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Antarctic Science (2)
Advances in X-ray Analysis (1)
Effect of Powder Sample Granularity on Fluorescent Intensity and on Thermal Parameters in X-Ray Diffraction Rietveld Analysis
C. J. Sparks, R. Kumar, E. D. Specht, P. Zschack, G. E. Ice, T. Shiraishi, K. Hisatsune
Journal: Advances in X-ray Analysis / Volume 35 / Issue A / 1991
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 March 2019, pp. 57-62
The effect of sample granularity on diffracted x-ray intensity was evaluated by measuring the 2θ dependence of x-ray fluorescence from various samples. Measurements were made in the symmetric geometry on samples ranging from single crystals to highly absorbing coarse powders. A characteristic shape for the absorption correction was observed. A demonstration of the sensitivity of Rietveld refined site occupation parameters is made on CuAu and Cu50Au44Ni6 alloys refined with and without granularity corrections. These alloys provide a good example of the effect of granularity due to their large linear x-ray absorption coefficients. Sample granularity and refined thermal parameters obtained from the Rietveld analysis were found to be correlated. Without a granularity correction, the refined thermal parameters are too low and can actually become negative in an attempt to compensate for granularity, A general shape for granularity correction can be included in refinement procedures. If no granularity correction is included, data should be restricted to above 30° 2θ, and thermal parameters should be ignored unless extreme precautions are taken to produce <5 (μm particles and high packing densities.
Delivering 21st century Antarctic and Southern Ocean science
M.C. Kennicutt, Y.D. Kim, M. Rogan-Finnemore, S. Anandakrishnan, S.L. Chown, S. Colwell, D. Cowan, C. Escutia, Y. Frenot, J. Hall, D. Liggett, A.J. Mcdonald, U. Nixdorf, M.J. Siegert, J. Storey, A. Wåhlin, A. Weatherwax, G.S. Wilson, T. Wilson, R. Wooding, S. Ackley, N. Biebow, D. Blankenship, S. Bo, J. Baeseman, C.A. Cárdenas, J. Cassano, C. Danhong, J. Dañobeitia, J. Francis, J. Guldahl, G. Hashida, L. Jiménez Corbalán, A. Klepikov, J. Lee, M. Leppe, F. Lijun, J. López-Martinez, M. Memolli, Y. Motoyoshi, R. Mousalle Bueno, J. Negrete, M.A. Ojeda Cárdenes, M. Proaño Silva, S. Ramos-Garcia, H. Sala, H. Shin, X. Shijie, K. Shiraishi, T. Stockings, S. Trotter, D.G. Vaughan, J. Viera Da Unha De Menezes, V. Vlasich, Q. Weijia, J.-G. Winther, H. Miller, S. Rintoul, H. Yang
Journal: Antarctic Science / Volume 28 / Issue 6 / December 2016
The Antarctic Roadmap Challenges (ARC) project identified critical requirements to deliver high priority Antarctic research in the 21st century. The ARC project addressed the challenges of enabling technologies, facilitating access, providing logistics and infrastructure, and capitalizing on international co-operation. Technological requirements include: i) innovative automated in situ observing systems, sensors and interoperable platforms (including power demands), ii) realistic and holistic numerical models, iii) enhanced remote sensing and sensors, iv) expanded sample collection and retrieval technologies, and v) greater cyber-infrastructure to process 'big data' collection, transmission and analyses while promoting data accessibility. These technologies must be widely available, performance and reliability must be improved and technologies used elsewhere must be applied to the Antarctic. Considerable Antarctic research is field-based, making access to vital geographical targets essential. Future research will require continent- and ocean-wide environmentally responsible access to coastal and interior Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. Year-round access is indispensable. The cost of future Antarctic science is great but there are opportunities for all to participate commensurate with national resources, expertise and interests. The scope of future Antarctic research will necessitate enhanced and inventive interdisciplinary and international collaborations. The full promise of Antarctic science will only be realized if nations act together.
XRD analysis of TRAM composed from [Sb2Te3/GeTe] superlattice film and its switching characteristics
T. Ohyanagi, M. Kitamura, S. Kato, M. Araidai, N. Takaura, K. Shiraishi
We studied GeTe structures in topological switching random access memories (TRAMs) with a [GeTe/Sb2Te3] superlattice by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. We examined the electrical characteristics of the TRAMs deposited at different temperatures. We found that XRD spectra differed between the films deposited at 200 and 240°C and that the differences corresponded to the differences in the GeTe sequences in the films.
A roadmap for Antarctic and Southern Ocean science for the next two decades and beyond
M.C. Kennicutt, S.L. Chown, J.J. Cassano, D. Liggett, L.S. Peck, R. Massom, S.R. Rintoul, J. Storey, D.G. Vaughan, T.J. Wilson, I. Allison, J. Ayton, R. Badhe, J. Baeseman, P.J. Barrett, R.E. Bell, N. Bertler, S. Bo, A. Brandt, D. Bromwich, S.C. Cary, M.S. Clark, P. Convey, E.S. Costa, D. Cowan, R. Deconto, R. Dunbar, C. Elfring, C. Escutia, J. Francis, H.A. Fricker, M. Fukuchi, N. Gilbert, J. Gutt, C. Havermans, D. Hik, G. Hosie, C. Jones, Y.D. Kim, Y. Le Maho, S.H. Lee, M. Leppe, G. Leitchenkov, X. Li, V. Lipenkov, K. Lochte, J. López-Martínez, C. Lüdecke, W. Lyons, S. Marenssi, H. Miller, P. Morozova, T. Naish, S. Nayak, R. Ravindra, J. Retamales, C.A. Ricci, M. Rogan-Finnemore, Y. Ropert-Coudert, A.A. Samah, L. Sanson, T. Scambos, I.R. Schloss, K. Shiraishi, M.J. Siegert, J.C. Simões, B. Storey, M.D. Sparrow, D.H. Wall, J.C. Walsh, G. Wilson, J.G. Winther, J.C. Xavier, H. Yang, W.J. Sutherland
Journal: Antarctic Science / Volume 27 / Issue 1 / February 2015
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 September 2014, pp. 3-18
Antarctic and Southern Ocean science is vital to understanding natural variability, the processes that govern global change and the role of humans in the Earth and climate system. The potential for new knowledge to be gained from future Antarctic science is substantial. Therefore, the international Antarctic community came together to 'scan the horizon' to identify the highest priority scientific questions that researchers should aspire to answer in the next two decades and beyond. Wide consultation was a fundamental principle for the development of a collective, international view of the most important future directions in Antarctic science. From the many possibilities, the horizon scan identified 80 key scientific questions through structured debate, discussion, revision and voting. Questions were clustered into seven topics: i) Antarctic atmosphere and global connections, ii) Southern Ocean and sea ice in a warming world, iii) ice sheet and sea level, iv) the dynamic Earth, v) life on the precipice, vi) near-Earth space and beyond, and vii) human presence in Antarctica. Answering the questions identified by the horizon scan will require innovative experimental designs, novel applications of technology, invention of next-generation field and laboratory approaches, and expanded observing systems and networks. Unbiased, non-contaminating procedures will be required to retrieve the requisite air, biota, sediment, rock, ice and water samples. Sustained year-round access to Antarctica and the Southern Ocean will be essential to increase winter-time measurements. Improved models are needed that represent Antarctica and the Southern Ocean in the Earth System, and provide predictions at spatial and temporal resolutions useful for decision making. A co-ordinated portfolio of cross-disciplinary science, based on new models of international collaboration, will be essential as no scientist, programme or nation can realize these aspirations alone.
Electro-Polishing Foil Samples for TEM with an Extremely Small Amount of Electrolyte
H. Saka, M. Yamamoto, Y. Shiraishi, M. Amano, T. Goto, T. Suzuki, S. Arai, K. Sasaki
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 October 2013, pp. 1788-1789
Investigation of biocompatibility on nitrogen-doped a-C:H film coating scaffold surface in in-vivo and in-vitro tests
Yasuharu Ohgoe, Tomoaki Wada, Yasuyuki Shiraishi, Hidekazu Miura, Kenji K. Hirakuri, Akio Funakubo, Tomoyuki Yambe, Yasuhiro Fukui
In this study, in order to investigate biocompatibility of nitrogen-doped hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H:N) film coating segmented polyurethane (SPU) scaffold fiber sheet (a-C:H:N-Scaffold) in in-vitro test, mouse fibroblasts (NIH 3T3) cells were grown on the a-C:H:N-Scaffold. The cell behavior was monitored by time-lapse imaging system. Additionally, the a-C:H:N-Scaffold was implanted at partial aorta descendens of a goat for 35 days. The surface morphology, composition, and wettability of the a-C:H:N-scaffold was estimated by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS), and contact angle measurement. In in-vitro test, it was observed that a-C:H:N film coating had a facilitatory effect on cell motility and cell growth. In in-vivo test, it was observed that the a-C:H:N-Scaffold surface was uniformly covered by neointima. The a-C:H:N-Scaffold surface had no thrombus formation as an inflammatory reaction and it was shown that the a-C:H:N film coating had a good blood compatibility. These results suggest that a-C:H:N film coating has good cytocompatibility and blood compatibility and it is a promising approach for improvement of biocompatibility of biomaterial surfaces.
Theoretical Investigation of Effective Quantum Dots Induced by Strain in Semiconductor Wires
Kenji Shiraishi, Masao Nagase, Seiji Horiguchi, Hiroyuki Kageshima
A new fabrication technique for quantum dots is proposed on the basis of theoretical studies. It is known that the self-limiting phenomena of silicon oxidation are governed by the large stress induced by the volume expansion. We estimated the change in the band parameter of the silicon under the stress induced by the oxidation. The results show that the band-gap of the silicon considerably decreases under two-dimensional compressive strain. Accordingly, introducing strain to a small part of a Si wire results in the formation of a "strain-induced effective quantum dot". Moreover, we also propose theoretically a new procedure for fabricating a silicon single electron transistor by the combination of silicon oxidation and nitridation techniques.
TEM Analysis of Long-Period Superstructures in TiAl Single Crystal with Composition Gradient
S. Hata, K. Shiraishi, N. Kuwano, M. Itakura, Y. Tomokiyo, T. Nakano, Y. Umakoshi
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 February 2011, S7.5
The ordering mechanism of long-period superstructures (LPSs) in Al-rich Ti-Al alloys was studied using a TiAl single crystal with a composition gradient. A TiAl single crystal with gradient compositions from 55 to 75 at.% Al was prepared by annealing in a molten Al at 1234°C. The single crystal exhibits long-period ordering into different LPSs depending on the Al concentration as follows: an Al5Ti3 type short-range order, h-Al2Ti and one-dimensional antiphase domain structures. These LPSs show an orientation relationship in which Al (002) layers of the LPSs are parallel to those of the TiAl matrix. The atomic arrangements of the LPSs are characterized in common as the alternate stacking of the Al (002) layers and Ti-Al (002) layers. It is thus concluded that the ordering of this type of LPSs and the phase transition between these LPSs are explained as structural changes in Ti-Al (002) layers of the Al-rich L10-TiAl crystal.
X-Ray Determination of Site Occupation Parameters in Ordered Ternaries Cu(Aux.M1x.)M = Ni,Pd
R. Kumar, C. J. Sparks, T. Shiraishi, E.D. Specht, P. Zschack, G. E. Ice, K. Hisatsune
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 February 2011, 369
X-ray scattering data obtained for multiple wavelengths with synchrotron radiation were analyzed by the Rietveld method to determine Ni and Pd distributions on the Cu(000) and Au(½½½) sites in the CuAuI tetragonal P4/mmm structure. Alloys of CuAuxM1-x containing 6 at. % Ni or 10 and 25 at. % Pd were processed to obtain maximum ordering. Nickel is predominantly found on the Cu site and most all the Pd is found on the Au site. The uncertainty in site occupation parameters is discussed for various contributions which affect powder intensity measurements. For highly absorbing materials, an observed powder roughness effect decreases the low angle (2θ) intensities relative to the high 2θ intensities. This effect reduces the reliability of the thermal parameters and obscures a proper description of the thermal motion of the two sublattices. Corrections to the X-ray intensity data for surface roughness/porosity effects reduce uncertainties to about ±1 at. % on the refined value of the site occupations. This use of variable wavelength X-rays with simultaneous refinement of the corresponding data is capable of distinguishing site occupations even between two elements of almost equal scattering factor as, for example, Cu and Ni atoms in this investigation. Chemical phase stability is related to the site occupation parameters.
XPS Analysis of Lithium Surface and Modification of Surface State for Uniform Deposition of Lithium
K. Kanamura, S. Shiraishi, Z. Takehara
The surface modification of lithium deposited at various current densities in propylene carbonate containing 1.0 ml dm−3 LiCIO4 was performed by addition of various amount of HF into the electrolyte, in order to investigate the effect of the HF addition on the surface reaction of lithium. XPS and SEM analyses showed that the surface state of lithium was influenced by the concentration of HF and the electrodeposition current. These two parameters are related to the chemical reaction rate of the lithium surface with HF and the electrodeposition rate of lithium, respectively. The surface modification was highly effective in suppressing lithium dendrite formation when the chemical reaction rate with HF was greater than the electrochemical deposition rate of lithium.
Effects of Antiphase Domain Size and Twin Platelet Width on the Hardness of an Ordered CuAu Alloy
Takanobu Shiraishi, Michio Ohta, Masaharu Nakagawa
Effects of antiphase domain (APD) size and inter-twin spacing on the hardness of CuAu I-phase in the overaging stage were investigated by hardness testing, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray powder diffraction. Overaging in CuAu I-phase upon progressive ordering at 300°C was found to proceed through three stages: stages I through III. In the stage I, twinning actively occurred, and most of the coherency strains were removed. Average inter-twin spacing slightly increased. These microstructural evolutions slightly decreased the hardness of the alloy. In the stage II, both APD size and average inter-twin spacing grew larger with time, leading to a continuous decrease in hardness. In the stage III, the APD size markedly grew larger, while the growth rate of average inter-twin spacing markedly slowed down. The continuous growth of APD size apparently contributed to the further decrease in hardness. Although the crystal structure changes during the CuAu I ordering, a perfectly ordered alloy with no planar defects was suggested to be not so strong as the corresponding disordered alloy.
Evaluation of Inaccessible Pore Structures in Random Porous Solids
N. Yoshizawa, Y. Yamada, M. Shiraishi, K. Kaneko, N. Setoyama
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 February 2011, 51
A fine pore characterization method is investigated for a disordered solid including inaccessible pores. Here inaccessible pores denote ones into which N2 molecule cannot access at 77 K. Activated carbons prepared differently are examined. The basic idea of the method is as follows: (1) Pores are classified into effective micropores (further devided into smaller and larger micropores distinguished from DR (Dubinin-Radushkevich) analysis and inaccessible pores. (2) Volume fraction is determined for each type of pore considering densities. (3) Debye-Bueche plot derived from SAXS analysis is used to estimate the average transversal length of solid part and pore, respectively, convinedwith their volume fractions obtained from (1) and (2). (4) In case of a porous systemwith a symmetrical shape of pores, relative number and size of inaccessible pore to effective micropore are calculated.
First-Principles Study of Interfacial Reaction Atomic Process at Silicon Oxidation
H. Kageshima, K. Shiraishi
A theoretical atomic process model of the interfacial oxidation reaction on a silicon substrate is proposed based on first-principles calculation. In the calculation, H-terminated Si(100) surfaces are used for the first approximation of the silicon-oxide/silicon interfaces. The proposed atomic process model is based on the plausible assumption that the remaining stress in the oxidized region is kept at a minimum and does not break the grown Si-O-Si network when the oxidation proceeds. As a natural consequence, Si atoms are emitted from the interface as the oxidation proceeds to release the stress due to substitution of Si-Si bonds by Si-O-Si bonds. This emission is consistent with well-known experiments of oxidation-induced stacking faults and oxidation-enhanced diffusion. Our model presents a microscopic approach for understanding the silicon oxidation process, whereas the widely accepted Deal-Grove model presents a macroscopic one.
First-Principles Study Of Photoluminescence From Silicon/Silicon-Oxide Interfaces
Experimentally reported interfacial luminescence from silicon nano structures are studied by using a first-principles calculation of a Si(100) quantum slab covered with silicon oxide. When Si-OH bonds were introduced at the silicon/silicon-oxide interface, wave functions at the valence band top and near conduction band bottom localized vertically and laterally near the Si-OH bonds. Such strong localization is the result of the cooperation of the coupling of non-bonding 2p lone pair orbitals on interfacial 0 atoms and the strong dipole of OH. Furthermore, the localization is significant only in silicon nano structures. This localization of the wave functions can be the source for creating localized excitons, which can dramatically enhance the intensity of photoluminescence. Therefore, interfacial Si-OH bonds are a theoretically convincing possible source of reported interfacial luminescence.
Optical Properties of Oriented Crystalline Oligothiophene Thin Films
K. Suzuki, N. Shimizu, Y. Shiraishi, M. Kuroda, Y. Kanemitsu
We have studied optical properties of oriented crystalline oligothiophene (T4-T6) thin films to analyze the correlation between optical properties and microstructures in organic films. By using conventional vacuum deposition and organic molecular beam deposition techniques, we fabricated oriented crystalline oligothiophene thin films on fused silica glasses. Luminescence spectrum and dynamic. depend on the thickness of the crystalline films. X-ray and scanning electron microscope analyses show that with an increase of film thickness, the average size of microcrystals increases and then saturates to a constant (∼300 nm). The anisotropy of absorption and luminescence spectra show the orientation of molecules in thick films.
Three-dimensional Observation of Cell-Cell and Cell-Matrix Interactions during Myofibrillogenesis of Embryonic Heart Tube
I Shiraishi, T Takamatsu, T K Borg, K Hamaoka
Journal: Microscopy and Microanalysis / Volume 11 / Issue S02 / August 2005
Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2005 in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, July 31--August 4, 2005


To book a mobile treatment (within a 10 minute radius of Auchenflower), please contact me directly as times are flexible.
For mothers nearing the end of their pregnancy (>37 weeks).
For mothers of newborns up to 3 months old, to support the post-natal recovery process.
1 hour massage (Pregnancy, Post-Natal or Restorative) plus 25mL bottle of natural aromatherapy body oil of your choice, blended here in the studio.
1 hour specialised massage - safe for all three trimesters of pregnancy, including the first 12 weeks and beyond 40 weeks.
1 hour specialised massage for mothers of newborns up to 3 months old, to support the post-natal recovery process. A partner or another helper is welcome to come along to cuddle baby while you have your massage.
To encourage labour to start spontaneously and to prepare the pelvic and hip muscles to open for a better birth.
Includes 20-25 minutes of Side Lying Release, Forward Leaning Inversion and Rebozo Sifting, followed by a Pregnancy Massage focusing on specific acupressure & reflexology points, and hip and sacral release.
90 minute massage (Pregnancy, Post-Natal or Restorative) plus 25mL bottle of natural aromatherapy body oil of your choice, blended here in the studio.
90 minute specialised massage - safe for all three trimesters of pregnancy, including the first 12 weeks and beyond 40 weeks.
90 minute specialised massage for mothers of newborns up to 3 months old, to support the post-natal recovery process. A partner or another helper is welcome to come along to cuddle baby while you have your massage.
90 minute restorative massage for women.
Prepare your body for childbirth. Create balance and space within the muscles of the pelvis to allow baby to find their ideal position for birth. Release tension to allow the pelvic muscles to do their job of opening and guiding baby efficiently during labour. This is non-invasive, external bodywork.


Porc senglar, or wild boar in the Serra de Collserola, above Barcelona (1.6 million people), Catalonia, Spain. Feeding the wild pigs - which can be a dangerous activity, is actively discouraged by the authorities, as it leads to population booms, and the boar also get used to human food, meaning they come into suburban areas to feed at night. In September 2016, researchers from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) plan to start vaccinating some of the port senglars with contraceptives, to cut the population growth. Authorities estimate that the sustainable population for the Parc Natural de Collserola is around 300-400 - however, the current population is could have reached 1,500. Authorities have been hunting the pigs with dogs in order to control the population.


and has been hunting The Goat of Good for decades.
On this minefield you are the vallian. Pick mines up, set traps down, and try to kill those Minesweepers!
Written in C# with XNA. Windows only I'm afraid.
Create and program bosses, then fight endless waves of what other people create as the hero.
Aren't bullet hell bosses the coolest thing ever!? Well why can't you ever PLAY ONE!? NOW YOU CAN! OMG!
I've only included windows natives, but its LWJGL and should work with other natives if you want to do some fiddling of your own.
"They All Fall Down" is a puzzle platformer where you have to make the characters fall from the platforms.
You are the villain! You make rules! You have the right to control the planet! You! Prove them Yours higherness over the other mortals!
You are the evil Ninja Spider and you must eat all the pretty fireflies of each levels.
So here is my odd little game.
Tie women to train tracks and laugh your way to the top of the score board!
-Written in C++ using OpenGL, SDL, and a custom engine.
One typical day right from the eyes of the villain: pet your cat, destroy the Earth, and laugh like a true evil genius.
A hero wants to steal your money, destroy your doors, and probably, VANDALIZE EVERYTHING in your brand new dungeon.
SUPER-USEFUL HINT: Move your villain to the phone on the left wall to convert Infamy into money!
i... i think it's away. we have to act fast.
this may be our only chance to lift the curse it's laid on this land.


Before the use of computerized controls, fixing an automobile was straightforward and logical.
Gasoline engines need the proper fuel and air mixture, compression to squeeze the mixture together, and a spark plug to ignite the mixture.
In the old days, if you had fuel, spark and you were somewhere close to correct in your ignition timing, your car's engine would run.
Therefore problems in these purely mechanical systems were relatively easy to diagnose.
Modern computer-controlled vehicles also must have the proper mixture of air and fuel ignited at the proper instant in order to operate.
The difference today is that a variety of engine parameters must be controlled.
Consequently this is to ensure highly efficient combustion for better fuel economy and reduced exhaust emissions.
Hence the reality is that it has become very difficult to diagnose a vehicle problem.
Therefore these all must all be working properly or the engine may run poorly or not at all.
A failure of the crankshaft position sensor, for example, means that the engine, although mechanically sound, has no way of figuring out when the spark plugs should fire, so it won't start.
Similarly, if the temperature sensor should malfunction, the computer might attempt to compensate for what it has sensed as a cold running engine. As a result it might adjust the fuel injection and timing, causing the engine to run poorly.
The missing or stuttering engine would lead an experienced but traditionally trained technician to assume that there is something wrong with the ignition system or the spark plugs. In reality there may be nothing wrong with the engine and it may be operating at its proper temperature, but because the sensor has told the computer that there is a problem, the computer sets out to correct it.
This is all done to get the best performance possible from the engine while keeping emissions low.
The computer can also sense when something has gone wrong and can inform the driver with the "Check Engine" light.
Therefore a mechanic can read a diagnostic code from the computer and fix the problem.
The reality is that it has become very difficult to diagnose a vehicle problem. Due to this you will need sophisticated scanning computers that interface with the vehicle's own onboard diagnostic computer.
Beyond that we have programs called monitors that look at the values from these PIDs to make sure everything is working right.
There is potential for many more automotive sensors depending on engine design. As a result you may have automatic Heat and A/C, or other options in the car.
So most sensors pretty much do the same thing. Pressure sensors, Temperature sensor, and (I will call them) "One way position sensors" like the TPS. They all change electrical resistance that the PCM (powertrain control module) reads as a change in voltage (the pcm sends a constant 5 volts and measures the return).
Rotational sensors (CMP, CKP, and wheel speed) normally use a pulse generating sensor that actually creates an AC voltage signal.
They can also use a Hall-effect sensor that will create a digital DC voltage. Also oxygen sensors are in a class all their own. Because they have a material inside them that creates a voltage (about 450 mV) by having a difference in oxygen content on each side of the sensor. Therefore the greater the difference, the higher the voltage (this pegs out just below 1 volt).
If you have not done your diagnostic homework and are replacing a sensor because you think it might be bad, you may be wasting money.
Replacing a sensor won't solve a drivability or emissions problem if the problem is not the sensor.


text:
The Jewish nonprofit Dayenu encourages Jewish groups to divest $3 billion in non-renewables and invest it in clean energy
Jewish institutions have billions invested in the fossil fuel industry according to a new report. While environmental group Dayenu is urging divestment, some of those involved in these organizations' finances say that may not be the most responsible option. Photo by iStock/Schroptschop
By Adam Kovac December 15, 2022
A new report from a prominent Jewish environmental group urges American Jewish institutions to pull billions of dollars worth of investments out of the fossil fuel industry. The organization Dayenu argues that it's a moral obligation considering the industry's role in climate change, but also that clean energy presents a financially smart alternative.
The report, issued Thursday, analyzed tax filings and financial statements from the top bodies of the four major denominations of Judaism in the U.S. — the Union for Reform Judaism, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, Orthodox Union and Reconstructing Judaism. It also included data from the 20 largest private Jewish foundations and 20 largest Jewish federations, as well as the national federation.
Advising that its calculations were rough, and acknowledging that Jewish institutional investment alone would do little to help the environment, Dayenu estimated these organizations' investments made up one-third of the $100 billion in total U.S. Jewish institutional investment. Based on that, the group estimated total Jewish institutional investment in the fossil fuel industry at $3.3 billion.
When minimal investment information was available for a Jewish institution, Dayenu assumed that fossil fuels make up about 6% of its investments, a proportion comparable to a diversified index and on par for institutional investments across the market.
The report is part of a larger push in recent years from environmental groups, which have called on governments, companies and nonprofits to divest from fossil fuels. Their campaigns have met with some success, particularly with colleges.
Dayenu did not identify the federations and foundations used in its calculations. Washington director Dahlia Rockowitz said the omission was intentional as the goal was not to shame any individual organizations.
"This is not intended to be a calling out moment, but a calling in," she said. "These numbers are to help people sort of metabolize what the impact is of the climate crisis and how their financials are tied up in that and how this represents an opportunity for action."
A powerful gesture
In January, Dayenu called on Jewish institutions to divest from the fossil fuels industry. At the time, chief strategy officer Phil Aroneanu acknowledged that even if all money invested by Jewish institutions were withdrawn from fossil fuels and reinvested in green energy, it would not "make or break" the industry. Between 2016 and 2020, 60 of the world's largest banks invested over $3 trillion into fossil fuel companies.
Still, Aroneanu said, Jewish divestment is a powerful symbolic gesture.
Pulling money out of fossil fuels wouldn't only be a moral act, said Rockowitz on the eve of the report's release, but also a financial opportunity, with green energy presenting a sound long-term investment.
Is pulling money out of fossil fuels risky? Oil and gas companies would like you to think so, Rockowitz said. But "when you actually run the numbers, and looking into the longer term, it's undeniable that the future is renewable."
With climate bill passed, Democrats deliver on top policy concern for American Jews
Their fortunes come from oil. Here's how these Jewish philanthropies deal with climate change.
Israel to add heat waves to 'threat map' as nation faces grim climate projections
A caution
But some financial experts have cast doubt on the efficacy of calls for divestment in fossil fuels.
Jewish communal leader Greg Neichin, who is also managing director of impact investing firm Ceniarth, said divestment campaigns often oversimplify, and are often not the best way to make both a financial and environmental impact.
Neichin, who chairs the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties impact investing task force, used the example of a charity selling their shares of an oil company.
"If somebody sells those shares in Exxon Mobil, those shares are going to be bought on the open market in 30 seconds," he said. In his view, divestment gives foundations a superficial green win.
"They sort of get their gold star for having done something which is really not much and then they feel like they're off the hook in terms of devoting more actual dollars into the problem," he said.
Rather, Neichin said, the smart move would be to focus on where an institution's investment money can have the greatest positive impact, such as energy efficiency projects in low-income communities.
Jewish groups respond
Jewish institutions were not able to review the document before Thursday but when contacted by the Forward, several said the issue is one that they are aware of and are working to address.
Barbara Weinstein, an associate director at the Union for Reform Judaism, said the report's recommendations are in line with the URJ's goals. She noted the organization's pension board already offers a Jewish Values fund, which does not include any holdings in coal companies. A task force is also examining the divestment issue, although there is no timeline for when the findings will be made available.
"What this task force is looking at is how we can use the impact of the funds that we have to make a difference on climate issues that could include divestment, but it is not the ultimate conclusion that we are necessarily driving towards," she said. "This is very much a process of learning, of understanding and seeing how we can best use the leverage that we have as a movement to make a difference on this issue and I think Dayenu's report is a really important part of that whole process."
A spokesperson for Reconstructing Judaism declined to comment. No one from the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism was available to comment before press time, while a spokesperson for the Orthodox Union did not respond to efforts to contact them.
Other organizations were more tentative on the report's findings. In a statement, Eric Fingerhut, president and CEO of Jewish Federations of North America, said the connection between investment and climate is "extraordinarily complex and cannot be captured by rough estimates based on broad assumptions."
"As a founding member of the Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition, we look forward to continuing to work with a wide range of partners to advance this cause," he added.
A spokesperson for the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago said the organization "does not invest in any stock of any company directly," but did not mention funds that could include fossil fuel-based assets.
However, she added the Chicago Federation is "exploring various Jewish-values based investment models that will include environmental aspects among its considerations."
opinionAt every level, Jews must push investors to leave behind fossil fuels
Does getting arrested at a climate protest help reduce emissions? A Jewish expert weighs in.
Lisa Colton has great big bold ideas on Jews and climate change
Adam Kovac is a staff reporter at the Forward, covering breaking news. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter as @AdamJKovac.
Jewish Federations of North America
San Francisco Jewish Federation
URJ
'I plan to be everyone's president': Isaac Herzog, son of Israel's 6th president, elected its 11th
By Allison Kaplan Sommer (Haaretz) 3 min read
The assault on Jenin serves only Israel's far-right government
By Muhammad Shehada 3 min read

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


AFTER my mom died, London was the first place I turned to for solace. I was 27 and newly married. Two months after the memorial service, my husband accompanied me on the trip from Chicago to a quiet and January-cold London.
People say nothing prepares you for death, even when you know it's imminent. Waiting at my mother's bedside through the final days of her living with stage four cancer were the longest hours of my life. I wasn't thinking clearly, if at all, in those last moments with my mom. Though I felt a heavy pressure seeming to crush my chest, I was numb. My senses were dulled by the relentless effects of her illness and although our family wanted a better outcome, we were realists. We knew death would be her final resting place.
London was not an escape from grief. It wasn't a distraction or a refuge. London was an acceptance of life — hers and mine. Having just witnessed a 56-year old beloved woman's final breaths leave her body, I was shaken by the fragility of life. I was spooked but it only fueled my desire to devour the world and take all I could from it while time was on my side.
I felt embraced by London, consoled by its rich culture. Even in my mournful state, London brought out the best in me. I found inspiration in the city to live in the present — with intention. I felt challenged to wake up with purpose and greet each day with opportunity. I felt my senses coming alive, as well as passion for discovery and learning.
I cried upon seeing Canova's Three Graces at the Hayward Gallery. Its precise anatomical beauty overwhelmed me. I couldn't stop looking. I studied Matisse and his influence on Russian art at the Royal Academy, fascinated by his interests in eastern Europe. I attended plays at The Old Vic which had me crying one minute and laughing another. I allowed myself to be swept away by movement and story lines. I tasted the depths and layers of Indian spices that left my eyes watering and tongue panting for more flavors.
Perhaps most important, I visited the house where my mom lived as a teenager and diplomat's daughter in Chester Square and imagined her strolling the neighborhood thinking about all the possibilities that lay ahead.
My mom and I never visited London together but whenever I return I play a running conversation in my head. The sound of her voice and her soft gestures are vivid in my mind.
London appealed to us in different ways. For my mom, it was the traditional and aristocratic London. She grew up with privilege, formalities, and decorum, where manners and appearance were expected and praised. She attended a private all-girls school in the '60s designed to prepare a girl to be a lady of society and find a rich, handsome husband.
I was always drawn to London's modern sensibilities with its punk vibe and rebellious spirit. While my mom preferred high tea at Fortnum & Mason, I was content with samosas on Brick Lane, washed down by a cider at the local pub.
While our memories and desires of London differed, my mother and I possessed a shared passion for its diverse offerings. London was a city large enough to accept our diverse perspectives and cultural identities. In many ways, and in the days to come, London will always be that intersection of past and present between my mom, myself, and my now three-year old-daughter.
On my last visit to London we celebrated my daughter's second birthday. We found ourselves on a spontaneous playdate with Prince George at Diana's Memorial playground in Hyde Park. Nanny, Prince George, and Princess Charlotte were visiting the huge wooden pirate ship. My daughter and young George ran around on the ship and took turns on the slide. My daughter grabbed Prince George's shoulders and directed him to wait while she moved around the quarter deck.
My mom met Princess Di back in the '80s at a diplomatic state dinner. Who knew that their two future grandchildren, whom they would never meet themselves, would somehow come together in a sandbox? That's London. Our London.


Ah, kids. Our little angels. We love them unconditionally, no matter what. But they can certainly be some messy little creatures! This is especially true when it comes to travelling in the car with them! Between snacks, juice, wet diapers, and well, you get the idea, our cars can become a mess after a while! Here are some tips for keeping our vehicles tidy!
It is always a good idea to keep some sort of wet wipe in the car when you have a child riding with you. Baby wipes are a good idea here, and they come in travel sizes, so they are convenient and you can easily store them in your glove-box, so they are there when you need them, to clean up any unexpected messes. They are also good for dusting off the dashboard every now and again!
You never know where you're going to find that rogue Cheerio. Seriously, that thing could pop up anywhere in your car. There could be tons of them. But I digress. By vacuuming out your car at least once a month, you are able to get all those hidden crumbs, cereal, dust, etc.
Do you know those plastic cereal containers that are meant to hold, well, cereal? Do you know what else they are awesome for? Using them as little garbage pails! No, really! They are great for little garbage like those empty snack bags, juice boxes, gum wrappers, and more! All you have to do is put a plastic grocery bag in it, and voila, you have your own trash bin in your car!
Goodness knows that there are toys strewn about your car, just like they are in the house! Keep them organized with a little basket! It will make things so much easier, and the toys won't be rolling around and around in the car while you drive! Plus, if you make a stop, you can get your child a toy out of the basket, should they want one!


Within the Air France-KLM group, Air France submitted collective agreement projects to its three categories of employees. It reached agreement with ground staff and cockpit crews, and the main union, SNPL Air France ALPA, has submitted it to a ballot with a favorable recommendation from its board. The results of this ballot will be known in mid-August. These agreements should enable Air France to reach its target of a 20 percent improvement in economic efficiency in 2014 compared with 2011. Negotiations with Air France subsidiaries are scheduled to begin in September.
Under Transform 2015, operating costs were tightly controlled despite the negative currency effect. They declined by 0.3 percent ex-fuel and rose by 3.2 percent including fuel cost. Unit cost per equivalent available seat kilometer (EASK), rose 3.5 percent, but declined 1.3 percent on a constant currency and fuel price basis for stable production per EASK. The main changes in operating costs related to the fuel bill (+12.8 percent), while distribution and other costs fell sharply (-6 percent and -6.6 percent respectively). The fuel bill increased by 214 million Euros under the combined effects of a 2 percent decline in volume, a negative currency effect of 10 percent and a rise in the price after hedging of 5 percent. Employee costs rose 1.9 percent to 1.97 billion Euros. As in the first quarter, KLM booked an additional pension charge of 22 million Euros due to the changes in actuarial assumptions at Dec. 31, 2011. This favorable trend in operating costs is due to the gradual implementation of Transform 2015.
The operating result amounted to -66 million Euros (-145 million Euros at June 30, 2011). The adjusted operating result was positive, at 15 million Euros. Bookings for the summer season are positively oriented, in line with the recent trend. However the uncertain outlook for the global economic environment together with the volatility of fuel prices and the Euro make forecasts for the latter part of the year difficult.


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In recent years, Luxembourg has made considerable efforts to develop its financial market with a range of legal instruments which seek to respond to the legitimate needs of both private clients and professionals active in the financial sector of asset management.
For this purpose it is proposed to complete the range of existing instruments with a new vehicle to facilitate estate and succession structuring and planning.
The "Luxembourg Private Foundation" is an orphan structure reserved for individuals or wealth structuring entities whose purpose is to administer private wealth. It cannot be used to exercise a commercial, industrial, agricultural or professional activity.


& M University, andhis master's from the California Institute of Technology in 1933.
Suggs worked for the Humble Oil & Refining Co. (now Exxon) from 1936-1940 as a geophysical supervisor in the Far East. During World War II, he served in the Army Air Corps, achieving the rank of colonel. At the time of his discharge, Suggs was assistant chief of staff for the Eastern Air Command. He received the Bronze Star.
In 1946, Suggs, along with Maurice Bayon, founded Offshore Navigation Inc. In 1949, Suggs, Bayon, and Jack Lee formed Petroeum Helicopters, Inc. In the 40 years under Suggs' leadership, PHI has grown from 3 helicopters to more than 300 aircraft, operating worldwide. PHI employs more than 2,300 people, and has logged over 6.5 million flight hours.
Suggs volunteered much time an deffort to assist the growth of his chosen profession. He served as Secretary and a Director of the AHS. He was a past president of the Helicopter Association of America (now Helicopter Association International).
Amont his many honors and awards, Suggs was presented the prestigious Medaille de L'Aeronautic at the 1981 Paris Air Show. He received the AHS William J. Kossler Award in 1957. The HAA gave him its L.D. Bell Memorial Award in 1971.


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Black home decor website 'sued' for copyright infringement
Home decor website "Black Home Decor," a website that sells black and white, white and gray home decor items, has been sued by a woman who claims the items are infringing on copyright, the Associated Press reported Friday.
"We are aware of this lawsuit and will vigorously defend against it," the site's website said.
The woman, who goes by the online name "Miss Black," claims she has an interest in the items because of the color of her skin.
The website's description on its homepage states the items come in different sizes, but none are the same size as the ones advertised on its website.
The description does not indicate if the items would be made in black or white.
The Associated Press reached out to the woman, whose identity was not released, but she did not respond.
The lawsuit was filed in San Diego County Superior Court in August.
The AP reported that the lawsuit names Black Home Decoration LLC as the owner.
The "Black" in Black Home decor refers to a black skin color, which is a popular color for many Americans.
The site's description of the items says, "The color of your skin is the source of your uniqueness, your individuality, and your true sense of self."
The site also states that each item is "made with the finest black and whites, grays, and reds."
The suit states the company was "sued on grounds of copyright infringement."
It also said that Black Home decor did not comply with copyright law by not using trademarked names such as "White House" or "White Owl."
It is unclear what other legal actions are being pursued by the company, according to the AP.
A spokeswoman for the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Q: Switching theme to AppCompat draws actionbar MenuItem icons smaller I've inherited support for an app that is used with a particular manufacturer's Tablet/Device with mdpi screen resolution. The code was written using the Theme.DeviceDefault and the actionbar menu item's icons are stored in a drawable-mdpi folder.
In order to take advantage of the TabLayout api, I switched to Theme.AppCompat. The undesirable side effect of doing so is that now the ActionBar menuItem icons are drawn considerably smaller. I've experimented with re-sizing the icons/drawables without success. What digging I have done suggests that the actionbar menu-items have a fixed padding or blank touch area and the icon embedded in the MenuItem will not fill the menu_item parent button.
Is there anyway of forcing the icon to fill the MenuItem while using the AppCompat theme? Any suggestion as to how to restore the action bar icon size to that previously seen with the DeviceDefault theme would be welcomed.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Ingram Construction
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Mausoleum Portfolio Gallery
Private Mausoleum
Disrepair of Baynard Mausoleum
By communitymaus
A mausoleum is meant to be a structure designed and built to stand the test of time. News out of Hilton Head this week, however, highlights an antebellum monument, built some 165 years ago, that is in a horrible state of disrepair.
The Baynard Mausoleum in the Zion Chapel of Ease cemetery is the oldest known structure on Hilton Head Island. Built for the wealthy southern planter William Eddings Baynard in 1846, the mausoleum is the centerpiece of the 2.8-acre cemetery.
Constructed primarily of limestone and sandstone, the exceedingly weighty slabs that constitute the roof of the structure are in danger of imminent collapse. Speaking with the local newspaper, The Island Packet, Charleston masonry specialist Frank Genello stated, "Whether it would [fall apart] tomorrow or five years from now is anybody's guess." The sandstone walls have been decimated by excess moisture and the tile flooring has almost completely deteriorated.
The Heritage Library Foundation is hoping to raises $175,000 to begin the restoration of the structure by the spring of 2015. If the renovation is successful, Heritage Library Foundation executive director Linda Piekut believes the site will become an "antebellum-era learning center" for visitors to the island to tour and learn of the area's history.
Time-Capsule Art Installation Inspired by Chinese Mausoleum's Warriors
The mausoleum of Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huang is one of the most famous in the world, well known for its impressive eight thousand terra cotta soldiers guarding the tomb's entrance. Now, some 2,000 years later, the mausoleum's warriors have inspired a New York artist to create a politically themed art installation.
Prune Nourry, a Parisian artist based in NYC, has flipped the gender of the original terra cotta warriors and created 116 "Terra Cotta Daughters," according to a report by CNN. The statues, which are on display at the China Institute from September 10 to October 4, were created to raise awareness of gender imbalances in China and the plight of Chinese girls. China currently has a one-child policy and strong preferences are given to boys over girls.
Nourry modeled the first eight Terra Cotta Daughters after girls she met at an orphanage in China, and local Chinese craftsmen created 108 permutations based on her original eight designs using a combination of features. Each statue weighs 260 pounds and stands five feet tall, featuring schoolgirl clothing and a modern hairstyle, but no two statues share the same features.
North Korea Leader Visits Family Mausoleum
Accompanied by several top generals in his military, Kim Jong-un, North Korea's leader, visited the mausoleum where his father's and grandfather's embalmed and mummified remains are enshrined. His visit was meant to mark the 20th anniversary of Kim Il-sung's death, as reported by an English-language news report provided by the official Korean Central News Agency or KCNA. Kim Il-sung was the country's first leader and became its first premier in 1950.
Arriving at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun precisely at midnight, Kim Jong-un paid respectful tribute to his father and grandfather. Before paying his respects, the North Korean leader toured his grandfather's memorial halls. After he paid tribute to his late grandfather, Kim Jong-un toured his father's memorial hall and paid tribute to him as well. Kim Jong-il died after developing a heart problem in 2011.
North Korea's leader has visited the mausoleums for his father and grandfather for three years in a row, beginning when he assumed power after his father died.
Mausoleums Go High Tech
Since the ancient Persian satrap Mausolus built his memorial, we've had a name for a process that humans have engaged in for thousands of years: mausoleum burial, or above-ground burial. Mausoleums have changed throughout history to meet the times. Monuments that house the remains of the dead reached unequaled grandeur in antiquity (think the Pyramids), but today they're reaching a level of technological sophistication unparalleled in the course of human history.
One of the many innovations incorporated into mausoleums today is lighting that revolutionizes the atmosphere of the mausoleum — making current mausoleums a far cry from their dark, forbidding ancient counterparts. The Ruriden mausoleum in Tokyo is one example: The building uses 2,046 lighted statues made of a glass called "ruriki" to symbolize the souls of the departed. In the case of Ruriden, each light changes its color depending on the temperature and season.
10 Must-Visit Historic Mausoleums
Mausoleums have been around since ancient times and are constantly evolving. Modern mausoleums showcase a variety of styles, with some displaying modern-art inspired, minimalist designs, while historic mausoleums feature classic styles that have stood the test of time.
Viewing famous mausoleums helps you decide on a final resting place for yourself or your loved ones. Whether building a private mausoleum or purchasing space in a community mausoleum, classic mausoleums give you a better idea of the type of place you want to select.
If you're an avid traveler, or simply a Google Maps traveler, put these historic mausoleums on your list of places to check out.


In his new book, Origins, astrobiologist Lewis Dartnell shows us how the Earth's ancient geography has influenced the development of human civilisations, and how it still affects our behaviour today.
It's about the many ways that different features of planet Earth have directed the course of human evolution and influenced the growth and development of civilisations over thousands of years. It looks at fundamental features like plate tectonics, or atmospheric circulation patterns, showing how they've directed the course of our history and why the world is the way we find it today.
I'm an astrobiologist, which is all about looking at the possibility of life on other planets, so I spend a lot of my day-to-day working life thinking about how the features of Earth have made it habitable in the most fundamental sense. I wanted this new book to expand on that – to bridge the gap between science and history and see how they inform each other. Through Origins I try to weave those two back and forth through the chapters of the book, like two strands of a narrative.
You talk about plate tectonics in the book. How have they affected human development?
When you look at a map of where ancient civilisations started, a lot seem to huddle along tectonic boundaries. Plate boundaries are dangerous places to be in one sense, because that's where earthquakes and volcanoes are concentrated, but clearly they're also providing some sort of benefit.
Take Mesopotamia, the land between the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers in the Middle East. That entire region is essentially running along the tectonic trough that was created when the Arabian plate pivoted away from Africa and slammed into Eurasia, which then collected great rivers and sediment to make fertile soil.
So in that particular instance there's a very clear reason why some of the earliest cities in our history grew up around that particular tectonic region, as it was a really conducive place to settle down and go through the beginnings of agriculture.
How has geography influenced current behaviour?
One modern example is the election of Donald Trump. If you look at an election map of the southeast region of the US, it's a sea of Republican red. But in that sea of red there's this very distinct crescent shape of blue, of people voting Democrat. If you look at a geological map, underneath that crescent of Democrat-voting counties is a stratum of thick, fertile sea mud that dates back 60-70 million years.
Cotton grew well in that rich fertile soil, and in the 1840s, 1850s and 1860s, slaves were used to grow and harvest cotton. More than 150 years later, the descendants of those slaves still live in that region, and their socioeconomic background means they're more likely to be voting Democrat, rather than Republican.
Is it important to be aware of how these physical formations are influencing our behaviour?
We're now turning all of this on its head with our modern industrialised civilisation. A lot of scientists are calling this current era the Anthropocene, because humanity has become the dominant force in changing our planet.
We've got a lot of problems on our doorstep to do with climate change, global warming and ocean acidification, and we need to find solutions to them so we can keep living the way we've become accustomed to.
I think by appreciating this deep link behind how the Earth has made us and how we're now affecting the Earth in return, you just appreciate everything around you a little bit more, and understand why we need to take extra care of the planet.


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Jackson doctor convicted in stars 2009 drug death
Michael Jackson's doctor was convicted Monday of involuntary manslaughter after a trial that painted him as a reckless caregiver who administered a lethal dose of a powerful anesthetic that killed the pop star.
The verdict against Dr. Conrad Murray marked the latest chapter in one of pop culture's most shocking tragedies — the death of the King of Pop on the eve of the singer's heavily promoted comeback concerts.
Members of Jackson's family wept quietly after the verdict was read, and his mother, Katherine Jackson, later told The Associated Press, "I feel better now."
Sister La Toya Jackson told the AP she was overjoyed.
"Michael was looking over us," she said on her way out of the courthouse.
Murray sat stone-faced during the verdict and was handcuffed and taken into custody without bail until sentencing on Nov. 29. He appeared calm as officials led him out of the courtroom.
A shriek broke the eerie silence in the packed courtroom when the verdict was read, and the crowd erupted outside the courthouse. Jubilant Jackson fans cheered and sang "Beat It" as they held signs that read "guilty" and "killer." Passing motorists honked their horns.
The jury deliberated less than nine hours. Murray, 58, faces a sentence of up to four years in prison. He could also lose his medical license.
"Dr. Murray's reckless conduct in this case poses a demonstrable risk to the safety of the public" if he remains free on bond, Judge Michael E. Pastor said.
District Attorney Steve Cooley said it will be difficult to achieve an appropriate sentence for Murray because of a new state law that allows early prison release for people convicted of nonviolent felonies.
Deputy District Attorney David Walgren said prosecutors' sympathies went out to the Jackson family who have "lost not a pop icon but a son and a father."
Jurors were escorted from the building and not available for comment after the verdict was read.
It was unclear whether the jury determined that Murray had administered the fatal dose of propofol while deciding he was responsible for the death of Jackson.
Prosecutors had said Murray violated at least 17 separate standards of care, a number of which could have resulted in death.
Murray's attorneys left the courtroom without commenting.
In Las Vegas, a former Murray patient and current friend, Donna DiGiacomo, sobbed and said she thought the jury was under "overwhelming pressure to convict."
Jackson died on June 25, 2009. The complete story of his death finally emerged during the six-week trial. It was the tale of a tormented genius on the brink of what might have been his greatest triumph with one impediment standing in his way — extreme insomnia.
Testimony came from medical experts, household employees and Murray's former girlfriends, among others.
The most shocking moments, however, came when prosecutors displayed a large picture of Jackson's gaunt, lifeless body on a hospital gurney and played the sound of his drugged, slurred voice, as recorded by Murray just weeks before the singer's death.
Jackson talked about plans for a children's hospital and his hope of cementing a legacy larger than that of Elvis Presley or The Beatles.
"We have to be phenomenal," he said about his "This Is It" concerts in London. "When people leave this show, when people leave my show, I want them to say, 'I've never seen nothing like this in my life. Go. Go. I've never seen nothing like this. Go. It's amazing. He's the greatest entertainer in the world.'"
Prosecutors portrayed Murray as an incompetent doctor who used the anesthetic propofol without adequate safeguards and whose neglect left Jackson abandoned as he lay dying.
Murray's lawyers sought to show the doctor was a medical angel of mercy, with former patients vouching for his skills. Murray told police from the outset that he gave Jackson propofol and other sedatives as the star struggled for sleep to prepare for his shows. But the doctor said he administered only a small dose on the day Jackson died.
Lawyers for Murray and a defense expert blamed Jackson for his own death, saying the singer gave himself the fatal dose of propofol while Murray wasn't watching. A prosecution expert said that theory was crazy.
Murray told police he had formed a close friendship with Jackson, never meant to harm him and couldn't explain why he died.
The circumstances of Jackson's death at the age of 50 were as bizarre as any chapter in the superstar's sensational life story.
Jackson was found not breathing in his own bed in his rented mansion after being dosed intravenously with propofol, a drug normally administered in hospitals during surgery.
The coroner ruled the case a homicide and the blame would fall to the last person who had seen Jackson alive — Murray, who had been hired to care for the singer as the comeback concerts neared.
Craving sleep, Jackson had searched for a doctor who would give him the intravenous anesthetic that Jackson called his "milk" and believed to be his salvation. Other medical professionals turned him down, according to trial testimony.
Murray gave up his practices in Houston and Las Vegas and agreed to travel with Jackson and work as his personal physician indefinitely.
For six weeks, as Jackson undertook strenuous rehearsals, Murray infused him with propofol every night, the doctor told police. He later tried to wean Jackson from the drug because he feared he was becoming addicted.
Jackson planned to pay Murray $150,000 a month for an extended tour in Europe. In the end, the doctor was never paid a penny because Jackson died before signing the contract.
During the last 24 hours of his life, Jackson sang and danced at a spirited rehearsal, reveling in the adulation of fans who greeted him outside. Then came a night of horror, chasing sleep — the most elusive treasure the millionaire entertainer could not buy.
Testimony showed Murray gave Jackson intravenous doses that night of the sedatives lorazepam and midazolam. Jackson also took a Valium pill. But nothing seemed to bring sleep.
Finally, Murray told police, he gave the singer a small dose of propofol — 25 milligrams — that seemed to put him to sleep. The doctor said he felt it was safe to leave his patient's bedside for a few minutes, but Jackson was not breathing when he returned.
Witnesses said he was most likely dead at that point.
What happened next was a matter of dispute during the trial. Security and household staff described Murray as panicked, never calling emergency services but trying to give Jackson CPR on his bed instead of the firm floor.
A guard said Murray was concerned with packing up and hiding medicine bottles and IV equipment before telling him to call emergency services. Prosecutors said Murray was distracted while Jackson was sedated, citing Murray's cell phone records to show he made numerous calls.
Authorities never accused Murray of intending to kill the star, and it took eight months for them to file the involuntary manslaughter charge against him. It was the lowest possible felony charge involving a homicide.
There was no law against administering propofol or the other sedatives. But prosecution expert witnesses said Murray was acting well below the standard of care required of a physician.
They said using propofol in a home setting without lifesaving equipment on hand was an egregious deviation from that standard. They called it gross negligence, the legal basis for an involuntary manslaughter charge.
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All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara state has cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against compromising its integrity and neutrality in the deployment of ad-hoc staff in the state, during the forthcoming general elections.
Kwara state Chair of APC Chairman, Hon. Bashir Bolarinwa said the party has received information that those being posted across Kwara as Electoral Officers (EOs) and Technical Staff were nominated and trained by the People's Democratic Party (PDP).
He also cited the case of an EO who was caught hiding boxes of ballot papers in an office in Kwara North by a vigilant Department of State Service (DSS) officer.
He added that when the EO was forced to open the office by the DSS office he admitted to hiding the boxes, but claimed it was a mistake.
Hon. Bolarinwa said: "We have also been inundated with the information that the technical staff in particular, most of whom are trained ICT experts, are known PDP members and are under strict instructions to manipulate the card readers in favour of the PDP.
"It is totally unacceptable that INEC, which is the umpire, will work in cahoots with any political party or even accept a list of ad-hoc staff from the parties. We are therefore calling on the security agencies to put all INEC staffers under strict surveillance to forestall any attempt to compromise them. On our part, we will also ensure that the process is not compromised by tainted staffers.
deploying to all local governments and wards across the state, ahead of Saturday's Presidential and National Assembly elections.
He said that would enable the parties to know what is deployed where, adding that it would forestall attempt by desperate politicians bent on rigging the elections.


Engineers, Executives, Professionals from Governments, Private sector and Public Sector Undertakings (from product, process and service sectors), Scientists working in Research Laboratories and Professors, Associated Professors, Assistant Professors, Admn. Officers / Executives of various engineering colleges & Universities will find the programme useful.
Understand the process to identify the root cause of the conflict and tacklingthose using tools& techniques covered during the programme.Identifying and defining problems. Getting familiarized with tools, techniques and processes to generate alternatives and select best solution.


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You are at:Home»Lions & Legends»CELTIC'S MOST IMPORTANT TRIUMPH – AND IT'S NOT LISBON: LEGEND REVEALS ALL
CELTIC'S MOST IMPORTANT TRIUMPH – AND IT'S NOT LISBON: LEGEND REVEALS ALL
FIFTY-FIVE years ago, Celtic beat Dunfermline 3-2 to win the Scottish Cup – the club's first trophy success in eight agonising, barren years.
Midfield mastermind Bertie Auld, who netted two goals that day before Billy McNeill's memorable winner, insists the barrier-breaking success was even more important to the Hoops than the historic European Cup victory over Inter Milan in Lisbon two years later.
To mark the anniversary, CQN are presenting the entire EXCLUSIVE chapter from Auld's acclaimed autobiogarphy, 'A Bhoy Called Bertie', co-authored by Alex Gordon.
Enjoy the trip back of a lifetime as Bertie reveals all.
MY dad Joe would never have claimed to be one of life's great philosophers, but there were occasions when he would make a remark that would make you sit up and listen.
After we had started the silverware landslide by beating Dunfermline 3-2 to lift the Scottish Cup in 1965, he said to me in a matter-of-fact tone, 'You know, son, if Celtic keep playing like that, I'm going to be forced to leave an hour earlier to get my place in the Jungle on a Saturday.'
He could have said something vague along the lines of, 'Celtic are playing well,' and that would have been enough, but he always enjoyed putting his own particular spin on things. My dad and his pals had their own particular place on the terracing opposite the main stand. Older fans will surely remember the rusting ramshackle Jungle with affection.
Supporters used to cram in there and Celtic, for decades, never did anything to upgrade the place. A fan I knew said he could have found his place in this part of our ground blindfolded if it was raining. 'How?' I asked innocently. He answered, 'Because there's been a huge hole in the roof above me and it's been like that for years. I get soaked when it's pouring down.' I countered, 'Why don't you shift?' I was met with an incredulous stare. 'Because it's MY spot!'
My dad, you should know, could have got seats in the stand courtesy of his son, but he never took me up on my offer. He preferred to be with his pals in The Jungle.
IN THE NET…Bertie Auld and the ball are over the line for the first equaliser against the Fifers.
I've touched on our victory over Dunfermline all those years ago and, for me, it was the breakthrough to all the good things that were awaiting us. Actually, that was one helluva game that see-sawed throughout a dramatic 90 minutes. I couldn't have had a clue as to what was around the corner when we went a goal behind in only fifteen minutes of that Cup Final.
Our defence failed to clear their lines and the ball fell kindly for Harry Melrose to hammer into the net past our grounded keeper John Fallon. We could have thought, 'Here we go again.' Things, under Big Jock, had changed somewhat dramatically, though. I looked at my team-mates and I realised they felt to a man just like me, 'We're going to win this one' seemed to be the unified message.
Sixteen minutes later I was lying on my backside in the Fifers' net, but I wasn't one bit upset. The ball was also sitting there beside me. I had equalised. I remember the goal like it was yesterday. John Clark slid a pass to Charlie Gallagher and he took a couple of steps forward, shaped to play it wide, changed pace and then sent a thunderbolt of a shot towards their goal from about thirty yards.
Jim Herriot, the Fifers' extremely competent goalkeeper who would become a team-mate of mine at Hibs later on, threw himself at Charlie's effort, but he failed to divert its course and it thumped against the face of the crossbar. I saw my chance as the ball swirled high into the air. Herriot was on the ground and was desperately trying to get back to his feet as I moved in for the kill. The ball seemed to be suspended by an invisible hand. It appeared to be up there for ages.
I was aware of their right-back Willie Callaghan coming in at speed from my right. He was wasting his time – I was never going to miss this opportunity. The ball came floating back down after what seemed an eternity and I launched myself at it to head it over the line. One-one – game on!
BANG…Bertie Auld slams the second leveller beyond keeper Jim Herriot.
It was never like this Celtic's side to do anything the easy way. It even took us a replay against Motherwell to reach this stage; drawing 2-2 in the first game before winning 3-0 in the second encounter. Once again, we gave ourselves a mountain to climb when we gave away a daft free-kick smack in front of goal about twenty yards out. There was only a minute to go until the interval. Could we hold out? No-one should have been unduly surprised when Melrose touched the ball sideways and their big centre-forward John McLaughlin toe-ended it through our crumbling defensive wall.
From where I was standing, it still looked saveable, but it managed to elude the grasp of our keeper, low down to his right. Bang on half-time is an awful time to hand the iniative to your opponents for all the obvious reasons. They go in buoyed up by the goal and we get to the dressing room wondering if the fates are conspiring against us again. The one thing I recall vividly in the interval team-talk is that not one of us believed we would lose. The worst we thought we could get was a draw and another game as they had replays in those days. Thankfully, we didn't need it.
'Get that early goal,' ordered Big Jock as we left the dressing room for the second-half. 'Get that early goal and we'll win this game.' Prophetic words, indeed. Seven minutes into the second period and Tommy Gemmell turned the ball to me and I swiftly passed it to Bobby Lennox. He took off like a sprinter on the left and I chased into the penalty area. Bobby couldn't have hit a sweeter pass into the danger area and I arrived on the button to first time a right-foot shot low past the helpless Herriot. Two-Two – we're going to win!
CUP THAT CHEERS…Bertie Auld chairs captain and matchwinner Billy McNeill after the crucial silverware breakthrough.
It couldn't have been scripted better. With nine minutes remaining we were pushing for the winner and it looked as though the Fifers were the ones who would have been happier with a second chance. We won a corner-kick out on the left and Gallagher trotted over to take it. We were all making nuisances of ourselves in the box, darting this way and that, in an effort to leave a gap for Big Billy to expose.
Charlie duly delivered with sublime accuracy, Billy was exactly where he should have been and he did precisely what we wanted him to do. Our skipper soared high above everyone to get his head to the ball as Herriot frantically grasped thin air behind him. There was perfect contact with head and ball and there was the very satisfying thud as the sphere reached its destination and strangled itself in the net. Three-Two – we've won the Cup!
I've always maintained that was a massive victory for Celtic. I will never think otherwise. It shows you how much things have changed in football when you look back at the crowd for that game – 108,800 was the official figure, but I think more than a few extra thousands must have scaled the walls.
The receipts were a record at the time – ú36,973. Celtic and Dunfermline each got ú14,397. An average Premier League player wouldn't get out of bed if that was his weekly wage these days.
This triumph was not about cash, though. It was about bringing back that winning feeling to Celtic Football Club. We succeeded and that sparked the most sensational and spectacular period in the club's history.
I'm glad I got to play a part.
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Bring Your Dog to the "I Could Chew on This" Book Launch Party Tomorrow Night!
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To celebrate the launch of I Could Chew on This and Other Poems by Dogs, Chronicle Books is hosting a contest for dog lovers and their best friends.
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Today Is Happy National Dog Day!
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There was once a time that the greatest school supply you could have was the Bic four-color pen. Then it was the Trapper Keeper. Now it's the tablet. But if you really want to make it a memorable school year, best you load up on the following truly essential supplies… From lasers to misusing a composition notebook, you can find all your backpack necessities right here.


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'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' a sweet gig for director and former Old Globe artistic leader Jack O'Brien
The touring company of the musical "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."
(Photo by Joan Marcus)
By James Hebert
May 6, 2019 10:55 AM PT
If you're looking for someone who can take a rainbow and wrap it in a sigh, Jack O'Brien might not quite be your guy. (Although he does know a bloke: First name Candy, last name Man.)
But if you're looking for a stage director who can bounce nimbly from the Bard to Arthur Miller to a musical based on a treasured bit of kid lit, O'Brien is your jack of all plays.
The three-time Tony Award winner, who led San Diego's Old Globe Theatre as artistic director from 1981 to 2007, just opened a well-received revival of Miller's "All My Sons" on Broadway.
But he's on the phone from his Connecticut home to talk about "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," the musical he shepherded to Broadway in 2017 and that's now about to land in San Diego on tour for the first time.
O'Brien, whose heavyweight credits take in everything from "Henry IV" to the original production of "Hairspray" (both of which earned him Tonys), took over "Charlie" — based on the beloved Roald Dahl novel — after its initial London production a few years back.
And it was clear from the start that changes were in order for what he calls a "very, very British" staging.
Henry Boshart in the touring production of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."
(Joan Marcus)
"It just seemed that version wouldn't play in America at all," O'Brien says. "So we really started over. We crafted a completely new concept for the show.
"And we started with 'The Candy Man'" — one of the numbers from the classic 1971 movie adaptation that O'Brien and Co. added to the existing score by the "Hairspray" songwriting team of Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.
"I just wanted it to be brighter and funnier and a lot more inventive. So when we opened in New York, it was like doing a brand-new musical."
Even then, he adds, "we hadn't really finished the work." So after the Broadway production closed in early 2018, O'Brien and his team redesigned and rewrote the show for its touring version, later incorporating additional changes worked out in a separate Australian production.
The resulting show, which arrives at the Civic Theatre next Tuesday, is "the version, frankly, I'm proudest of," O'Brien says. "And the one I wish New York had seen. Because we really figured out how to do it."
Jack O'Brien accepts his Tony Award in 2003 for directing "Hairspray."
(Richard Drew / Associated Press)
As with Dahl's 1964 children's novel, the story centers on a poor kid named Charlie who wins a coveted "golden ticket" to visit the chocolatier Willy Wonka's fabled confectionary works. Intrigue, misadventures and Oompa Loompas ensue.
O'Brien is a fan of the late Gene Wilder's turn as Willy in the movie version: "My God, it's a miracle of invention and looniness and sweetness. He ticked all the boxes.
"But when we got into it, the piece was never originally conceived for the theater. It was a fable for children," with an unwieldy structure.
The new version plays up the paternal angle to the bond between Charlie and Willy (a topic that's explored very differently in Miller's "All My Sons").
"And we did not take anything for granted," O'Brien says. "We took it to our hearts and we dug in and we've made it into something we think is really kind of amazing."
The ever-in-demand O'Brien won't be making it to San Diego for the show's local debut. But, he says, "I love that town and I owe it a great deal," adding that he has spoken regularly with Old Globe artistic chief Barry Edelstein about returning to direct a show at the Balboa Park theater.
"Every year we look at the schedule and say, 'Is there any way we can make this work?' And by God, sooner or later we're going to do it, I'm sure."
'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'
When: Opens May 14. 7 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday; 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday. 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. 1 and 6 p.m. Sunday. Through May 19.
Where: Broadway/San Diego at the Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., downtown.
Tickets: About $26-$73
Phone: (619/858/760) 570-1100
Online: broadwaysd.com
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My childhood wasn't the classic Utah upbringing. My mom was a working woman and so after my birth she headed back to work and found Margaret. Margaret was a young mom of a little baby girl, Madison, just a few months older than me. Margaret was my nanny. I spent everyday at her house. A home that was just on the edge of her family's farm. It was there I spent a good part of childhood running through the pasture, climbing trees and hay bails and playing from sun up to sun down. Those years I spent in Margaret's home are some of my very best memories. The Ferrin family quickly grew with more children, lots of little girls, 7 girls and 1 boy to be exact.
Years past and my family moved away. Although my days were no longer spent with the Ferrins, Madison and I never stopped being best friends, Margaret never stopped being my second mom, and her family has always been my second family. Giving me the sisters I never had.
Now, twenty some years later Madison's little sister Carolyn is getting married. I was overjoyed when Carolyn called to ask me to take photos of her wedding and engagements. It was bittersweet seeing my cute little Carolyn all grown up and getting married. I couldn't be happier for her and Forest. She picked an amazing guy and he picked an equally wonderful girl.
So, I stretched out of my comfort zone (babies and kids) and did my first couple session with these two.


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