text:
Fun and Games With Hamasniks
On Sunday, having thoroughly rested up, I headed to Union Square, to be a counterprotester against the pro-Hamas demo happening there.
Specifically, it was supposed to be candelight memorial service, to mourn those killed during Operation Cast Lead, and you sort of feel bad counterprotesting a memorial service. Until you show up, and notice the vile anti-Semitic signage, and the chants of "From the river to the sea", and QUIT standing happily out with their banner, and the paper-mache puppets, and you realize that this isn't a memorial service, this is another dang Hamas rally.
The opposition had the steps leading into Union Square, corner closest to the Powell Street BART, so we lined up on the opposite side of the street, streaming past Max Azria, Victoria's Secret, and the Westin St. Francis, which happened that day to be flying the flag of Saudi Arabia, just to make everything completely deranged.
A fairly low-key evening, really. Cold. Me clutching a sign with a message about gay Palestinians in one hand, and one with the faces of children killed in Sderot in the other, singing "Oseh Shalom" and stamping my feet. Assorted Japanese tourists took pictures--I suspect that we have ended up in many a photo album, as an example of real American protestors. We wound up around six o'clock.
One thing I have not entirely worked out is how to deal with the people who drive by in the stalled traffic in SUVs, waving Palestinian flags and screaming at you, when they roll down the back windows and encourage their small ones to do likewise. I am torn, between stony-faced "Am Yisrael Chai!" yelling, and smiling and waving at the children. Hard to do both, especially when both hands are full.
Meanwhile, Code Pink is still stalled in Cairo, although apparently a group of them are to be let through.
Posted by BBJ at 3:53 PM 4 comments:
Labels: anti-Semitism, Code Pink, Gaza
CODE PINK CAUSES MINOR BLIP AT AIPAC DINNER
Here's a report from the perpetually-out-of-touch side about a very minor disruption of the AIPAC dinner in San Francisco two weeks ago. It is lifted directly from the code pink blog at:
http://codepink4peace.org/blog/2009/12/sf-activists-arrested-at-aipac-dinner/
Be forewarned: the dear ladies of the slightly-less-than-clued-in-ilk are in boast-mode here, so there is far less in the text than meets the eye.
BEGIN CITE:
"SF activists arrested at AIPAC dinner "
[CUT]
"Activists with the women's peace group CODEPINK took their message of no war and occupation to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) gala dinner at the Hilton Towers Hotel in San Francisco on December 15th. "
"As the AIPAC Executive Director, Howard Kohr, gave a national briefing, he had indicated that AIPAC is ready to come to the negotiating table with the Palestinians. Nancy Mancias and Victoria Quevedo rose up out of their seats and said "How can the Palestinians come to table if they live under constant oppression and occupation." "
"While chanting "No War, No Occupation, Free Palestine" private security immediately lifted Mancias and Quevedo up from beneath their arms and ejected them from the ballroom. The two were handed over to the San Francisco Police who then handcuffed, searched, arrested and transferred them to the Tenderloin Police station where they were cited and released."
[Editorial note: Both deranged individuals will appear in court in early 2009.]
FURTHER QUOTE:
"While AIPAC claims to represent the U.S. Jewish community, its wholesale support of the Israel government goes against the majority opinions of the Jewish Americans. According to a recent survey by the Jewish lobby group J Street, 76 percent of American Jews support a two-state solution, 69 percent support negotiating with a Fatah-Hamas unity government, and 59 percent felt the Gaza invasion did not improve Israel's security. "
END QUOTE
As may be seen from the text above, Nancy Mancias and Victoria Quevedo are unaware of several pertinent facts, and quite capable of obscuring or obfuscating when their verkrampte ideology demands it. The allegedly Jewish Lobbying group J Street does not represent the majority opinions of the Jewish Americans, and in fact works hand in glove with such declared enemies of Jews, Judaism, the United States, and Israel, as the Palestinian lobby, Saudi stooges, and people like Jimmy Carter (a peanut farmer of note).
This blog fervently hopes that authorities throw the book at Ms. Mancias and Ms. Quevedo.
The antics of the Medea-Benjaminites have ceased to entertain, having long since passed beyond the edge of relevance.
Undemocratic actions by extremists, no matter how zany, should have no place in American discourse.
Posted by The back of the hill at 10:30 AM 1 comment:
Labels: anti-Semitism, Berkeley, Cretins, Jimmy Carter
CODE PINK THRILLED!
Pursuant the activists of Code Pink staging a two hour per day hunger strike outside the Egyptian consulate for three consecutive days, in solidarity with their companions touring Egypt, a correspondent sends the following letter:
"MORE HUMMUS, LESS HAMAS"
"This afternoon with Code pink was delightful! They were thrilled to see us when we pulled up. Loved our table, chairs and cheery pink table cloth. Looked really, really confused when we started pulling out food. Turned ashen grey when we festooned them with Israeli flags. Had a lovely Egyptian boy translate the Arabic pages from Palestine today for Code Pink. Code Pink (nevertheless) insists all that food came in through the tunnels. "
[Please note: letter slightly modified for 'clarity'.]
The Code Pink activists involved in this jolly adventure are Nancy Mancias and Leslie Angeline.
[Steffy mentions them on her blog here: Code Pink, in other news.]
They intend to DELIBERATELY. NOT. EAT. while in the public view for two hours. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Two hours. Three days. Two hours of non-eating per day.
It will be hard. They want you to come witness their suffering.
Apparently the Egyptians are treating their visitors brutally, harassing and intimidating them with sumptuous buffets and air-conditioned tourist-class hotels, as well as the lovely sights and smells of Cairo. There are lots of picturesque spots suitable for snapshots and romantic moments in the bazaars and parks of MisrAlQahira (don't forget to visit the old city, fi wast al balad), as well as a lovely promenade in Alexandria ('Al Eskenderiyya') for quiet moments. The pyramids and the sphinx need no mention, of course, but you really should visit the Cairo Museum. Finish your day at one of the hundreds of exciting nightspots for which this Paris-on-the-Nile is justly famous!
It will be a trip that no revolutionary-pretendeur will ever forget.
Oooops, errrm, I mean, a number of the "activists" stuck in Egypt seem determined to starve themselves until the Egyptian government gets tired of them.
They don't like melookhia anyway!
NOTE: One of the tourists currently holding her own self hostage in Egypt is Hedy Epstein, who labels herself a holocaust survivor, despite having spent the war comfortably in England. She is well-known to many people, having been a professional pro-Arab speaker on behalf of the International Solidarity Movement, which functions as the collaborationist clearinghouse for Hamas, Hezbollah, and reportedly sometimes Iran
Enjoy the photos from the Code Pink "hunger strike" at the Egyptian Consulate in San Francisco:
Posted by The back of the hill at 4:02 PM 7 comments:
Pro Hamas Rally San Francisco Union Square Dec 27 2009
A small selection of snapshots taken at the recent pro-Hamas rally in Union Square. Feel free to print them out and use them as postcards.
One of the tried and true tactics used by ideologues is to involve children as an element in the discourse to castigate the side that they oppose. Remarkably, that never works both ways - the Middle East Children's Alliance (MECA) standardly refuses to accept that Israelis have children ("those are all occupiers!), and is unconcerned entirely about children brutalized by Hamas.
Like many political "charities", MECA serves primarily as a vehicle of employment for its activists and founders.
If this woman's sign were true, there would now be eight hundred thousand dead children.
This sign is an instant classic.
Not only is the soldier an anti-Semitic stereotype - so is his victim! By which we can see that the artist's attitude is not 'pro-Palestinian' but anti-Semitic in the broadest possible sense.
A more cliché and subhuman depiction of both sides is hard to imagine. The artist has no sympathy for either.
Using an electric drill to torture one's captives is a favorite tactic not only of Hamas, but also several other revolutionary groups in the Middle-East. It has been used to great effect by warlords and drugdealers in Lebanon as well as Hezbollah, by the Ba'ath governments of Syria and Iraq, and by various Arab intelligence services.
Odd Job Rob Kanter of Emeryville, a man remarkable for his inability to criticize any politically correct bigots.
I particularly remember the time he tried to justify chants by Arab-American activists that called Jews dogs ("al Yahud kalabna") and demanded that they be slaughtered ("itbach al Yahud"). He has (seemingly) never had a problem standing side by side with anyone who demonizes Israel, Jews, or the United States.
He is a member of the Anti-Zionist Jews ("IJAN") as well as Bay Area Women in Black.
To the best of my knowledge he is NOT a member of San Francisco chapter of Women in Black, as they do not permit men in their ranks, and are frequently nauseated by the presence of males (even once objecting that a nearby dog was of incorrect gender).
It is also unlikely that he is a member of Code Pink - Medea Benjamin prefers uncomplicated people. But like her, he supports Cuba, Venezuela, and Iran, and likes campfires and barbecues, holding hands, long walks on the beach, and practicing native American chants and spirituality.
At least, we presume so.
Hamas rally in San Francisco Sunday December 27
Yesterday the pro-Palestinians came together to celebrate Hamas' glorious victory exactly one year ago today.
By which I mean that they congregated for the purpose of screaming threats and reciting names, in order to make Israel seem evil after the people of Gaza fired off over six thousand rockets in three years and thus precipitated a war.
Which they lost on the ground.
But in cyber space, where Israel is ALWAYS the bad guy, Hamas won the war. Largely due to such willing collaborators as the Wallach sisters, Rob Kanter, and Paul Larudee (just to name a few locals).
And the falsehoods that they are not averse to spreading.
THE SIDE OF DARKNESS
The event was at Union Square, from four to six. On the Hamas side, several local activists including the Queers United against Israeli Terror (who find Islamic repression of different sexualities not a problem - all Arab gays and lesbians should hurry back into the closet), Jewish Voice for Peace (clueless), Rob Kanter (class by himself - selfasserted anti-Israel Jew who associates with known anti-Semites and racists), ISM, BAWIB, several members of International ANSWER, and several dozen badly behaved Arab-American brats.
The Arab-American brats dominated the Hamas side.
Pro-Hamas people: about one hundred.
THE SIDE OF LIGHT
On the pro-Israel side, members of Stand With US / San Francisco Voice for Israel, plus sympathisers from Berkeley, Palo Alto, San Jose, and elsewhere. Several energetic young people of college age, several resolute middle-aged persons, and a number of resilient retirees.
Pro-Israel people: slightly over one hundred.
It was not a very noisy manifestation, mostly, as the pro-Hamas side couldn't get their sound system to work (it doesn't go straight up into the air). A few of the sons of liquor store owners screamed invective, one or two waved flags till their little arms drooped.
At one point their performance was so boring I went into the Victoria's Secret Store to browse. I wasn't the only teenager there, but I had no luck. I do not wear thongs. And the least slut-like garb Vicky sells is big as a bucket.
When I came out again, the Arab children were chanting "Palestine will be free from the river to the sea".
Which is code for promising to exterminate several million Jews.
"PALESTINE WILL BE FREE FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA ('AND WE'LL KILL ALL THE JEWS WE HAVE TO, TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN')"
It's as peace-loving a chant as I've ever heard from Arabs and their willing idiots.
Their middle-class white baby sitters said nothing. They're okay with that.
The Wallach sisters are okay with that.
Medea Benjamin, Cindy Sheehan, Toby Blome, and Kate Bender Raphael are okay with that.
Hassan Fouda and Marilyn Fouda are okay with that.
Anisa Abd el Fattah, Jamal Bashir, Noura, Gamel, Afifa, Naeema, Alai, Hanan, and Lilly Haskell are all okay with that.
Dick Becker and his worker-bee Forrest are okay with that.
Jim Harris is okay with that.
Heck, the entire city of Berkeley is okay with that.
Ethnic cleansing is just dandy when Arabs do it.
[All of the above named, with the possible exception of the entire city of Berkeley, have stood side by side with hate-filled thugs and troglodytes yelling that threat. As well as several other slogans - ba rooh, ba dam, nafdeek ya falasteen, falasteen baladna wal yahood kalabna, al mawt al yahood, itbakh al yahood, etcetera. The entire city of Berkeley may have been agreement with these slogans, but has not actually said so en masse - at least not that I can prove. But they probably will soon. Berkeley always sympathises with third-world thugs. It's the revolutionary thing to do. Makes them feel special.]
GAZA FACTS
• 1 million: Israeli civilians under threat from Hamas rocket fire.
• 15: Seconds Israelis have to get to a bomb shelter once a warning siren has sounded.
• 2 million: Leaflets the Israel Air Force dropped on Gaza during Operation Cast Lead, warning civilians to stay clear of Hamas fighters.
• 200,000: Phone calls made by the Israeli army to civilians in Gaza warning of an impending strike near their residences.
• 8: Years Israel has endured rocket, missile and mortar fire from Gaza.
• 1: Israeli left in Gaza – Staff Sgt. Gilad Shalit,] kidnapped by Hamas from Israel on June 25, 2006.
• 3,200+: Rockets and mortar fired from Gaza in 2008.
• 6,500+: Rockets and mortars fired from Gaza since Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005.
• 10,389: Rockets and mortars fired from Gaza 2001-2008.
• 1,000+: People in Israel injured from rockets and mortars fired from Gaza since 2001.
• 27: Number of people killed by Palestinian rocket and mortar attacks since 2001.
• 242: Rockets, missiles and mortars fired at Israel from Gaza since the end of Operation Cast Lead.
Hamas Terrorism
• 727: Rockets and mortars fired from Gaza, January – September 2009.
• 17: Attacks on Gaza goods crossings by Palestinian terrorist groups in 2008.
• 80: Percent of mosques in Gaza which Hamas reportedly controls, some of which are used for weapons storage, command and communications headquarters.
• 37 mi (60km): Range of Hamas rockets in Gaza acquired after Operation Cast Lead.
• 2.5 mi (4 km): Range of Hamas's anti-tank missiles, smuggled into Gaza since the end of Operation Cast Lead.
• 1,500: Number of smuggling tunnels between Gaza and Egypt (estimate).
• 59 ft (18 m)/6.8 mi (11 km): Length and depth of metal fence Egypt is building on Sinai-Gaza border to prevent tunnel smuggling operations.
• 22 mi (35 km): Distance between Gaza and Yavneh - the northernmost Israeli city hit by Gaza rockets on Dec. 28, 2009.
• 900: Hamas operatives trained by Iran.
• $20 million - $30 million: Funding Iran provides annually to Hamas. Iran gave Hamas another $50 million following Hamas's victory in the 2006 Palestinian elections.
Israel's Aid to Gaza
• 900: Percent increase in humanitarian aid delivered to Gaza in 2009, compared to 2008.
• 630,253: Tons of humanitarian aid delivered to the Gaza Strip, Jan. 19 – Dec. 13, 2009.
• 24.5 million gallons (92.7 million liters): Heavy-duty diesel fuel delivered to the Gaza Strip, Jan. 19 – Oct. 31, 2009.
• 10,346: Gaza residents who entered Israel for medical and humanitarian reasons, Jan.19 – Nov. 7, 2009.
• 57,295 tons: Monthly average of humanitarian aid entering Gaza since Operation Cast Lead, Jan. 19 – Dec. 5, 2009.
• 11,508: Monthly average (in tons) of humanitarian aid entering Gaza from February – June 2008, a period of intense rocket fire.
• 34,253 tons: Monthly average of humanitarian aid entering Gaza during period of calm, July - December 2008.
• 18,500: Permits Israel issued to Gaza residents to enter Israel or travel overseas in 2009.
• 28,400: Flowers from Gaza scheduled for export to Europe on Dec. 10, 2009.
• 250,000: Flowers from Gaza scheduled for export beginning Dec. 13, 2009.
[SOURCE: The Israel Project: http://www.theisraelproject.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=hsJPK0PIJpH&b=689705&ct=6478505 ]
At around six fifteen, the pro-Israel pro-peace side got tired of the tantrums from the spoiled children of liquor store owners, and decided to head out to dinner, leaving misbehaved delinquents and high-school drop-outs to shout into an empty street.
I hope they all caught cold. We have too many liquor stores in San Francisco.
Posted by Steffy at 2:43 PM No comments:
Here is a list of people who have crippled moral and ethical sensibilities.
What ELSE do they have in common?
Adam Keller
Anat Biletski
Anat Matar
Beate Zilversmidt
Cynthia McKinney
David Theo Goldberg
Hava Kelleradam
Katherine M. Fuchs
Leslie Feinberg
Luisa Morgantini
Mairead Maguire
Mustafa Barghouti
Noam Chomsky, MIT
Norman Finklestein
Phyllis Bennis
Rashid Khalidi
Ronnie Kasrils
Tarun J. Tejpal
No, it isn't membership in a socialist sex-cult. That would be relatively harmless.
Hint: it is illegal in the US, but NOT in the Arab world. Where, like the sexual exploitation, abuse and murder of religious minorities, gays, and women, it is pandemic.
Posted by Chaim ben David at 2:43 PM 5 comments:
Women in Black celebrating the birth of Jesus
Due to the nativity of their lord, Berkeley Women in Black will NOT be holding their usual mute vigil today. Instead, they will be giving toy kalashnikovs and little checkered scarves to their grand-children, and singing reworked carols that specifically include mention of the remarkable machismatic similarities between imprisoned Palestinian activists and the young radical Jesus.
We wish them a merry, politically correct, sufferingly meaningful, and Berkeleyite in every way Christmas. Even the Methodists among them.
Enjoy your roast tofu and wheat-germ, girls, you deserve it!
We'll see you again on the thirty first. Bring booze this time.
Posted by Chaim ben David at 4:05 AM 1 comment:
Overcoming Speechlessness
I notice that Alice Walker has reposted to her blog an essay entitled "Overcoming Speechlessness: a Poet Encounters "the horror" in Rwanda, Eastern Congo, and Palestine/Israel". I had thought to write something about this essay when I first read it, but I put it aside. Other matters were pressing, and, well, I didn't know where to begin. But now it's back, and rather than grinding my teeth, I'm overcoming my own speechlessness and saying something, hardly everything there is to say, about it.
It's hard to know how to begin to tackle this enormous, sprawling, hateful and clueless essay. Maybe at the top, where there is a picture of Walker posing with "Hamas Sister, Huda Naim, Member of Parliament, and Mother of five children". Maybe just a piece at a time, picking out a piece or two that got my Irish up.
Walker begins the essay with an account of meetings and travels in Africa. She begins with the stories of women in Rwanda and Congo who have survived things that make you want to scream to think of them. And then, she brings us to her understanding of Israel:
Like most people on the planet, I have been aware of the Palestinian-Israel conflict almost my whole life. I was four years old in 1948 when, after being
subjected to unspeakable cruelty by the Germans, after a "holocaust" so many future disasters would resemble, thousands of European Jews were resettled in Palestine. They settled in a land that belonged to people already living there, which did not seem to bother the British who, as in India, had occupied Palestine and then, on leaving it, helped put in place a partitioning of the land they thought would work fine for the people, strangers, Palestinians and European Jews, now forced to live together.
Does the willful ignorance take away your breath yet? The "holocaust" in quotes, which doesn't reflect past treatment of Jews but 'future' disasters, the European Jews who passively "were settled" there? The ignorance of the history of Zionism, of the thriving communities of Jews already living in the land, working and living on land they owned? The communities of Jews living in what is now Israel, since Ottoman times or before? The people who came during the ninteenth century, and the first half of the twentieth, to build a country? The non-European Jews who came after the war--oh, Alice, tell me why you think they came from countries they had lived in since the Babylonian Empire was a going political power, lands like Iraq and Egypt? That's not to even bring up the Jewish people's connection to and presence on this land going back to the Bronze Age, which I'm sure Alice doesn't take into account at all.
So this woman knows nothing, nothing at all, about Israeli history, and yet she is going to write an essay about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. From the heart, one supposes.
So many Jews.
Alice wants you to know about all the Jews, seeking justice, who went to Gaza with her. This includes:
A woman in her late fifties or early sixties stood at the front of the bus, as we passed donkey carts and Mercedes Benzes, and spoke of traveling to Palestine without her husband, a Jewish man who was born in Palestine. Several times they had come back to Palestine, renamed Israel, to see family. To attend graduations, weddings, and funerals. Each time they were held for hours at the airport as her husband was stripped, searched, interrogated, and threatened when he spoke up for himself. In short, because his passport was stamped with the place of his birth, Palestine, he was treated like a Palestinian. This Jewish husband sent his best wishes, but he could no longer endure travel in so painful a part of the world.
A Jewish man who was born in Palestine? How could that be, Alice? I thought they were resettled after the war by the Brits. Oh, never mind. I am supposed to believe that Israeli customs officials have never seen a passport issued to someone born in British Palestine before, and treat him like an enemy, because he is 'Palestinian'? Alice, sorry, but this is BS. Your ignorance of the country you see as the stronghold of racism and discrimination is leading you to swallow bubbemeisehs.
Let me tell you another story, and ask why you think this man's wife was not on the bus with you. The grandfather of a woman I know used to go every year, by train, to British Palestine, to pray at the Tomb of the Patriarch. It's a long train ride from Baghdad to Hebron, but he went every year, and then he prayed, not at the Tomb itself, because Jews were not allowed inside, but from the outside, as close as he was permitted to the shrine itself. His children and grandchildren now live in Israel and the United States, because within a decade of the founding of the State of Israel, Iraq was no longer a safe place to live as a Jew. Alice, did your guides introduce you to anyone who could tell you a story like this? Why do you think this man's wife, or his daughter, were not on your bus to tell their stories?
Rubble.
And she describes Gaza, and she asks: If children are not safe playing in their schoolyards, where are they safe?
And I think of pictures of children dead in Sderot, and I wonder at this woman's inability to see more than one snapshot of a conflict.
May God Protect You From The Jews
Alice encounters an old woman in Gaza:
I gave her a gift I had brought, and she thanked me. Looking into my eyes she said: May God protect you from the Jews. When the young Palestinian interpreter told me what she'd said, I responded: It's too late, I already married one.
What a moment of solidarity, between the Palestinian woman and the leftist American novelist. A racial slur. Beautiful. But of course, Alice has a reason:
I said this partly because, like so many Jews in America, my former husband could not tolerate criticism of Israel's behavior toward the Palestinians. Our very different positions on what is happening now in Palestine/Israel and what has been happening for over fifty years, has been perhaps our most severe disagreement. It is a subject we have never been able to rationally discuss. He does not see the racist treatment of Palestinians as the same racist treatment of blacks and some Jews that he fought against so nobly in Mississippi.
I wonder, Alice, if that might be because you've never bothered to learn the true history and the more complicated stories, and when you hear that from him, you turn off your ears and close your heart. But, no, clearly the ethnic slurs are justified.
I'm being mocking here because I don't know how else to respond. The sheer, stupid, self-justifying ugliness in this passage stopped my heart for a moment.
It's the pretension of awareness that gets to me. The self-anointing as struggler in a cause seen out of context, seen with no historical understanding, or knowledge of the broader world. The photographs with the Hamas 'Sister', with no understanding of what Hamas is, what they have done, who they are. The justifications for everything. The unwavering willingness to be the latest poor dumb American to come along and not look for any hidden truth or moral ambiguities.
May I never have to overcome speechlessness when it comes to lies and ignorance like this.
Posted by BBJ at 4:42 PM No comments:
Labels: Alice Walker, anti-Semitism, Gaza, Israel
MIDDLE EAST GANGSTER REGIMES
Treppenwitz has a cogent posting today with which I cannot but agree. So, as has happened before, he is guest-posting here.
Double standard? What double standard?!
As the late Mr. Roger's used to sing, "Who are the people in your neighborhood, in your neighborhood, in your nei-bor-hood...?" Let's take a peek, shall we?
Jordan...a country and monarchy invented out of whole cloth by the British (in direct violation of their Mandate) which everyone loves to think of as the most enlightened, democratic member of the Arab world.
'King' Abdullah just dissolved the legislature and pushed off elections indefinitely.
Outrage? Anyone... anyone? Oh yeah, I forgot. We have to respect their unique culture.
Lebanon... Another 'enlightened' Arab state. 'Paris of the Mediterranean' they like to call it. A cafe culture so close to our own that misguided lefty Israeli journalists are compelled to do a Jane Fonda-esque cameo from Beirut within hours of a shameful end to a war... a war that was started by these peace-loving, latte-sipping Lebanese! These same Lebanese now count Hezbollah - a terrorist militia that was supposed to be disarmed under the terms of U.N. Resolution 1701 - as part of their government. For context, that would be like the KKK holding a veto-wielding majority in the U.S. Congress, and also being given the right to raise and command their own army.
Syria... Another country made up out of whole cloth... this time by the French. Funny how Europeans who love to toss the word 'Colonial Power'' at Israel conveniently forget that it was Israel's neighbors that were created in the last gasp of the colonial era, while Israel was voted into being by a recognized legal world body. But don't tell that to any of the religious or ethnic minorities in the Arab world... it might stir them from their satisfied slumber. Syria's constitution requires that all positions of power remain in the hands of the Ba'ath party... and even though there is a national referendum for president every seven years, the Syrian people are essentially required to appoint the head of the Ba'ath Party as President. Thus this bastion of democracy is essentially saddled forever with a dynastic ethnic minority (Alawite) leader who also happens to head a minority political party.
Iran... Do we really need to do this exercise? They call themselves an Islamic Republic yet ironically consider Israel's self definition as a Jewish state to be racist. And as to the 'republic' part, any country where the highest office - called 'The Supreme Leader' - is a religious leader and not subject to election... well, I don't think you'll find that one in Wikipedia under 'Republic'. And as to their elections... I think we can pretty much agree that the outcome of these farces are set and approved by the Supreme leader well before anyone goes near a ballot box.
Iraq... Okay, since the U.S. kinda pushed the 'reset' button on the Iraqi government and all instruments of power when they invaded, it will be some time before we know what the political face of this country will look like long-term. But the likelihood that anybody will be playing nice with anyone else once the U.S. leaves the sandbox is not very high.
Saudi Arabia... Pshah! Another theocracy (see Iran, above) in a region where only Israel is castigated for religious 'offences'. The Saudis cut off the hands and feet of petty criminals and behead drug dealers. The Royal family is a dysfunctional nightmare from the dark ages, and less than 5% of Saudi women are allowed to work (the lowest percentage in the world). Heck, Saudi women aren't even allowed to drive! And if you wants to talk about freedom of speech... well you'd better not be in Saudi Arabia because it doesn't exist. There are actual laws against criticizing the government or anyone in the royal family.
Yemen... Another so-called 'republic'... this country is a model of a modern democracy, if you don't count the rampant corruption, torture, inhumane treatment of political prisoners and even extra-judicial executions. But on the feminist front there seems to be some progress (not!). They have recently abolished the rule whereby the onset of puberty marked the minimum age for a girl's marriage.
Apparently those romantic Yemenis couldn't wait that long to bed their child brides. Again, outrage anyone?
Gaza... Puleeze, can anyone say failed proto-state? If anyone were to faithfully document the situation in Gaza and make it into a movie, the American Muslim Anti Discrimination Committee would protest the absurd depiction of the adherents to 'the religion of peace' as sub-human terrorists.
Egypt... Okay, this one is really scary in much the same way as watching a car crash in slow motion. We have an aging autocrat hanging on to power by the skin of his teeth while the Muslim Brotherhood is already passing out portfolios in anticipation of their inevitable rise to power. Even though in theory the executive power is split between the President and Prime Minister, in reality all of the power rests with the president. Mubarak has even changed the election laws, raising the threshold for potential opposing candidates so high that he is virtually assured to remain in power for however much time remains of his life.
So it was beyond laughable when the current Israeli government was being formed, that much of the world (including our closest allies) bemoaned the end of Israeli democracy because Netanyahu's choice for Foreign Minister had some, let's just say 'controversial' opinions. And the two countries from the list of thugocracies above that are actually on speaking terms with us (Jordan and Egypt) had the gall to announce that they wouldn't meet with our FM. Nice.
Seriously, when are we going to simply announce to the world that we will play by whatever rules they want... but only if everyone will be bound by the same rules? How's that for a controversial opinion?!
http://bogieworks.blogs.com/treppenwitz/
This post:
http://www.treppenwitz.com/2009/12/double-standard-what-double-standard.html
In point of fact, while Israel may not be perfect, as so many members of the ultra-enlightened fringe always take pains to point out, it is the only modern and civilized country in the Middle-East. The rest are little more than thug-bucket tyrannies, whose people still have a long way to go. And they aren't going to get there anytime soon. Not while they and the despots that rule them adhere to feudal mores and barbaric values.
"We have to respect their unique culture"
Actually, I respect their food. Their cultures do not particularly impress me.
Yes, back in the dark ages, they had algebra and medicine. That early promise has not manifested itself more significantly since then.
They also had slavery, repression, and tyranny.
Which, more or less, is remarkably similar to their present state.
There are indeed enlightened Arabs - many enlightened Arabs. They are constantly threatened by their own regimes, and often brutally slaughtered. Do not expect them to speak out on their own behalf - doing so would be committing suicide.
The only ones who can speak out for them are the 'ultra-enlightened' members of Western Societies. Who, alas, seem more concerned with "respecting their unique culture".
It is the unique cowardice and hypocrisy of the European socialists and the American leftwing which keeps Arabs from ever realizing their potential.
A hot-house culture of Colourful Ethnics is so much easier to deal with.
Posted by The back of the hill at 1:28 PM No comments:
Egypt Says No to the Gaza Freedom March
Egypt has made the decision that it doesn't want to be responsible for 1000 Code pinkers wandering through its territory. And so the email deluge begins. Did you all get this whining little missive from "Jewish Peace News"? :
We are determined to break the siege. We all will continue to do whatever we can to make it happen
Using the pretext of escalating tensions on the Gaza-Egypt border, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry informed us yesterday that the Rafah border will be closed over the coming weeks, into January. We responded that there is always tension at the border because of the siege, that we do not feel threatened, and that if there are any risks, they are risks we are willing to take. We also said that it was too late for over 1,300 delegates coming from over 42 countries to change their plans now. We both agreed to continue our exchanges.
Although we consider this as a setback, it is something we've encountered -and overcome- before. No delegation, large or small, that entered Gaza over the past 12 months has ever received a final OK before arriving at the Rafah border. Most delegations were discouraged from even heading out of Cairo to Rafah. Some had their buses stopped on the way. Some have been told outright that they could not go into Gaza. But after public and political pressure, the Egyptian government changed its position and let them pass.
Our efforts and plans will not be altered at this point. We have set out to break the siege of Gaza and march on December 31 against the Israeli blockade. We are continuing in the same direction.
Egyptian embassies and missions all over the world must hear from us and our supporters (by phone, fax and email)** over the coming crucial days, with a clear message: Let the international delegation enter Gaza and let the Gaza Freedom March proceed.
Contact your local consulate here: http://www.mfa. gov.eg/MFA_ Portal/en- GB/mfa_websits/
Contact the Palestine Division in Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cairo
Ahmed Azzam, tel +202-25749682 Email: ahmed.azzam@ mfa.gov.eg
In the U.S., contact the Egyptian Embassy, 202-895-5400 and ask for Omar Youssef or email omaryoussef@ hotmail.com
Tell them there is no "Siege". Tell them just this month
* The amount of merchandise entering the Gaza Strip increased - over 64,000 tons (89% from the private sector and only 11% from the international community) of food, medicines, hygiene products, clothing, agricultural supplies, and cement.
* Fuel: Almost 10 million liters of diesel fuel for the power station and over 1,100 tons of cooking gas were delivered to the Gaza Strip.
* 7,000 heads of cattle were imported for the Eid al-Adha holiday.
* 1,862 Palestinians crossed from the Gaza Strip into Israel, the West Bank and the Allenby Bridge crossing.
* 848 International staff members entered the Gaza Strip.
* 83 Israelis entered the G.S for humanitarian reasons.
* The Erez Terminal renovations are almost complete on the Palestinian side. All that is needed is the installation of the electrical wiring in order to complete the project. This should be accomplished in December.
* The Power Plant in Gaza received 12 new transformers as well as other electrical equipment.
* The North Gaza Wastewater facility was discussed at several meetings between World Bank officials and members of the Palestinian and Israeli infrastructure teams.
* Communications equipment was delivered to the Palestinian Water Authority.
And tell the Code Pinkers the pyramids of Giza are much more educational than the Gaza strip
Labels: Gaza, Gaza Freedom March, Jewish Peace news
Aipac protests in San Francisco
The subheading of this post should be: "In the words of Eric Cartman, 'I hate you guys, I hate you guys so very very much!'."
Wednesday 12/15/2009, San Francisco: Last night AIPAC came to town. As every year, that attracted the Israel haters and psychopaths. Which includes the following short list
• AlAwda.
• ANSWER.
• Code Pink (represented by Toby and someone of indeterminate gender).
• International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (saboteurs, the sexually frustrated, damaged psyches, and mister Kanter).
• International Solidarity Movement, (Paul Larudee and assorted fans of Hamas and Hezbollah).
• Jim Harris (a simple soul, who just can NOT keep his mouth shut, bless him).
• Joe Webb (an old-style anti-Semite with clothing that advertises insanity).
• Middle East Children's Alliance (only Arab children are children, all others are occupiers).
• Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism ('Turkeys for Thanksgiving').
• San Francisco State students.
• Stop AIPAC -Bay Area.
• The Bay Area Campaign to End Israeli Apartheid.
There were the usual tantrums from middle-aged Berkeleyites, virulent hate-spews from SFState students and children of liquor store owners, plus anemic chanting and idiotic talking points from the ideologically autistic (yes, Dick Becker, that means you - although Jim Harris did try to steal your thunder).
It was a veritable feast of instability, fantasy, and delusional signage.
Hassan Fouda and his lovely wife Marilyn also showed up, both well-known for justifying violent acts against 'the occupier', and for channeling a unique brand of Jew-hatred - just ask folks in California, Connecticut, and Utah about them, though at least one individual in Maryland begs to differ.
They're pathological, they can't help it.
Thank heavens they found each other.
Theirs is a unique love.
The poltroons from the NLG were under deep cover, possibly as a result of their blatant instigation and agitation at the last manifestation of Jew-hatred. Bad PR, even in San Francisco.
That's okay, we love you girls - say hi to Lily Haskell, I didn't see her last night.
Several members of the anti-Israel crowd were dressed eccentrically: an Uncle Sam, a yogi, Flower Child, Evil Santa, SS Stripper, Raggedy Man, and a teenager with a keffiyeh around his face who does not want his dad to find out that he was jeopardizing his family's stay in the United States (don't worry, we won't tell).
Again, most of the crowd of hate-filled zealots was comprised of self-righteous middle-aged ladies from Berkeley, a few of whom are Jewish, though there are also many Methodists, Presbyterians, Unitarians, and Wiccans among their ranks.
This year no obvious infiltrators from Lily Haskell's little clique - again, we didn't see her or her handler - and far-fewer of the potentially violent teenagers that Dick Becker so likes; ANSWER has waned to such an extent that worry is evident on Dick Becker's wan face.
Also missing from the fray was Becker's chief flunky (Forrest Chump), maybe he's finally found gainful employment? If so, kudos.
I was very surprised to see Paul Larudee - after that ridiculous stuttering talk he gave in Oakland on Monday night, I though he had had enough of us.
You know Paul, two years ago you were saying that the Palestinians were descendants of the ancient Philistines, now you're claiming that they are Jews who first converted to Christianity, then converted to Islam. Can you at least be consistent? Or will you keep making it up as you go along, you wily devil?
Even Kate Bender Rafael is more reliable than you, she's dumb as an ox ALL the time.
Of course, you're still better than Rob Kanter.
You may be more ethical, too.
No actual record.
About forty pro-Israel activists, no more than a hundred anti-Israel individuals. Quite the worst turn-out for the radical pro-Palestinians in years. Pathetic.
Zionism- controlling the media, finance and impeding evolution
Every Friday for years, Berkeley Women in Black has made a practice of harassing students at UC Berkeley. Students at the University call this phenomenon "Black Friday". According to one blogger,
"The only thing more Berkeley than having an inflammatory opinion is gathering together a cadre of similarly-minded people and staging an unimpressive display to annoy passers-by."
Berkeley Women in Black have accused Israel and the Jewish people of controlling the media, government, and the banking industry for years. However on Friday Dec 4, Berkeley Women in Black (now including people of indeterminate gender) added a new accusation to the repertoire of dastardly Zionist deeds. Apparently the tag team of great Satan and little Satan is now "impeding evolution".
Berkeley Women in Black- bringing a bit of dreariness and surrealism into Berkeley, each and every Friday.
Labels: Berkeley Women in Black
Pro Hamas Rally San Francisco Union Square Dec 27 ...
Zionism- controlling the media, finance and impedi...


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Ambassador Yuddy Chrisnandi: "Important to increase direct business contacts between Indonesia and Ukraine"
An exclusive interview with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Indonesia Prof. Dr. H.Yuddy Chrisnandi, S.H., M.E., for the Interfax-Ukraine news agency
Q: Relations between Indonesia and Ukraine have been developing dynamically in past years. How do you estimate the level of utilization of the potential of Ukraine-Indonesia cooperation in the economic and political spheres? In which spheres is this potential being realized most effectively?
A: There is a dialogue mechanism between the two countries. In particular, it is the Indonesia-Ukraine Joint Commission and the Joint Consultation Forum that can continue to be activated as a forum for bilateral cooperation in the political, economic, trade, and technical spheres.
Both platforms have been well implemented, their meetings are held regularly both in Indonesia and in Ukraine. What is further needed is to make efforts to have more active participation from all stakeholders in the meetings, so that all results of the discussions and agreements produced during such meetings can be implemented properly.
Q: According to our statistics, Indonesia is not yet among top 20 importers/exporters of Ukraine. What are the figures of trade between the two countries recorded by your country's statistics agency and do you have any plans to boost commodity turnover between the countries? In which branches of economy do you see potential for growth?
A: The total value of bilateral trade in 2018 was $864.46 million, it was $835.84 million and $872.63 million in 2017 and in 2016, respectively. The value of bilateral trade is expected to exceed $1 billion in the coming year.
Key staples of Indonesian exports to Ukraine are palm oil and its derivative products, while Ukraine ships mainly wheat and derivatives to Indonesia. This shows that agricultural cooperation can be a trigger for increased economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
In the past five years, Ukraine has been the second largest trading partner for Indonesia in Central and Eastern Europe after Russia. In contrast, Indonesia is one of Ukraine's biggest trading partners from the ASEAN region.
Q: Palm oil accounts for the largest share of Indonesian exports. Many Ukrainians consider palm oil to be an unhealthy product. Can you bust this myth?
A: Indonesia is the largest exporter of palm oil in the world. In 2017, Indonesia met 81.6% of Ukraine's demand for palm oil. Palm oil is mostly used for cooking and is added to many ready-to-eat foods. This oil is also found in many non-food products, such as toothpaste, soap and cosmetics. In addition, it can be used to produce biodiesel fuel which serves as an alternative energy source.
Palm oil is an Indonesia's flagship commodity. It is extremely versatile, high yielding and competitive. However, for last decade Indonesia's palm oil is facing various challenges. One of the biggest challenges is a negative campaign against palm oil promoted by other vegetable oil producers. This negative campaign becomes increasingly intense, structured, systematic, and massive, involving international and local anti-palm oil NGOs and using mass media and social media. The negative campaign does not only touch the environmental issue but has spread to economic, social, and particularly health issues, which affect public opinion globally including in Ukraine.
The unhealthy reputation of palm oil is baseless. It is scientifically proven that palm oil contains the three major fat types in proportions similar to those in the human body, namely: palmitic acid, omega-9 oleic acid, and omega-6 linoleic acid. And, the monounsaturates contained in palm oil help to lower 'bad' LDL cholesterol. Palm oil also contains essential A and E vitamins (carotenoids and tocotrienols). In fact, palm oil has been linked to several health benefits, including protecting brain function, reducing heart disease risk factors and improving vitamin A status.
We see the bad opinion against palm oil as a reflection of the fear of non-producing countries and the efforts to protect their own vegetable oil production. Thus, negative campaign against palm oil is an act of protection and discrimination against specific products and this is unacceptable under global trade rules.
Q: Statistical reports show that wheat and corn accounted for the lion's share of Ukrainian grain exports in the nine months of 2018 (11.2 million tonnes and 13.7 million tonnes, respectively), while the share of barley (2.5 million tonnes) is also significant. The largest buyers of Ukrainian grain were Egypt (11.5% of the value of supply), China (8.8%), Spain (7.3%), the Netherlands (7%), Indonesia (5.9%), Saudi Arabia (5.7%), and Italy (5%). Global demand for grain is growing faster than the supply. Ukraine has all the prerequisites to become one of the key grain producers and supplier on the global market. Indonesia is already a stable buyer of Ukrainian grain. Does your country face any challenges in phytosanitary control of grain supplies? And how do you assess prospects for cooperation in agriculture, including farm produce shipments from Ukraine to Indonesia?
A: In 2013-2017, grain imports from Ukraine to Indonesia were steadily increasing. In 2017, grain shipments totaled $328,625 which placed Ukraine as the second largest seller of grain to Indonesia after Australia. Wheat and meslin, and maize or corn are among the top detailed products imported by Indonesia from Ukraine, not to mention other products such as buckwheat, millet, grain sorghum, barley, oats, and rye.
In the middle of 2018, Indonesian authorities issued a number of non-compliance notifications related to the consignments of Ukrainian wheat grain infected with some fungi namely Tilletia indica, Tilletia tritici, and Tilletia laevis. In order to minimize any risks – either current or potential – that may be associated with these fungi, hence Indonesia phytosanitary authorities are requiring that all the wheat grain exported to Indonesia has to undergo heat treatment to ensure wheat grain free from viable germinated spore of those fungi and no any live stage of quarantine pest. The treatment has to be done in the country of origin (Ukraine) and effectively entered into force on January 1, 2019.
Agriculture products feature highly in trade between Indonesia and Ukraine. Indonesia needs Ukrainian cereals, dairy products and berries while Ukraine needs Indonesian palm oil, coffee, tea, cocoa, and other plantation crops. Alongside those key commodities, there are opportunities in emerging markets that Ukrainian exporters should be harnessed. A growing population and middle class in Indonesia, and a high rate of urbanization have led to changes in the dietary patterns and food demand of the future. Higher incomes and better knowledge tend to make consumers demand healthier and more diversified food. Hence, there is a large potential market for superfood in Indonesia like pulse crops which develop well in Ukraine. Besides, although a majority Muslim nation, there are opportunities to grow the wine and pork market in Indonesia, recognizing that non-Muslim minority populations in Indonesia account for over 30 million consumers and with increasing international visitors to Indonesia, there is also a visitor market for this produce.
Q: GDP of Indonesia increased by 5.2% in 2018; your country's government plans to reach 5-5.4% in 2019. According to the predictions of Standard Chartered PLC, Indonesia will reach the top 10 economies in 2020 and it will be fourth in the list of countries in terms of GDP in 2030. Which financial and economic measures will help to achieve such goals?
A: Indonesia is the largest economy in Southeast Asia and is one of the emerging market economies in the world. The country is also a member of G20 and classified as a newly industrialized country. Starting from 2015, under the President Joko Widodo administration, the Indonesian government has launched about 16 economic policy packages that aim to improve efforts to maintain the country's fiscal and monetary stability, which also includes controlled inflation; prioritize an open economic system; cut bureaucracy to become more efficient; build infrastructure facilities to accelerate regional economic growth; encourage the private sector and the community to develop independent businesses; increase the competitiveness of domestic industries for international markets, and; to ease the process for foreign direct investment.
Q: Ukrainians have started to travel more due to positive changes in the visa-free regime with many countries and more international airlines announce new flights to Ukraine. To which cities and by which airlines are there flights between Indonesia and Ukraine? Are there any changes that might take place in 2019-2020?
A: I see that more and more residents and tourists from Ukraine visit Indonesia. Even though there are no direct flights yet without transit from Ukraine to Indonesia and vice versa, but nowadays there are several international airlines that have connected the destinations of the two countries, such as: Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, KLM, as well as Emirates. Their main destination is through Bali and Jakarta.
I am of the view that the most important thing is to strive to increase the number of tourist visits to each country. For this reason, the Indonesian Embassy continues to disseminate information on tourist destinations to the people in Ukraine, including through websites, business forums with local business people and visits to Ukrainian tour operators or trips of writers to Indonesia.
Q: What is the current situation with visas for citizens of Indonesia to Ukraine and for Ukrainians to Indonesia?
A: Based on Presidential Decree Number 21 of 2016, around 169 countries were freed from the obligation to have visa for visiting Indonesia, including citizens of Ukraine. The decree provides visa-free travel for up to 30 days of stay. Those travelling without visas can go out and enter through 124 immigration checkpoints on land, sea and air.
Indonesia expects its citizens can get the same convenience when visiting Ukraine. This is part of the efforts of the two countries to improve people-to-people contact.
Q: Do you have any statistics related to tourism? How many citizens of Ukraine visited Indonesia in 2018? What are the dynamics? How many Indonesian citizens have visited Ukraine? Are there any plans for Indonesia to introduce incentives for Ukrainians to visit your country?
A: Some 23,468 Ukrainian tourists visited Indonesia in 2018, whereas there were 32,964 Ukrainians in 2017 and 14,076 in 2016. The increasing number of visits shows the desire of Ukrainian tourists to get to know more about arts, history and natural beauty of Indonesian tourist destinations. In general, Bali is most popular with Ukrainian tourists.
The number of Ukrainian tourists as well as international tourists decreased in 2018 because of an earthquake which shook the Bali region and its surrounding in July-August 2018. Tours and flights were canceled for the safety of tourists.
It is expected that in future they will also be able to visit other areas which are Ten New Bali destinations in various regions in Indonesia. These are: Lake Toba (North Sumatra), Tanjung Lesung (Banten), The Thousand Islands (Jakarta), Tanjung Kelayang Beach (Bangka Belitung Islands), Borobudur Temple (Central Java), Mount Bromo (East Java), Mandalika (West Nusa Tenggara), Labuan Bajo (East Nusa Tenggara), Wakatobi (South Sulawesi), and Morotai Island (North Maluku).
However, only fewer than 1,000 Indonesian tourists visited Ukraine in 2017.
Q: What achievements is Indonesia proud of in the world markets and what is the situation with the realization of such achievements in Ukraine?
A: The main Indonesia's exports commodities in the world market are: rubber, textile goods, palm oil and its derivatives, cocoa, and coffee. While Indonesia's exports to Ukraine, among others, are: palm oil, rubber, electric machinery/tools, coffee, footwear, cocoa, and paper. In future, Indonesia hopes to meet the demand of the Ukrainian market for such commodities as: tropical fruit, fish and seafood, furniture/forestry products, and various ready-made/packaged foods.
To make this happen, I consider it important to increase direct business contacts between Indonesian and Ukrainian business people. This year, Indonesia plans several activities in Ukraine that present companies or Indonesian business people to be able to attend exhibitions or business meetings.
For the above said reason, the Embassy supports the efforts and projects of Indonesian companies/ businessmen who open their business in Ukraine, for example:
- YA Limited; located in Kyiv, its core business is nanotechnology and chemical industry.
- Mesail Bisnis Internasional (MBI); located in Kharkiv, its core business is export-import of wheat and palm oil.
- Indonesian Social Kitchen Restaurant 17.804; located in Kyiv, its core business is public catering and restaurant.
Q: Indonesia is among the promising partners of Ukraine in the military and technical cooperation in Southeast Asia: the supply of Ukrainian armored and aviation equipment, as well as the repair and modernization of weapons under the order of the Indonesian military, are among the issues of military and technical cooperation. As Head of Ukraine's Ukroboronprom Concern Pavlo Bukin said, Ukraine is ready to offer its Indonesian partners joint projects in aircraft manufacturing and shipbuilding, as well as in high-precision weapons. How do you assess the prospects for the development of cooperation with Ukraine in the military-industrial sphere?
A: Indonesia is currently continuing to develop its defense forces to be able to protect its territory and strive to be able to meet the minimum targets for its armed forces. And for that, good personnel are needed and supported by adequate defense equipment.
Indonesia welcomes all cooperation of friendly countries including Ukraine who want to sell weapons and military equipment to Indonesia. Our country will always consider the offer if it is supported by technical cooperation. This has also been supported by the signing of the two countries' defense cooperation agreement in 2016.
Q: Is any visit of high-ranking officials of Indonesia to Ukraine in the pipeline this year? Do you expect leaders of Ukraine to visit your country this year?
A: Yes we are working on the possibility of a high level visit from Indonesia this year, to reciprocate the visit of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to Indonesia in 2016. However arranging a visit this year will not be an easy task because Indonesia will have general elections in April 2019. But we will do our best to make it reality.
Q: One of the areas that Indonesia and Ukraine can cooperate in is the fight against corruption, in the form of sharing of experience.
A: Yet, I agree. One of the areas that Indonesia and Ukraine can join hands is the fight against corruption, we can share experience and exchange information.
Indonesia has achieved a notable success in this particular area in the last two decades. In the wake of the crippling Asian financial crisis in 1997, Indonesia in 1998 made a historic decision to undergo a massive political overhaul called "reformasi," which includes amendments to the Constitution, regional autonomy, the election system by introducing direct presidential election, and establishment of an anti-corruption agency called "Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi" (Corruption Eradication Commission), or the KPK.
Twenty years later the KPK has proven itself as a very effective body. Equipped with strong political support from the government, parliament, and the society, the KPK has succeeded in spearheading a nation-wide movement against corruption. As a result, we can see now the growing culture of transparency, openness, and accountability, in basically all sectors – government or private, which further translates into a growing confidence of investors and business communities about Indonesia. Now, Indonesia is the seventh largest economy (in terms of Purchasing Power Parity, PPP), the fact that many international observers would never had predicted twenty years ago.
What Ukraine can learn from Indonesia is that it is possible to make significant changes in the short term. Also, from Indonesian perspective, it is important that Ukrainian people have extensive references about reform success stories that can be incorporated into the Ukrainian national strategy of corruption prevention and economic development.
Q: Indonesia is inhabited by more than a hundred nations and nationalities of different religions, now almost 270 million people officially live in the country, and with all this, civil peace is preserved in the country. What is the secret here?
A: There's no short answer to this question. There are so many factors that contribute to the harmonious life in Indonesia. Among the most obvious are, firstly, we speak one language although we have hundreds of local languages. Secondly, the bond that created between ethnicities was born from our common history in fighting colonial power. Thirdly, in Indonesia we understand that differences are assets, they enrich lives. We learn from each other and we appreciate each other. I think those are the secrets, among many other things, to the harmonious life in Indonesia.
Tags: #yuddy_chrisnandi #indonesia
No Ukrainians among tsunami victims in Indonesia — FM
No Ukrainians aboard crashed plane in Indonesia
Poroshenko signs law on ratifying agreement with Indonesia on cooperation in defense industry
Cabinet approves agreement with Indonesia on abolition of visas for citizens with diplomatic passports
Ukraine promoting supplies of An-148-300MP maritime patrol planes in Indonesia
Ukraine to expand military-technical cooperation with Indonesia
Ukraine to step up cooperation with Indonesia in trade
Poroshenko arrives in Indonesia on state visit
Indonesia to let citizens from 169 countries, incl. Ukraine, to stay for up to 30 days without visa
Indonesia introduces free visa regime for Ukrainians arriving for less than 30 days, apart from journalists
Presidential adviser Pavlenko: If Orthodox Church of Ukraine acts in accordance with tomos, it won't be 'taken away'
Greminger: Let us focus on making our utmost to create an environment that will allow free and fair elections
Adoption of law on Anti-Corruption Court agreed with IMF is prerequisite for building democratic Ukraine – U.S. ambassador
Ambassadors of Germany and France: Anti-corruption court should become the key element of anti-corruption system in Ukraine
Ukrenergo CEO Kovalchuk: 'My team is Ukrenergo's main asset. And it is definitely a driver of reform in the power industry'
U.S. Senior Commercial Officer: "There is great potential for continued bilateral trade growth"
President of VR Capital Group: We would not have made investments if we had not firmly believed in Ukraine
UNDP Deputy Country Director in Ukraine: UNDP not only procures medicines, but supports reforms
CEO of RTE-International: Primary Reserves and Compliance with ENTSO-E Requirements among Success Factors for Integration of the Ukrainian Power System into the European Grid
Valerii Makovetskyi, director of Foxtrot Group of Companies: We hope the market to become entirely white within two-three years…
CEO of IKEA South-East Europe: We want our business to expand rapidly in Ukraine
Zgurovsky: A financial audit of Ukroboronprom will answer the question about the past, a strategic audit – about the future of the concern
Senior Vice President of AGCO: We set to win 20% of Ukraine's market of Western-made tractors within three years

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The best proposal to take care the health of your workers, the occupational medicine contributes to the identification and analysis of the conditions within the workplace, including the ability to perform work, the physical, chemical, biological and social environments of the workplace and the health outcomes of environmental exposures. The prevention and management of occupational and environmental injury, illness and disability.
Furthermore, a satisfactory system of healthcare management and occupational medicine help us prevent occupational injury and illness and also decrease the accident rates, facilitating an optimum performance at the same time ensuring the worker health and well – being.
Occupational medicine clinicians assess workplace conditions and medical evaluation to develop a treatment program by focusing on the physical and mental well- being of employees according to the legal valid requirements.
Pre – occupational, dedicated to rule out a preexisting pathologies that may get worse by the risk all employee will be exposed; setting up a health base line at the moment of join a company.
Periodic, for early identification of pathologies and risk factors that may trigger illness and affect the working performance.
Moving or change of job, necessary to complement previous assessments, considering the occupational risks in the new place of work.
Ascent to high altitude, in accordance with the current legal requirements.
Examination for specific services, determining pathologies or health conditions can affect the performance of specific labor such as confined space, food handling, and ionizing radiation exposure, among others.
Assessing, training and consulting in order to identify and strengthen the human talent, aim to help an organization get the best performance from their employees and also improve employee's satisfaction.
Pre – occupational, provide immediately available assessment tools and techniques designed to identify potential and present capability in job applicants or job holders to guarantee the adaptation and productivity on the requested job.
Annual, identifying situation related aspects that may affect the employee's performance and satisfaction, promoting the self – knowledge and continuous improvement.
Assessment resulting of accident at work or presence of insecure behavior, to analyze the cognitive, emotional and attitudinal factors that may be affected the prevention and job security practice.
Executive assessment to guide the training and coaching processes from the identification of improvement areas in terms of skills, abilities, competencies and characteristics of applicant.
We promote the interiorizing and practicing of content related to personal and group growth and also strengthen of the prevention culture so that they attain their maximum potential and productivity for the organization and themselves.
We develop training plans depending on the characteristics and needs of every client.
We diagnosed trough evaluation and analysis of the psychosocial factors that may constitute a risk for employee performing and well-being.
We identify possible sources of work stress and we propose and monitor action plans in order to decrease their effect, enhancing the human resources and organizational of our clients.
We design and develop programs according to clients' needs, strengthen positive behavior related to attitude to safe and efficient work performance and continuous improvement.


There are many ways to make money by playing in online casinos but one game stands out for its big bucks is Poker. From a simple entertainment game of card play, today it has evolved into online gaming where players stand a chance to win really big amounts. However, not everyone can win big and not all online sites are reliable. One has to differentiate between a reliable online casino site from the 'me too' sites which may not be as reliable as one wants since one has to make a deposit to an unknown entity. As long as the money is safe, one can withdraw it, however, caution has to be employed before making a deposit.
The game involves more than one player in the real-world situation where people start to draw cards and based on the cards at hand, the betting process starts. As each card is drawn, the bet size increases and those whose card is not in a winning position, folds the card and loses the money. This goes on till one calls out or all others fold out keeping one winner. It is important that one doesn't reveal the card position to his opponent even emotionally as they might call the bluff and force to show the hands. It not necessarily one should have a winning hand, but the ability of bluff through the game which is important. Playing daftar poker online is also easy as one can play from a safe location where emotions do not matter, only the strategy. One might be playing a real person or just against a computer.
The way poker has attained prominence over the years is astonishing. From a simple time-pass game to making millions, poker has come a long way. There are evidences that as early as 1930s, articles have been written on how the game was played. It is thought to have originated from the German word, 'Pochen' which might mean to bluff. The French, The US and Persians too claim the game originated in their country but it is not conclusive. Despite this, the game attained popularity in the US when National Championships were held in the 1990s and when the US legalised gambling. Many casinos in the Atlantic City and New Jersey offered poker in their casinos. Books were written in the same period on employing strategies for the game. The widespread use of computers and internet, made the game being played by almost all.
Online gambling and casino sites are a dozen a dime and selecting a reliable site is more important before one deposits the money. Inquiries have to be made about the sites origin, years of operation, their support structure, legality for gambling, methods of deposit and withdrawal, etc. Options of the site to play against a real player or against a computer should be considered. The varieties of poker games offered by the site also play a role. Playing daftar poker online could even make one win big if they adopt a strategy and skill. After all, a poker face is not required to play online!


The UK is "strongly outperforming" the rest of G20 in decoupling emissions from economic growth, but businesses and governments have been warned that the goals of the Paris Agreement won't be achieved with current decarbonisation ambitions.
PwC published its Low Carbon Economy Index today (30 October), which tracks the G20 on its progress of reducing the carbon intensity of its economy. This year's report notes that the UK and China were the only nations to reduce carbon intensity – and decouple emissions from economic growth – in line with their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCS) to the two degrees target of the Paris Agreement.
According to the report, UK emissions fell by 6% in 2016, while GDP grew "modestly" at 1.8%, with carbon intensity falling by 7.7% as a result. PwC attributes the fall in emissions to the transition away from coal. The UK has pledged to close all coal power stations by 2025; in 2016, three major plants were shut and deep mined coal production fell from 2,784,000 tonnes to 22,000 tonnes.
China recorded a carbon intensity reduction of 6.5%, largely through reduction in coal use and installing the most renewable capacity in 2016, surpassing the US. Both the UK and China have exceeded their NDCS so far, but trajectory across the G20 needs improving.
G20 nations saw global GDP grow by 3.1%, while emissions stabilised at a growth of 0.4%. As a result, the carbon intensity of the G20 fell by 2.6% in 2016, and has done so at that rate since 2014. However, the decarbonisation rate is short of the 3% average rate required to reach national pledges to the Paris Agreement. If nations are to limit global warming to "well below two degrees", a 6.3% decarbonisation rate would be required.
PwC's director of climate change Jonathan Grant said: "As countries prepare to discuss the process for raising the ambition of their national targets at the next round of climate talks in Bonn next week, our report emphasises the fact that the Paris Agreement will only be possible if they are serious about accelerating action.
The UK also leads the G20 for the highest average decarbonisation rate since 2000, falling by 3.7% yearly on average this century. At the bottom of the index, nations such as Indonesia, Argentina, Turkey and South Africa all had emissions growth which exceeded their GDP growth.
Despite the UK's strong progress to date, the report notes that the coal-phase out is almost complete and that the Government will have to target other emission sources, such as heat and transport.
The report encourages businesses to take action to increase the resilience of assets and supply chains. There will also be greater disclosure requirements placed on businesses, as investors look to manage portfolios against the risk of "knee-jerk climate policy responses".
Specifically, the report claims that technology and innovation will determine whether nations can reach their Paris pledges, with new services and business models already disrupting certain sectors.
As part of edie's "Megatrend series", PwC charted the 'essential eight' emerging technologies that would shape how businesses could future-proof operations and capture new economic opportunities in a low-carbon world.


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Henry Lee Lucas (Blacksburg, 23 augustus 1936 - Huntsville, 13 maart 2001) was een Amerikaans crimineel. Alhoewel hij eerst een groot aantal moorden bekende, trok hij deze verklaring later in.

Bronnen beweren dat 350 moorden door hem gepleegd zijn. Rechercheur Brad Shellady beweert dat Lucas vanaf zijn vrijlating uit de gevangenis in 1975 tot aan zijn arrestatie halverwege 1983 drieduizend moorden zou hebben gepleegd, wat gelijkstaat aan ongeveer één per dag.

In de Netflix-documentaire The Confession Killer worden grote vraagtekens geplaatst bij het grote aantal moorden dat Lucas bekende. Van twintig moorden die hij bekende is inmiddels een andere dader gevonden. Daarbij is duidelijk dat Lucas geen vast type slachtoffer had, noch een vaste modus operandi, wat seriemoordenaars typeert. Van meerdere door hem bekende moorden is bekend dat hij die niet gepleegd kán hebben, omdat er bewijs is dat hij op het tijdstip van de moord ergens anders was. De serie schetst een beeld van een falend opsporingsapparaat, dat meer uit is op bekentenissen, dan op de waarheid.

Leven
Lucas werd op 23 augustus 1936 geboren te Blacksburg, Virginia. Hij omschreef zijn moeder Viola als geweldslustige prostituee. Zijn vader Anderson, voormalig spoorwegmedewerker die zijn beide benen had verloren na overreden te zijn door een goederentrein, was alcoholist en zou net als Henry onder de minachting en wreedheid van Viola lijden. Henry beweerde net als zijn halfbroer regelmatig door Viola te zijn geslagen, zonder dat daarvoor enige reden was. Hij lag een keer drie dagen in een coma nadat zijn moeder hem had bewerkt met een houten plank. Verder was Lucas ervan getuige dat zijn moeder geslachtsgemeenschap had met een groot aantal onbekende mannen. Toen hij van vrienden van zijn vader een pony kreeg, moest hij toezien hoe het dier door zijn moeder werd afgeschoten.

Lucas beweerde sinds het begin van de puberteit in aanraking te zijn gekomen met het voor het plezier wreed mishandelen en doden van dieren. Tijdens een gevecht met zijn halfbroer verloor hij een van zijn ogen (mede omdat hij de ontstane verwonding verwaarloosde), waardoor hij de rest van zijn leven een glazen oog droeg. Zijn eerste moord beging hij in 1951, op vijftienjarige leeftijd, toen hij een meisje wurgde nadat hij door haar was afgewezen. In 1954 werd hij veroordeeld voor inbraak in en rond Richmond (Virginia) en kreeg zes jaar gevangenisstraf opgelegd. Tijdens zijn verblijf in de cel is hij ontsnapt, maar werd weer gearresteerd en uiteindelijk vrijgelaten in 1959.

Aan het einde van 1959 verhuisde hij naar Tecumseh (Michigan) om bij zijn halfzus Opal te gaan wonen. Daar verloofde hij zich met een meisje, maar zijn moeder keurde zijn verloofde niet goed en beval hem terug te keren naar Virginia. Op 11 januari 1960 vermoordde Henry zijn moeder, vermoedelijk uit woede dat zij zich tegen zijn verloofde had gekeerd. Hij beweerde, na een avondje stappen, door zijn moeder te zijn gewekt uit zijn slaap en vervolgens te zijn geslagen met een bezem. Hij stak daarop zijn moeder neer met een mes. Hij vluchtte per auto naar Virginia, maar werd later in Ohio opgepakt vanwege het arrestatiebevel dat in Michigan was uitgevaardigd. Tijdens de rechtszaak beweerde hij te hebben gehandeld uit zelfverdediging, maar hij werd desondanks veroordeeld tot een gevangenisstraf van 24 jaar. Hij kwam vrij na vijftien jaar cel, op 22 augustus 1975. In december 1975 huwde hij zijn nicht Betty (die weduwe was), maar die scheidde van hem in 1977.

Ergens tussen 1976 en 1978 ontmoette hij Ottis Toole, medeplichtige in een groot aantal moorden, met wie hij ook een seksuele relatie aanknoopte. In juni 1983 werd Henry gearresteerd, eerst alleen vanwege het overtreden van de vuurwapenwet. Al gauw werd hij van diverse moorden beschuldigd en na slechts enkele dagen cel bekende hij enkele daarvan. Hij hoopte zo zijn verblijf in de cel, dat hij vanaf zijn arrestatie als inhumaan omschreef, te verbeteren. Na vele veroordelingen en invrijheidstellingen werd hij uiteindelijk veroordeeld tot de doodstraf.

Op 26 juni 1998 zette toenmalig gouverneur van Texas George W. Bush zijn doodstraf om in levenslang zonder mogelijkheid op vervroegde invrijheidstelling. Er bestond te veel twijfel omtrent de aanklacht die had geleid tot zijn veroordeling tot de doodstraf. Op 13 maart 2001 overleed Lucas in de gevangenis als gevolg van hartfalen.

Literatuur
Blaauw, J.A.: Henry Lee Lucas. Feiten en fictie over Amerika's grootste seriemoordenaar, Fontein 1999

Lucas
Lucas

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


a baptismal font in 1925 by the Ladies' Aid in memory of those who served in World War I.
a bronze plaque in 1923 in memory of Mrs. William Williams, 38 years as treasurer of the Ladies' Aid by her daughter Mrs. Jessie Williams Young.
an inscribed pulpit Bible and Hymn Book, in 1927, in memory of the late Wm. Williams, B.A., and Mrs. Williams by their daughter, Mrs. Jessie Williams Young.
a plaque, on the occassion of the installation of the present organ in memory of Mr. & Mrs. W. H. White whose sons, Harry and Fred of Chicago were generous contributors to this fund.
the chimes for the organ by Capt. and Mrs. F. A. Bassett.
chimes were placed in the Church Tower in memory of those who gave their lives or served in the armed forces during both World Wars, by the congregation.
a pulpit lamp, in 1953, in memory of Mrs. F. E. Comley by her husband and daughter Mrs. Margaret Robson.
a picture, in 1953, by the pupils of the Junior Department of Sunday School in memory of Donna Protheroe.
a communion table, in 1953, in memory of former members by the Women's Association.\a gold trimmed table runner and Latin Cross in 1953, by Dr. R. E. Robertson.
the desk in the vestry by Wm. P. Dey and son in memory of his wife, 1958.
the Sanctuary Cross and drapes for the organ screen, in 1975, by Archie and Mary Gibson.
a painting, The Head of Christ, in memory of F. E. Courtice and D'Alton Hughes, by the Rev. & Mrs. J. E. Hunter.
the protrait of the Rev. Edward Swallows.
the clock in the Banquet Hall in memory of Alex Seiggel, by members of his family.
the flags were a gift of Miss Pearl Whitesell in 1967.


text:
Rise of the machines: More robots on assembly lines; workers worry they will threaten jobs
Author: Matthew Dolan / Source: Detroit Free Press
The Universal UR10 robots' task is both simple and repetitive: pick up flimsy insulation pads known as shoddy; transfer them to a machine to be inserted into a door panel; then move the panel to a human worker for inspection.
Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press
Part of a growing trend, a Michigan auto parts supplier is installing "collaborative" robots in bid to boost efficiency. Workers hope the move makes the company competitive, boosting job security.
HURON, Ohio — Go on, touch the robot.
That's what engineering manager Tom Borro told every worker at an auto supplier factory to do when the first of six "collaborative" robots arrived last year. The idea, he said, was to make assembly line employees comfortable with their newest, mechanical colleagues known colloquially as co-bots.
It's no Terminator. Bolted to the floor with a single, swinging arm, the UR10 stands less than 6 feet tall and can lift only up to 22 pounds.
"I think people were scared to get close to it," says 67-year-old Phyllis Aslinger, an inspector on the line assembling door panels at the International Automotive Components' plant about halfway between Toledo and Cleveland on Lake Erie for nearly 28 years. A robot replaced her coworker, she says, "but I'm not afraid" of being rapped or rousted by the co-bot.
Engineering manager Tom Borro at the IAC plant in Huron, Ohio, on Thursday, October 19, 2017.
Aslinger is hardly alone. Robots are descending on industrial workplaces in record numbers.
North American robotics companies posted the strongest ever first-quarter results earlier this year, according to the Robotic Industries Association, the industry's trade group. The Ann Arbor-based trade association estimates that 250,000 robots are now in use in the U.S., the third highest in the world behind Japan and China. Online superstore Amazon, for example, reportedly has more than 125,000 full-time workers in its U.S. fulfillment center network — and 100,000 robots worldwide.
More robots are taking their place directly next to human workers. Barclays Equity Research analysts calculate that global sales of co-bots — un-sequestered robots that work within inches of humans — alone reached approximately $120 million in 2015. They expect the market to explode to $3.1 billion in sales by 2020 and $12 billion by 2025.
Rising robot numbers driven by auto industry
Across the U.S. landscape, industrial robots are landing unevenly. So far, Detroit has been the biggest target.
Metro Detroit has more more than 15,000 industrial robots in place or 8½ for every 1,000 workers, according to a Brookings Institution study published this summer. That's almost five times the number of any other major U.S. city.
Michigan plus Ohio are home for one of every five industrial robots in the U.S. More than half of the nation's 233,305 industrial robots are welding, painting, assembling, handling or packaging in just 10 auto-centric states in the Midwest and South, according to Brookings.
The rise of robots is a "mixed development. It clearly prompts anxiety among workers but also delivers competitiveness and productivity for companies," said Mark Muro, a Brookings senior fellow who authored the report. The immediate future, he said in an interview, is likely to be a combination of human workers amid automation and not a "lights out" factory devoid of people entirely.
IAC plant in Huron, Ohio, on Thursday, October…


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text:
Pakistan's Restive Pashtun Tribal Region Holds First Local Elections
July 20, 2019 update July 21, 2019
By RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal
A man shows his ID card as he waits in line to vote in Pakistan's northwest on July 20.
Polls have closed in Pakistan's first-ever provincial elections in the northwestern tribal areas, a region along the Afghan border that was once controlled by Islamist militant groups.
Results so far indicate that independent candidates have won five of the 16 seats while the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf party has won four. The Islamist political party Jamiat Ulam-e Islam has won two while another Islamist group Jammat-e Islami (JI) and the secular Pashtun ethno-nationalist Awami National Party (ANP) each have won one seat. Election authorities are still counting votes in three constituencies.
Nearly 3 million people are eligible to vote in the provincial assembly elections on July 20, which opened at 8 a.m. local time amid heightened security measures, including the deployment of thousands of policemen and army soldiers in the region.
There was no official announcement on the turnout. But local media showed images of long queues of people waiting for their turns at polling stations.
The seven tribal districts were merged last year into the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. Previously, residents could only vote in the national assembly polls.
RFE/RL correspondents report from the region that many women, most of them clad in the traditional burqas, have come out to use their right to vote in this most conservative Pashtun region.
Sohail Khan, a spokesman for the provincial election body, said 285 candidates, including two women -- Naheed Afridi and Malasa Bibi -- were running for 16 seats.
Naheed Afrid was fielded by the secular Awami National Party (ANP), while Malasa Bibi is representing the religious JI party.
Pakistan claims to have cleared the tribal areas of militants in a series of military operations in recent years, but the region still faces occasional attacks.
Election commission spokesman Altaf Khan said army troops had been deployed at all 1,897 polling stations.
With reporting by AP and dpa
RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal
RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal is a public-service broadcaster providing a powerful alternative to extremist propaganda in Pakistan's remote tribal regions along the border with Afghanistan.
gandhara@rferl.org
Mysterious Attacks On Afghan Activists, Journalists Raise Fears Over Free Speech Under Taliban


We sat down with a few "Extra" Lifechangers and discovered the secrets behind looking better naked!
Dietician Dawn Jackson Blatner revealed how to get rid of bloating, encouraging that you kick the gum habit. "The sugar alcohols in sugar-free gum really cause a lot of bloat."
Want to quickly achieve the look of toned abs? Try spray tanning! Spray tan expert Jennifer Phillips of Portofino salon in Beverly Hills says contouring with a spray tan can create an instant look of hot abs.
Plus, we have the inside scoop about how to look even slimmer in the bedroom from "Desperate Housewives'" director of photography and set lighting technician, Jamal Farley -- choose dim lights!
"I don't have a single overhead light in my house, besides the one in the kitchen, because they cast very unflattering shadows," says Farley, adding, "Lamps are far better for the bedroom. Besides the bedside tables, try placing one in the corner opposite your bed--you'll be lit from behind and to the side with a soft rim of light all the way around, almost like a halo.
Visit allure.com for more details!


This Portsmouth Round Lead Lite Planter - Small is made from contemporary but comfortable design. You can have any blooms planted on it and it will surely enhance its beauty. It replicates the look of lead, iron, and concrete but this is up to 80% lighter than traditional materials.


As we move through these summer months, I remember the excitement of the leadership conferences I've attended in the past. As a leader, the conferences were a way to rejuvenate one's mindset, enhance leadership skills, collaborate with others, strategize on best practices, and take a break from the everyday workplace. These conferences provided not only a renewed energy to the workplace upon my return, but also new leadership abilities, equipping me with insights on how to achieve optimal results.
The monotony of the day to day can cause any leader to lose focus on what is truly important. Endless emails, mandatory meetings, and daily pressures detract from what is happening at the ground level of the organization. Leaders must be aware of their company's culture and how the employee experience affects organizational performance. Understanding your employee experience is essential to improving your organization's bottom line. One of the best ways to understand and enhance your employee experience and culture is through executive education and coaching.
Executive education and coaching are often neglected; however, they are critical because culture starts at the top. The actions and attitudes of executives shape the working environment, thus enhancing leadership skills, which ultimately yields a better environment for employees. Executive education builds leadership and communication skills through increased self-awareness and enhanced interpersonal skills. It improves overall emotional intelligence, which is an essential leadership trait. It can also be a catalyst for making improvements and establishing long-term viability.
Executive education takes on many forms, which can include a keynote speaker session, an off-site retreat, a series of workshops, or one-on-one coaching sessions. However, most effective programs are ones that are customized to your team's needs. The goal is to provide your leadership team with an opportunity to refocus on building an employee experience that will inspire performance. Executive education offers an opportunity to refocus, align, develop new strategies, and implement change.
One of the main benefits of executive education is the opportunity to refocus and align thinking among those at the top, which requires the leadership team to answer a series of questions around why the company exists. How does this company create value for customers? What role do our employees play in meeting our customers' expectations? How does our culture align with what we want to accomplish long-term? What needs to change to ensure we are achieving our goals? An executive coach guides the team in answering these questions, challenges traditional ways of thinking, and funnels ideas and information into a specific vision. Establishing a clear vision and an agreed-upon set of priorities provides guidance as to what actions need to take place following the training.
Once a clear vision is in place, the executive team must create strategies to move through the process. Strategy and culture go hand in hand—a strategy serves as a logical plan for achieving goals and culture guides how those goals will be achieved. An executive coach can help create a clear plan for achieving goals through improving culture. The coach ensures that the agreed-upon priorities remain priorities and provides a tactical approach for reaching results. Specific measurements are put in place to track progress, and a detailed timeline is established to ensure accountability.
Coaching is critical to implement change. All too often, plans are created, but there is no follow through. In fact, 40% of executives surveyed stated that the toughest part of a culture change is in the day-to-day decisions that undermine the strategy. The foundational work completed during the executive education program must be brought to life through daily decisions and actions. It can be easy to get distracted by other pressing items, but a commitment must be made to ensure the employee experience is improved. Implementing an executive coach is an effective way to hold leaders accountable. By having specific tasks and due dates, a coach ensures that real progress is being made and decisions are aligned with the strategy. A coach is also an excellent resource for discussing challenges and helping to re-strategize as needed throughout the implementation process.
After successful implementation, a coach can re-group with the executive team to identify and address the next set of priorities. Implementing an executive coach provides a lifeline to your executive team to discuss challenges, get input on ideas, and work through important initiatives. The coach helps develop the executive team continually and ensures an optimal operating environment for everyone.
SGEi specializes in executive development. We partner with executives to understand their current culture better by building cultural roadmaps, improving the employees' and customers' experiences, and driving better leadership at the top of your organization. We'd love to connect to see how we can help you achieve long-lasting success.


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SUPERHOT VR Coming To HTC Vive This Week
VR Focus
A few weeks ago the team behind SUPERHOT VR released a teasing tweet showing just a logo, the HTC Vive logo to be precise, without going into any further details. That wait is almost over with the studio finally confirming a release date for SUPERHOT VR, 25th May 2017.
Originally an exclusive release for Oculus Rift and Touch, SUPERHOT VR will launch on Steam for both headsets. The release will include the SUPERHOT Forever update that launched in March. That saw the addition of 20+ hours of new replayable challenges, achievements and hardcore endless levels. Challenges include the 10-minute challenge, which as the name states requires players to complete the title in 10 minutes, trying to complete the game without shooting, Headshots only, make sure enemies are hit right between the eyes (if they had any); Time Trial, racing against best scores in both in-game time (slowed down) and real-time; Don't Shoot, for those that love melee combat; Hardcore Mode, where enemies are faster and players reaction time is reduced; and Don't Die, with death taking players back to the start of the entire game.
If you've been living under a rock and missed all of VRFocus' SUPERHOT VR coverage, the title is essentially a first-person shooter (FPS) with the player able to use melee weapons or just their fists to complete each level. There's just one small cravat – and what makes the whole videogame unique – is that everything runs in slow motion when you're stationary. Move to grab a gun and time will start to speed up. See a bullet or bullets coming your way, then stay still to workout the best course of action so you don't get shot. Get hit and you return to the last checkpoint.
Watch The Walking Dead VR's Goriest Kills
Inside The Tight-Knit World Of Competitive VR


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No, seriously: as I was scrolling through last night's images from the Jaeger Dinner at the Venice Film Festival, I was distinctly reminded of going to FAO Schwartz as a little girl and gazing longingly at the fancy Barbies behind glass, for all the world like Sara Crewe looking into the window of the bake shop in A Little Princess and staring hungrily at the hot buns...and not just because Diane "Helen of Troy" Krueger looks so Mattel-like either! There's a kind of pulled-together perfection to a lot of these looks that is somewhat unsettling...but still awesome. The Good, The Less Good, The Ugly - after the jump!
I'm a sucker for 60's Grecian. Also for Barbie wedding gowns. Model Eva Riccobono does both beautifully.
If I had to rank my favorite things in the world, it would be Butter, People wearing glasses with evening gowns like Evelina Khromtchenko. No, I don't get the jewelry.
Actress Valentina Cervi: Depressingly elegant.
My hatred of purple warring with my love of 60s Grecian! Olympic fencing gold medalist Valentina Vezzali, why do you torment me so?
See, of its kind, Tatiana Voronova's look is absolute perfection. Would you want to wear it? Probably not. And yet...there's something so inescapably right about this magical confluence of sequins, cleavage and Barbie-like perfection!!!
See, I'd like Diane Krueger's so much more if she'd left the skirt boringly straight-forward and just done Betty Draper in New Look.
Actress Eliana Miglio. Overall, the effect is still kinda pretty, but the small bits of fugly flair on the bodice are a deal-breaker.
I'm on the fence about awkward lengths. At the end of the day, though, there can't be any ambiguity as to whether it's intentional and I'm just not sure about actress Huang Yi.
Well, at least this (un-ID'd) guest matches.


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