidade de aumentar a variabilidade das características da espécie.

Ver também
 Mitose
 Divisão celular

Ligações externas
 BrasilEscola.com Meiose
 Importância Biológica da Meiose

Biologia celular
Ciclo celular

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Infy in the News
InfyTV
Infosys Technologies Selected as a Member of The Global Dow
New Index Instituted to Represent the World's Leading Corporations - Present and Future
Bangalore, India - November 19, 2008
Infosys Technologies Ltd, (NASDAQ: INFY) today announced that it has been selected as an original component member of 'The Global Dow' - an index of the most innovative, vibrant and influential corporations from around the world; chosen by journalists and the Editor in Chief at Dow Jones. 'The Global Dow', which was launched last week, is a new world-wide stock index made up of 150 leading blue-chip stocks.
The Global Dow index includes companies who have had a long history with success and a wide following among investors. The index universe is defined as all publicly traded securities in markets that are open to foreign investment. The membership to the index is based on size and reputation and the promise for the future. In recognition that global wealth is no longer concentrated in a few countries, The Global Dow has also been designed to cover both developed and emerging economies - as well as companies from emerging sectors.
Commenting on Infosys' selection for The Global Dow, S. Gopalakrishnan, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Infosys Technologies said, "We are delighted to be chosen as a member of The Global Dow. Being selected from amongst so many companies in a competitive global environment showcases the increasing importance of emerging economies such as India and is a significant achievement for Infosys. This selection reiterates our leadership, success and recognizes our potential."
The Global Dow is a 150-stock index that measures the world's leading blue-chips which are chosen primarily by size, reputation and importance in the global economy, with an emphasis on:
Reflecting both developed and emerging markets.
Achieving representation of new as well as established industries.
Selecting companies that drive the global economy today and are poised to do so tomorrow.
About Infosys Technologies Limited
Infosys (NASDAQ: INFY) defines, designs and delivers IT-enabled business solutions that help Global 2000 companies win in a Flat World. These solutions focus on providing strategic differentiation and operational superiority to clients. With Infosys, clients are assured of a transparent business partner, world-class processes, speed of execution and the power to stretch their IT budget by leveraging the Global Delivery Model that Infosys pioneered. Infosys has over 1,00,000 employees in over 50 offices worldwide. Infosys is part of the NASDAQ-100 Index and The Global Dow. For more information, visit www.infosys.com
Infosys Safe Harbor
Statements in connection with this release may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of US Securities laws intended to qualify for the "safe harbor" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties including those described in our SEC filings available at www.sec.gov including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended March 31, 2008, and our other recent filings, and actual results may differ materially from those projected by forward-looking statements. We may make additional written and oral forward-looking statements but do not undertake, and disclaim any obligation, to update them.
For further information, please contact: PR_Global@infosys.com


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COVID-19 Is Forcing Hopeful Parents-to-Be to Put Their Family Dreams on Pause
Colleen De Bellefonds・April 20, 2020
W+G Creative
When Alyssa*, a 30-year-old infertility patient, began fertility treatments last September, she discovered that on top of her endometriosis, she had a low ovarian reserve (meaning that she has fewer-than-normal eggs for her age) and low-quality eggs. After four egg retrieval cycles, she was left with only one healthy embryo—aka just one shot at getting pregnant with her own eggs. Her doctor suggested moving on to an embryo transfer (where the embryo is implanted into her uterus) in mid-April.
To prepare for the procedure, Alyssa took a shot of the synthetic hormone Lupron in early March. It temporarily put her body into a medically-induced menopausal state that caused hot flashes, night sweats, and headaches. She also went on a strict anti-inflammatory diet to help manage her symptoms and increase her odds of a successful transfer. But after all that, and just five days away from beginning the official prep for her embryo transfer (a new round of hormone shots to help her uterus prepare for a baby), all fertility treatments at her clinic were postponed due to COVID-19.
This isn't a one-off situation: On March 17, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) called for fertility doctors to suspend most new, non-urgent fertility treatments, including ovulation induction, intrauterine inseminations (IUIs), in vitro fertilization (IVF), and egg and sperm freezing to preserve resources and prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. Many states have also issued orders forbidding elective surgeries and procedures during the COVID-19 outbreak, a designation that applies to most fertility procedures as well as things like cataract or joint-replacement surgery.
But being denied fertility treatment right now feels more personal than having to delay your annual physical or eye exam, because it's your chance at a future family hanging in the balance. "This isn't an elective surgery. Fertility patients have no choice," says Alyssa. "Every time we're given a little bit of good news, it's taken away. It feels like that all over again, and we were so close to the end."
"Patients feel that infertility is not being treated like a disease right now. Many feel it's unjust…[and] are frustrated," says Brian Levine, MD, the founding partner and practice director of the fertility clinic CCRM New York, who is board-certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility as well as obstetrics and gynecology. But as the epidemic continues to grip the U.S. and most of the world, fertility patients will have no choice but to put their plans on hold indefinitely.
The complications of family planning during an uncertain time
The pandemic is also causing many people who are not experiencing fertility issues to put their pregnancy plans on ice, so to speak. A survey of nearly 2,000 women released by Modern Fertility and financial startup SoFi found 31 percent of respondents were changing their fertility or family planning decisions due to COVID-19. One reason? It's unclear what effects a COVID-19 infection could have on a mom or developing baby.
Thankfully, the World Health Organization says that pregnant people don't appear to be at higher risk of contracting a severe case of the disease, a conclusion echoed by another small new study and statements by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. But for those who do contract the illness, fever (which is a symptom of COVID-19) in the first trimester of pregnancy may cause birth defects and miscarriage. These groups also add that pregnant people may be more likely to have potentially life-threatening complications from respiratory infections like the flu or COVID-19. Dr. Levine points to two New York women who had asymptomatic COVID-19 infections and didn't know they had the virus; they were admitted to the emergency room soon after delivery because they got very sick very quickly.
Amy*, mother of a 3-year-old and founder of the blog The Postpartum Party, says she and her husband had been trying to conceive but may put their plans on hold for other reasons related to the pandemic and lockdown. "Being stuck at home all day with a toddler has definitely made us question if we want to keep trying for number two," she says. "I'm also worried about getting pregnant and having to go out more for care and doctor appointments." Similarly, 46 percent of the Modern Fertility-SoFi survey respondents say that they're worried about access to prenatal care during COVID-19. (For the record, care is still available for pregnant women; the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that OB/GYNs providing care to expectant mothers should take appropriate precautions to limit unnecessary contact, including transitioning some appointments over to telemedicine and staggering the amount of patients in the office.)
Aviva Romm, MD, a midwife, herbalist, and internal and family physician, says stress and uncertainty are taking their toll on many people who are planning their families. "Most of my patients and quite a few friends have decided to wait a few months and let 'the dust settle' a bit before [trying to conceive]," she says.
"Even though I'm just 30 years old, my reproductive system is saying otherwise. Time is of the essence." —Alyssa*, infertility patient
However, for fertility patients, delaying a pregnancy indefinitely is a bitter pill to swallow, especially since these treatments are a huge investment of time and money (to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars). Mary Sawdon, ND, says that planning for a frozen embryo transfer IVF cycle in March got her through her darkest days after her miscarriage in December. However, her fertility clinic has closed indefinitely to ride out COVID-19—a conundrum that 18 percent of the Modern Fertility-SoFi survey respondents are facing, too.
"I know in my rational brain that cancelling all new cycles in light of the pandemic is a necessity for public health and safety, but it still doesn't make it any easier for my emotional heart to grapple with," Sawdon says. "I feel like I'm in limbo. There are a lot of things out of my control."
Many patients also feel like they can't afford to just "wait." Alyssa is deeply concerned that the longer her embryo transfer is delayed, the less likely it will lead to a healthy, successful pregnancy. "Even though I'm just 30 years old, my reproductive system is saying, 'Time is of the essence. I can't really wait much longer.' This is my life, and I'm ready to start a family."
"I do think we will need to re-address [the guidelines] if [the pandemic] goes on a long time," says Molly Quinn, MD, an OB/GYN specialized in endocrinology and infertility at the UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica, California.. "There's no data that a month or two of delay will impact success [of fertility treatments]. But six months will have an impact."
Getting through the COVID-19 pandemic when conception plans are delayed
Despite the necessary limitations to fertility treatments right now, many health-care providers have shifted their practices to serve their patients remotely as best they can. Both Dr. Quinn and Dr. Levine have moved their consultations to telehealth for all fertility prep work, including initial consultations, lifestyle optimizations for diet and exercise, treatment plans, and orders for future diagnostic tests.
Dr. Levine says working almost exclusively online actually allows him to consult with more patients in a day. "As frustrating and sad as this is on a daily basis, we have an even greater reach and can go deeper into the patient population that we wouldn't have had access to before," he says.
People who want to pursue pregnancy are finding other ways to manage their time and handle disappointment with delays. Fertility patient Cassie Lando says her clinic recently allowed her to start a timed intercourse cycle with medication that stimulates ovulation since her IVF treatment was delayed. She's now giving it her all from home, monitoring for ovulation with LH test strips, basal body temperature charts, and the at-home progesterone test kit Proov. "It's giving me great peace of mind," she says, to feel that she's making some kind of progress on her fertility journey right now.
Otherwise, patients are being told to focus on what they can do to hit the ground running when treatments can resume: eating a healthy diet, exercising, and reducing as much stress as possible. In addition to telehealth consultations, people who are struggling to conceive can try the app Fruitful Fertility, which pairs them with mentors who've already been through fertility treatments, or other online infertility groups for comfort and support. RESOLVE, an infertility advocacy organization, also offers information and resources. The ASRM will also revisit its guidelines every two weeks as the pandemic continues, with the stated goal of "resuming usual patient care as soon and as safely as possible."
It might feel like little comfort to people who have tried for so long to conceive, but doctors want their patients to know that they're doing everything possible to support them during this extremely difficult time. "Patients are not being left alone. Providers are doing whatever we can to bridge the gap so patients know they're being supported and set up for success to hit it out of the park once we get that green light," Dr. Levine says. Hopefully that comes sooner rather than later, for everyone's sake.
*Name has been changed for privacy reasons.
Tags: Healthy Body, Healthy Pregnancy


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Newcastle United fans are big supporters of Rafa Benitez - and Crystal Palace boss can understand why
Crystal Palace boss full of praise for his opposite number ahead of Newcastle test
Robert Warlow
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has been full of praise for his opposite number Rafa Benitez ahead of the Eagles' clash with Newcastle United tomorrow (Sunday).
The Eagles welcome the Magpies to Selhurst Park, with the two sides separated by just two points in the congested bottom half of the Premier League table.
And ahead of the game, the Palace boss has spoken of his respect for the Magpies' boss, who guided the club back into the Premier League last season as the Toon Army bounced straight back from relegation the previous campaign.
"I don't think what his motivation was but it was very fortunate for the club that they persuaded him to stay because when they got relegated, and he came in too late to prevent that, there is no doubt that most of us would have seen him as the ideal man to get them back up again," he said.
Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez. Photo: John Walton/PA Wire.
"But it was not easy for the club because I would have thought he would have had other offers that would not have needed to stay and do that."
"I think for Newcastle it has been very much appreciated because the fans of the club are big supporters of his and when the club went down, he said I will try and help you get back out of it."
'Leicester City have given us all hope, but Manchester City, United, Liverpool and Arsenal do have enormous spending power'
And Hodgson says he can see similarities between himself and the former Liverpool, Chelsea and Real Madrid manager.
"Yes, we are experienced managers but we are also coaches as well," he said.
"Newcastle's success and the way he managed to turn the club around is not just down to his managerial skills or his recruitment skills alone.
"I am sure it was also due to the fact he worked hard with the players in training and tried to get them to understand his ideas on team play in the same way we have done here.
Crystal Palace are aiming for 40 points and will take heart from Swansea wins over Liverpool and Arsenal
"Experience can be an added bonus but it is not purely down to experience that they have done well.
"It is also down to the fact they have a manager who works with the team and encourages them to play organised football both when they have the ball and when they don't have it."
Meanwhile, Hodgson says he has used his experience at times this season to help turn things around at Palace, and none more so than soon after he came in.
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson. (Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images)
With the Eagles bottom of the league with no points and no goals after seven games, it has been quite the turnaround for Palace in recent months.
And Hodgson pointed to the previous fixture against Newcastle as an example of when he has used his experience of more than 40 years in management.
"That's where experience can be a help in the fact it can often mean that you maintain humility or don't get carried away or too despondent if a result doesn't go your way and you can hopefully see a bigger picture ahead and put performances and results in the right perspective, because it is possible to win games even when the team is not doing very well or playing very well or you are getting a lot of luck on your side," he said.
Success or failure? The verdict on Crystal Palace's January transfer window business
"It is also possible to act conversely where you lose a couple of games when you have not played that badly.
"The Tottenham and Newcastle games were early examples of that, we lost 1-0 but our performances were far better than could be expected of a bottom of the table team and I was able to capitalise on that, whereas when you are younger, the result can affect you and you can fail to see the positives."
Selhurst Park
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Crystal Palace FCCrystal Palace open new club shop in Croydon's Centrale Shopping CentreYou can get Zaha or Wan-Bissaka printed on the back of your shirt in the new club shop
Crystal Palace FCThe 43-year-old from France who has been signed by Crystal PalaceJulien Maisonneuve has worked at a two Michelin star restaurant, but is now in charge of overseeing every burger and portion of chips at Selhurst Park
Crystal Palace FCCrystal Palace fanzine claims Sussex Police 'tarred' fans reputation over false weapon claims at Brighton derbyThe police force breached the Freedom of Information Act after refusing to answer questions over arrests made and weapons recovered at the Brighton clash
Crystal Palace FC21 signs you are struggling to cope without a Crystal Palace game every weekendIt's been nearly three weeks since Palace last played a game - are you missing your football fix?


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Biografia

L'infanzia
Ettore Asticelli nasce a Lodi l'8 luglio 1942 da genitori appartenenti alla classe operaia originari delle Marche. Il padre, Filippo, discende da una modesta famiglia di contadini di Montecassiano, vicino a Macerata; mentre Anita Tesovo, la madre, proviene da Ancona, figlia di sarti. Costretti dalla povertà e dalla disoccupazione, migrano nel Lodigiano pochi mesi dopo il matrimonio.
È il quarto di cinque fratelli maschi, nati tutti tra il 1936 e il 1944. Per via di una gracile costituzione fisica, infatti, il padre verrà esonerato dalla leva in entrambe le guerre, e la giovane famiglia vivrà inizialmente (e paradossalmente) un periodo di relativo benessere. Durante la seconda guerra mondiale, infatti, la scarsità di uomini, e, quindi, di lavoratori, consentirà al genitore di svolgere svariate mansioni, dal panettiere all'arrotino, garantendo alla moglie e ai bambini cibo e un tetto sotto cui alloggiare. Si deve quindi aprire qui un contenzioso riguardo al rapporto con il movimento partigiano: Ettore, in un'intervista, dirà:

Tuttavia, questo racconto appare poco realistico; inoltre si devono al fratello Adriano alcune note di polemica, pubblicate in un articolo sul quotidiano locale pochi giorni dopo la pubblicazione dell'intervista sopraccitata: "[...] mio padre non lasciava una briciola di pane nemmeno ai cani bastardi che scorrazzavano nel vialetto: ma se anche così non fosse stato, difficilmente ho ricordo di qualcuno che prendesse a peggiori parole i partigiani e il loro operato [...]". Ora; nonostante sembra che in quel periodo (primi anni ottanta) non corresse buon sangue tra i fratelli (né più ne corse fino alla morte del fratello maggiore nel 1987), questa versione dei fatti sembra più credibile, considerando anche la maggiore età del fratello (nato nel 1936). Questa vicenda però riflette molto bene il disagio che caratterizzò i primi anni di vita del poeta, che, anche in seguito, risulta evidente nella vergogna che Asticelli prova nel parlare della sua famiglia, diventando ancora più schivo e vago del solito, e nel tentativo di nobilitare i parenti inventando questo tipo di storielle.

La competizione con i fratelli maggiori, il rigetto dei valori fascisti (probabilmente ancora molto ancorati nel piccolo nucleo famigliare)- tutti aspetti che concorrono a sviluppare nell'animo sensibile e riservato del giovane i primordi di quella desolazione e di quel laconico, inappagabile desiderio di rivalsa che ne domineranno il percorso poetico.

Adolescenza e prima giovinezza
Con l'avvento degli anni cinquanta la famiglia Asticelli conosce un periodo di nuova povertà, è il padre si trova spesso disoccupato, anche per lunghi periodi. Il giovane Ettore riesce comunque a proseguire gli studi, poiché si era dimostrato molto dotato, e, "su incentivo della maestra" e la garanzia di alcuni sussidi pubblici, accede al ginnasio, complice anche il nuovo impiego stabile del padre come meccanico. Frequenterà a Milano il ginnasio e il liceo classico Cesare Beccaria, facendo il pendolare. Questo è forse il periodo più felice della sua vita:  Finalmente "lontano dall'immobile ed opprimente clima famigliare", "rinasce a nuova vita". La sua esistenza si costella di nuove e appassionanti conoscenze, rimanendo inebriata da questo nuovo mondo così intellettualmente stimolante. Probabilmente qui vivrà le prime, sofferte, avventure amorose. Asticelli torna spesso a questo periodo nelle sue composizioni, e fu proprio allora che cominciò a scrivere e divenire conscio delle proprie potenzialità. Si distinse e si fece notare per le sue capacità poetiche già nel 1959, anno in cui vinse il tradizionale agone poetico tra i licei milanesi. Fu probabilmente in questo periodo che si invaghì (mai corrisposto) di Francesca, sua compaesana, anch'essa pendolare; in Ruppe il mio sguardo (Tabulati), definirà l'amore per essa come "l'unico cane da cui mi sarei lasciato sbranare".

Dopo il fecondo e felice periodo liceale, Asticelli si iscrive al corso di laurea in lettere presso l'Università degli studi di Padova, complice una borsa di studio presso un convitto religioso a cui riesce ad accedere grazie ad alcune conoscenze milanesi guadagnate negli anni di liceo. Non molto si sa, né vale la pena dire, sul periodo universitario fuori sede. Si laureò con il massimo di voti nel 1965.
Sono una quindicina le poesie conosciute composte in questi anni, ma come poetica si rifanno fondamentalmente ai temi già abbozzati negli anni liceali (l'amore, la noia, lo scorrere del tempo).

Periodo maturo
Finita l'università, Asticelli scrive oramai con fluidità e cognizione. Torna a Lodi, dove si stabilisce definitivamente, e in poco tempo (nel 1969) diventa professore di lettere presso il liceo scientifico Giovanni Gandini.

Condurrà d'ora in avanti una vita ordinaria. Fuma molto, viaggia poco. Frequenta alcune donne con altalenanza e cinismo (raramente andrà oltre alle brevi avventure, e mai si sposerà), sebbene il tema della sofferenza per amore sia ricorrente nei suoi scritti. Questo, essenzialmente, sarà l'andamento del resto della sua vita, costellata da ben pochi altri eventi, quali la morte del padre nel 1978, alcuni importanti riconoscimenti poetici in seguito alle pubblicazioni dei due libri, qualche rara intervista o incontro con altri poeti (nel 1984 conosce Alda Merini). Ed è proprio da questa routine di abitudini (in parte subita e in parte ricercata per carattere), dalla noia e dalla depressione nascente, che scaturisce la poetica del suo periodo maturo, più fecondo, più profondo e di respiro.

In questo periodo ha inizio la psicosi che lo seguì fino alla morte, facendo credere al poeta che non fosse altro che un "personaggio fittizio" inventato da qualche entità "aldilà" per prendersi gioco della non-esistenza del creato.

Declino e morte
Ben presto (primi anni settanta) si manifestano in Asticelli i segni della depressione patologica, aggravati nel tempo da uno stile di vita solitario e alienante. Le terapie (durante le quali verrà anche sottoposto ad elettroshock) non hanno esiti positivi, e le numerose proposte di aiuto da parte di amici e ammiratori verranno sempre rifiutate. Già agli inizi degli anni ottanta la produzione poetica va via via scemando, per scomparire del tutto prima degli anni novanta.

Muore solo, di cancro ai polmoni (da grande fumatore qual era), dopo tre anni di malattia, nel 2001.

La poetica di Ettore Asticelli
La sua poetica evolve nel corso degli anni settanta, avvicinandosi agli stili disillusi delle avanguardie poetiche di quel periodo, come Alda Merini e Giorgio Manganelli, accostandosi come stile ai poeti cannibali. Pubblica due raccolte di poesie, una nel 1979, Ali di ferro, antologia di un'espiazione e una nel 1986, Tabulati, pubblicate in tirature modestissime dalla piccola casa editrice Gisismondi, fallita nel 1994.

Nuovi studi e riletture, effettuati da un gruppo di ricerca dell'Università di Padova, stanno riscoprendo la poetica di Asticelli, distaccata e lucida, le cui opere dovrebbero venire riunite in un'unica edizione critica pubblicata dalla stessa università verso il 2013.

Pubblicazioni
Ali di ferro, antologia di un'espiazione, (1979), casa editrice Gisismondi
Tabulati, (1986), casa editrice Gisismondi

Note

Bibliografia
Asticelli: lo scorrere fangoso della vita edito dal Comune di Lodi (2007)
Tesi di laurea di Armando Sognadio Il diamante mai scoperto, Università degli studi di Padova

Altri progetti


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