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Home » Where does the Chicago Architecture Biennial go next?
Where does the Chicago Architecture Biennial go next?
The current edition of the festival poses two possible directions its organizers can take.
by Anjulie Rao September 13, 2017 August 18, 2021
The Chicago Cultural Center, where the main exhibit of the Chicago Architecture Biennial will be held. Credit: Norman Kelley
In 1922 the Chicago Tribune held an architectural design competition for its new Michigan Avenue headquarters. The judges selected architects John Mead Howells and Raymond Hood's proposal: a neo-Gothic tower, the kind typically seen in 12th- to 16th-century Europe, denoted by a buttressed crown and heavy ornamentation such as gargoyles, fantastical engravings, and scalloping. At the request of Colonel Robert McCormick, who headed the Tribune at the time, correspondents took stones from such monuments as the Great Pyramid, the Parthenon, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and 145 other architectural triumphs. Those archeological crumbs are included in the building's facade, and according to the Tribune, "symbolized the newspaper's global reach." At the time it was built, the Tribune Tower was a revolutionary reprisal of the past: Howells and Hood appropriated an elegant but outdated style and installed it in a city that was in the midst of rapid invention and innovation.
Just as its antiquated neo-Gothic style contributed to a new architectural narrative, Tribune Tower serves as an interesting parallel to this year's Chicago Architecture Biennial and its theme, "Make New History,"—which likewise seeks to envision a new story for the city. The months-long festival aims to examine what contemporary architects are creating and contemplating through programs and exhibitions, primarily at the Chicago Cultural Center but also in various forms and at numerous venues all across the city. For its second iteration (the first took place in 2015), the curatorial team of renowned architects Sharon Johnston and Mark Lee (of the LA-based firm Johnston Marklee) is planning to revisit Chicago's rich and vast architectural history—including the Tribune Tower's design competition. One exhibit, entitled "Vertical City," is an installation in Yates Hall, on the fourth floor of the Cultural Center, where the lofty ceilings will accommodate 16- to 18-foot towers conceived of as "late entries" to the Tribune Tower's design competition; the models will be accompanied by two re-creations of the Tribune Tower itself.
While "Vertical City" could potentially produce some noteworthy architectural ideas, the concepts behind the CAB in general pose a number of questions. The CAB is free and drew more than a million visitors in 2015. But whom is the biennial for? Whose history does this exhibition discuss? Is the CAB exclusively for those working within the industry, and does it benefit Chicago only through the revenue it generates from tourism? The theme of "Make New History" is particularly problematic for Chicago, as its architectural and urban-planning histories have not always been on the side of its citizens. Still, the subject offers the CAB an opportunity to examine architecture through the lens of those who use Chicago's buildings and infrastructure, to create a people's history that can help other cities navigate and address legacies of injustice.
The way the curators are thinking about 'Make New History' isn't as thematic," says Todd Palmer, executive director of the CAB. "We're not looking at it like, 'Oh, it's history. We already did that!' History doesn't go away." Palmer instead sees a direct correlation between "Make New History" and the way architects are using their knowledge of architectural history in creating new buildings and city plans. "What's interesting today is that what is innovative [in architecture] brings in history. One might not think of history as being innovative, so we are bringing these two seemingly opposite words—'innovation' and 'history'—together and looking at conditions, preconditions, and precedents in the field."
Johnston and Lee have recruited more than 150 firms from all over the world whose practices embody the most innovative (and sometimes unusual) ways of applying history to their contemporary work. Many of these firms will be exhibited in a massive installation downtown in the maze of corridors and rooms in the Cultural Center.
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The biennial's artistic statement, issued by the curatorial team, expresses a sense of urgency surrounding the theme. It states, "At a time when there is too much information and not enough attention—when a general collective amnesia perpetuates a state of eternal presentness—the importance of understanding the channels through which history flows in architecture is more important than ever." For the general public, this rhetoric could be unapproachable. How can the public share the same sense of urgency?
"The biennial does operate on different levels," Palmer says. "Participants will be writing copy that resonates with people at Harvard and Venice and in Shanghai. That's just a conversation that's going to happen." The exhibits will also be interpreted by volunteers, "guides and docents on the floor, who will be available to mediate those conversations" to the public. Palmer also emphasizes the educational opportunities for young people, including field trips; Saturday Studios that, through the Chicago Architecture Foundation, will connect teenage students with architects in an on-site classroom setting; and a teen ambassadors program. According to Palmer, more than 15,000 Chicago Public Schools students will be engaged through the Chicago Architectural Foundation's youth programs. Yet the attempts to solve the problem of translating the CAB's theme to the broader public becomes more difficult when the biennial is placed in a city that has a far more complex relationship with its own history of architecture and city planning.
In Chicago, "Make New History" can be problematic. Many neighborhoods still reel from the tragedies in public housing—from the early failures of modernism's "Tower in the Park" model, which produced Cabrini-Green and the Henry Horner Homes, to the pitfalls of the Plan for Transformation. Many are still fighting for or have only recently regained public amenities such as libraries, parks, and schools after being demolished to make way for the Dan Ryan Expressway in the 1960s. Many people whose homes were torn down when the city cleared public housing projects are still waiting for residences that were promised to them decades ago.
Daniel Kay Hertz, senior policy analyst at the Chicago-based Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, notes the resonance of architectural and planning decisions in Chicago. "What's striking is how even well-intentioned, progressive initiatives have ended up historically creating massive disruptions in the lives of people without the political power to defend themselves," he says. "I think you hear people remembering that when the city promises to upgrade transit, parks, or retail in lower-income neighborhoods—they are met with fear of displacement." In other words, making new history in Chicago could (and should) mean revisiting past traumas inflicted by the city's architectural history.
The downtown exhibit will, however, address themes that relate to citizens' relationships with the built environment. The Cultural Center show will be divided into four themes: building histories (the design of historic architecture and the stories that those buildings tell), material histories (the materials that make up buildings), image histories (how architecture is typically depicted), and most importantly, civic histories—a theme that might manifest itself in works by architects that address the city's complex relationship with its own design.
It's difficult to gauge how the international exhibitors might address the challenges and traumas that design and planning have posed and inflicted on cities. In the Cultural Center show, where artistic statements are difficult to grasp and exhibits will require heavy translation, how will civic histories that address Chicago's complicated relationship with architecture manifest? Yet it's clear that another component of the biennial is a significant attempt to refocus the conversation around the city's architecture and infrastructure and its relationship with citizens: the establishment of neighborhood anchor sites.
The DuSable Museum of African American History is one of the biennial's anchor sites.Credit: Olu Akintorin Jr.
The 2015 biennial was mostly located downtown (with the notable exception of an off-site program at the Stony Island Arts Bank), but this year's CAB is different. Jack Guthman is a prominent real estate lawyer and current chairman of the CAB. His 50 years of working with architects, developers, and real estate professionals in legal procedures surrounding zoning changes, landmark designations, traffic and transportation, and more has brought him in touch with some of the most influential individuals in Chicago's design community. Since being named chair in 2016, Guthman has made the city's residents a major priority of CAB.
"I always talk about the two prongs of the biennial: they're not mutually exclusive, but they're both important," Guthman says. "One, if we don't put on an exposition of international import, then there's no reason for us to be. On the other hand, this is in Chicago, funded by Chicago philanthropies, families, and corporations. We have an obligation to Chicagoans and Chicago communities to continue this enormous growth."
In addition to facilitating the opening of the biennial alongside Expo Chicago, Guthman also began thinking about how to incorporate neighborhood museums and institutions into the overall planning for CAB. He enlisted six neighborhood museums to host local exhibits for the biennial: the DePaul Art Museum in Lincoln Park, the DuSable Museum of African American History in Washington Park, the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture in Humboldt Park, the National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen, the Beverly Arts Center in Beverly, and the Hyde Park Art Center.
"It occurred to me that I had relationships with five of the six directors," Guthman says. "I knew they are diverse, and I knew they have quality curators."
All exhibits will be organized, curated, and executed by the local staff, something that Guthman made a priority. "Each [site] has chosen topics that should resonate," he says. "You don't impose. We want to come to your community and keep to your mission and vision and program." Guthman submitted the proposal to the Chicago Community Trust, which provided $200,000 for each site.
The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture (NMPRAC) is mounting a permanent rotating exhibition that encompasses stories of its home in the Humboldt Park Stables and Receptory. According to the museum's director, Billy Ocasio, who was also alderman of the neighborhood for 16 years, NMPRAC plans to cover the long history of diverse populations in the area.
"We have a very unique neighborhood and building that talks to architecture," Ocasio says. "But we're mounting an exhibition that goes beyond the architecture. It will talk about the the building, but also who lived in Humboldt Park, the lifestyle they had, their contributions and their struggles."
Germans and Scandinavians replaced Danish and Norwegian residents in Humboldt Park during the late 19th century, and beginning in the 1950s the neighborhood became home to a thriving Puerto Rican population. Today Humboldt Park is experiencing yet another transition: rapid gentrification. According to Ocasio, all populations will be represented in the exhibit, through partnerships with the Swedish Museum, Polish Museum of America, DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, and more. These institutions will provide a connection between the vastly different racial and social groups that have occupied the neighborhood. Partner institutions will provide artifacts and photographs from each demographic at various periods in time, yet the common thread between each exhibit phase is the idea that Humboldt Park has always been a meeting place—whether for Germans or Puerto Ricans or, hopefully, for the newest wave of residents moving in. "This is a place where concepts got developed, where ideas came from," Ocasio says. "Humboldt Park has always been a meeting place across all nationalities where they talked about their struggles, their futures."
The DuSable Museum is taking a more specific look at Chicago's south side through the lens of architectural photographer, critic, and now vice president of the DuSable Museum, Lee Bey. Bey's photographs have documented the unique structures at the University of Chicago, including its hodgepodge of neo-Gothic buildings and works by modern masters like Mies van der Rohe and Eero Saarinen, as well as the surprising appearances of stark modernist structures, such as Pride Cleaners on 79th Street. At the upcoming exhibit, entitled "A Southern Exposure," Bey's images will continue this tradition in a manner that asks how the neighborhood, and the broader city, might go about making a new history for this area.
"There's two narratives for the south side," Bey says. "First, there's absolutely nothing there. It's bombed out, jacked up. There's crime. Or, second, that there's the Obama Library coming and there's great things that are going to happen. The exhibit will address the history of the south side going forward as somewhere in between."
While much of his photography exclusively showcases buildings, Bey's work in "Southern Exposure" will include people—residents and passersby—as a means of elevating the architecture and the people who use it. In many ways, the exhibit is actually making new histories. "Too often, the history of the neighborhood stops when black people move in," Bey says. "This isn't some place that got left behind when the white people left. There is a really rich vein of architecture, and there are people who live there and who are taking care of these buildings or buying these buildings, who are loving and using these buildings."
Though the DePaul Art Museum will display works by an international artist in the upcoming exhibition "Ângela Ferreira: Zip, Zap, and Zumbi," museum director and chief curator Julie Rodrigues Widholm sees the DAM's role as connecting international perspectives with local opportunities. Portuguese artist Ferreira will be reconstructing unbuilt works by architects Mies van der Rohe and Pancho Guedes as a way of unpacking issues of colonization and race in architecture. Guedes's building was originally designed for a South African organization called Zip Zap Circus that seeks to empower postapartheid youth after decades of racism and denigration.
"We're connecting [the work] back to Chicago by inviting local youth-empowerment groups to use the artist's reconstructed forms for performances, classes, and meetings for students, filling these structures with locally relevant [youth] enterprises," Widholm says. "We're outside of downtown, but still in an affluent area. We are thinking of how we could use this platform to create space for people who are 'on the margins.' How do we give them visibility?"
Other neighborhood sites plan for exhibits that make clear associations with their immediate architectural and civic assets. Beyond the NMPRAC and DuSable, anchors like the Beverly Art Center are exploring their neighborhood's unique architectural legacy on the fringes of Chicago. Its exhibit, entitled "Elevations," will be divided into three parts: the area's real estate history and its unique topography (Beverly is the highest elevation point in Chicago), as curated by architectural historian James Gorski; the present (contemporary architectural photography by photographer Rebecca Healy); and the future, in the form of urban planning and architectural drawings. The Hyde Park Art Center will focus its efforts on material studies: architect Amanda Williams will draw on her practice of highlighting blighted or discarded buildings to lead a seminar with Illinois Institute of Technology students that discusses reused and salvaged building materials. Their explorations will be displayed in one of HPAC's galleries. The Art Center will also mount a large-scale installation by artists Sara Black and Raewyn Martyn that reconnects architecture's relationships with Chicago's former lumber industry.
Anchor sites are more than museums: they're also works of architecture that exist as a result of communities' efforts to take control of their abandoned infrastructure. The National Museum of Mexican Art, for example, was created as the result of an agreement between community members and the Park District that converted an old boat craft shop in Harrison Park into a vibrant arts hub that celebrates Mexican art and culture. The Roundhouse wing of the the DuSable Museum—a Daniel Burnham-designed Park District building located in Washington Park—will be reactivated after almost 80 years of dormancy, per Guthman's arrangement with Expo. After the NMPRAC survived a major arson incident in 1992, a community group co-led the building's restoration alongside the Park District.
The anchor sites are repurposing architectural history into case studies that demonstrate how citizens are engaging with architecture and planning by taking ownership over their built environment. Within the anchor sites, the CAB no longer becomes about ideas, but about power.
Architecture is an instrument of power," says architect Marshall Brown, a professor at IIT and Cultural Center exhibit participant. "It is never apolitical, and I am suspicious of architecture being disengaged. . . . It doesn't produce social conditions but reflects them."
The curatorial team echoed this sentiment in an interview given to Curbed Chicago in April 2017. When asked about the biennial's ability to respond to social issues of our time, Mark Lee stated, "It's very important to understand the role of the architect in the built environment, in the sense that the role of [an architect] is [as] one of many players, and as participants. And oftentimes the role of the architect is to give form to forces that are already there. I certainly think that an architect has a position to make certain statements about these social-political issues, but it's also a very limited one."
As a medium architecture is magnified by its size, price tag, and lasting effect on the community in which it is built. Architecture does not inherently cause social or economic stratification, but to separate the maker from the medium means the architect bears no responsibility for the health and equity of communities. The anchor sites, however, recognize both the impact that people can have on their built environment and the historic impact that architecture has had on people. Taking the biennial outside of the Loop provides opportunities to address power: who has it, who's willing to give it up, and what's possible when local groups are given agency to reclaim it.
Bey sees his project, as well as the CAB's expansion into neighborhoods outside of downtown, as an opportunity to provide quality case studies for how citizens regain an ownership stake in their built environment and work toward solutions to architectural problems, including blight. His photographs of the Auburn Lakes, for example, are more than an opportunity to depict the beauty of south-side Auburn Gresham—they tell a story of how residents worked with the Park District to restore a once-neglected natural area, eliminating a potential barrier to future development. The site hasn't become a thriving community, but as Brown noted, even if the park's restoration didn't successfully lead to residential development, it reflects a neighborhood dedicated to trying to make improvements.
Recognizing the power of infrastructure necessitates that architects do more than converse with each other in the great halls of gilded buildings—it requires that power be ceded and redistributed. That recognition warrants more than docent tours and "translators" for complex ideas placed on display. Palmer's plans for student programming will enrich the young people's educations and spark their interest in the built world. But when students return home to their neighborhoods, what will they see?
In his earlier coverage of the 2017 CAB and its pairing with Expo, Tribune architecture critic Blair Kamin wrote, "The pairing of the art and architecture shows also could displace, if only temporarily, the drumbeat of bad news about gang-related shootings." CAB is an opportunity to put forth new narratives, allowing the residents of neighborhoods to respond to a physical environment that has historically segregated and victimized them.
The hope is that the 2017 CAB becomes, metaphorically speaking, more than a room full of Tribune Towers. It has potential to inspire residents to see their city not simply as a place. Rather, it's a process that they can control. v
Tagged: Amanda Williams, Beverly Arts Center, Billy Ocasio, Blair Kamin, Chicago Architecture Biennial, Chicago Architecture Biennial 2017, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Tribune, Dan Ryan Expressway, Daniel Kay Hertz, DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, DePaul Art Museum, DuSable Museum of African American History, Expo Chicago, Humboldt Park Stables and Receptory, Hyde Park Art Center, Jack Guthman, James Gorski, John Mead Howells, Johnston Marklee, Julie Rodrigues Widholm, Lee Bey, Make New History, Mark Lee, Marshall Brown, Mies van der Rohe, National Museum of Mexican Art, National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, Obama Library, Plan for Transformation, Polish Museum of America, Raewyn Martyn, Raymond Hood, Rebecca Healy, Roundhouse DuSable, Sara Black, Sharon Johnston, Southern Exposure, Swedish Museum, Todd Palmer, Tower in the Park, Tribune Tower, Vertical City, Vol. 46 No. 49, Zip Zap Circus


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HomePoliticsModi's return spells end of the road for Sharad Pawar, the PM...
Modi's return spells end of the road for Sharad Pawar, the PM candidate forever
The BJP's overwhelming majority and the NCP's rout in the Lok Sabha election has completely shattered Sharad Pawar's national ambitions.
Manasi Phadke
28 May, 2019 10:57 am IST
File photo of NCP chief Sharad Pawar | Photo: @PawarSpeaks | Twitter
Mumbai: In 1978, the Congress (I), comprising supporters of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and a breakaway faction Congress (R), formed a post-poll coalition government in Maharashtra with Vasantdada Patil as the chief minister.
Within months, Sharad Pawar, now chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), toppled this government, leaving the Congress (R) with just 44 MLAs.
Pawar swiftly forged an alliance with the Janata Party and its allies, a coalition known as the Progressive Democratic Front (PDF), and took over as chief minister for the first time.
This was quintessential Pawar, a crafty coalition-maker, who always emerged as the leader with the most political capital out of the exercise.
However, 41 years on, several calculations of this political craftsman seem to have gone wrong, perhaps marking the end of his national ambitions. Pawar was, once again, hopeful of pulling off a successful coalition of opposition parties under a 'mahagathbandhan' to halt the march of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
It was also seen as his last shot at redeeming all the political capital that he gathered over his five-decade career to get the much-coveted PM post.
But, the BJP's overwhelming majority in the Lok Sabha election and his own party's rout shattered his hopes completely.
"It is the end of the road now for his national ambitions. He is already 78. Five years down the line he has no future," said political analyst Prakash Bal.
"I don't fully believe that he was aiming for the PM's post while doing what he was doing. But, he would have seized the opportunity to become the PM if a coalition of opposition parties had the chance to form the government," he added.
Also read: Poll rout leads to rumblings within RJD, questions raised over Tejashwi's leadership
It all started around February-March last year in the run-up to the Lok Sabha election. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government was increasingly battling accusations by the opposition, liberals and even a section of the bureaucracy of running the country in an autocratic manner and weakening democratic institutions.
The Congress was the largest opposition party, but it was also inherently in conflict with a number of regional parties that could have shown hesitance in accepting its leadership in orchestrating a non-BJP front. That's when Pawar, with his distinct political identity and strong personal relations with politicians across parties, stepped in.
Vilas Muttemwar, a former Congress MP, said, "In parliamentary politics, we have very few people who have been in politics for over 50 years and never lost an election. Pawar saheb had already created a strong image (of himself) in the country's politics. It was natural (for him) to have PM ambitions."
"Pawar saheb had good relations with politicians across parties. He was earlier instrumental in getting parties together against the Congress and now the BJP, and historically it is established that if you want to become a PM in a country like India, you don't necessarily need the majority numbers. But, the results have gone in way that nobody anticipated," said Muttemwar, who was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1980.
In this election, BJP won 303 seats and NDA 353, while the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) won just 91 seats and the Congress could manage only 52.
Addressing a press conference after the results were announced on 23 May, Pawar had said, "In certain states such as Andhra Pradesh if people didn't accept A, they accepted B. They didn't opt for the BJP. The same thing can be seen in states like Telangana and Odisha…All these efforts were successful in individual states. But, we must accept that the efforts that we made were not successful at the national level."
The NCP chief added, "We had several meetings and discussions. But, ultimately all our power centres were limited to our respective states and we were not in a position to give each other strength nationally."
Also read: It's down to 86-yr-old Deve Gowda to revive JD(S) as family politics, poll rout threaten party
NCP's rout
In the blistering heat, 78-year-old Pawar had addressed 78 rallies across Maharashtra. However, despite his best efforts, the party, which was close to getting decimated in 2014 Lok Sabha elections with just four MPs, suffered a drubbing with the same result this election.
The NCP held on to its bastion Baramati, which was Pawar's constituency contested by his daughter Supriya Sule, but it lost the Maval seat from where Pawar's grand-nephew Parth Pawar made his electoral debut.
The NCP's vote share in Maharashtra has also been on the decline since 2009, when it was 19.28 per cent. This election it dipped to 15.5 per cent from 16.12 per cent in 2014 at a time when the party is staring at leadership crisis after Pawar.
NCP Rajya Sabha MP Majeed Memon said, "The NCP chief has called for an introspective meeting of the party on June 1. Despite the massive BJP wave, we managed to stick to our position."
Memon said Pawar had made it clear that he was not in the race for the PM's post. "He knew he is heading a small party with presence only in Maharashtra. But, if things had gone as expected and if there were three factions — UPA, NDA and others — with almost equal seats, then he could have led the nation."
Also read: Congress is relying on a bunch of defeated leaders to beat Modi and Shah
Pawar's national ambitions
Over 50 years, Pawar had contested 14 elections, all from the Baramati constituency in western Maharashtra, except for one time.
His half-century innings in electoral politics began when Pawar, known to be the protégé of Maharashtra's first CM Yashwantrao Balwantrao Chavan, won the state assembly election from Baramati, his home turf in 1967.
He continued in state politics till 1984 during which he served as the Maharashtra CM for the first time in 1978 as the state's youngest CM at the age of 38 as part of a coalition government led by his Congress (S).
When he returned to the Congress fold under Indira Gandhi in the mid-1980s, many in the party opposed his re-entry, but he grew to be one of the key leaders, adept at forging alliances and also earned the goodwill of the party high command.
For instance, former PM Chandra Shekhar's first few visits after assuming office in November 1990 was to Mumbai, then Bombay. During this trip, he spent a few hours at the Maharashtra chief minister's official residence, Varsha, then occupied by Sharad Pawar. Pawar was, after all, the man who made Chandra Shekhar's prime ministership possible by arranging the support of Congress (I) for the latter's breakaway Janata Dal faction after bringing down the V.P. Singh-led government.
As part of the Congress in the 1980s and '90s, Pawar was widely seen as the prime ministerial candidate and while he was one of the strongest contenders in 1991, after former PM Rajiv Gandhi's death, the party picked P.V. Narasimha Rao.
In his book, On My Terms: From the Grassroots to the Corridors of Power, Pawar blamed it on Sonia Gandhi, saying she feared his independent mind and thought his election to the PM post would not be good for the Gandhi family.
In 1997, Pawar made a bid at securing the top post in the Congress, but was trumped by Sitaram Kesari.
In 1999, he led a rebellion of a few Congress leaders to form the NCP primarily over the issue of Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin, but still forged an alliance with the Congress.
A paper, titled 'Coalitions in Maharashtra – Political fragmentation or social reconfiguration?' by authors Suhas Palshikar, Nitin Birmal and Vivek Ghotale equated Pawar's power in the Congress-NCP alliance to that of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's in the Sena-BJP alliance.
"The key factor behind the roles played by either Thackeray or Pawar is their ability to sway the voters and control the electoral apparatus within the respective parties. In this sense, we can say that even after the formation of coalitions, political initiatives remained with these two leaders as far as the state is concerned," the paper said.
Throughout his political journey, Pawar kept the channels of communication open with even political adversaries, making it possible for him to fluidly breakaway from the Congress and later return to it, rebel from the Congress to form his own party and still ally with it, and even taking the BJP in his PDF coalition in 1985 to later forming alliances against the party to keep it out of power.
For instance, as Union agriculture minister Pawar was in regular touch with Modi, who was then the Gujarat chief minister. He also shielded Modi from the Godhra train burning incident while the latter's name was growing louder for the PM's post in the run up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Pawar said there was no need for a debate once courts have given their verdict. The NCP chief also raised several eyebrows when he offered outside support to the BJP-led Maharashtra government after the 2014 assembly election when the Shiv Sena was in conflict with the BJP.
Even as it may be the end of the road for Pawar's PM ambitions, the Congress and NCP leaders believe he remains to be one of the most nationally significant politicians.
"When the Modi government fails to address the issues of farm crisis and unemployment, Pawar saheb will play a big role in holding it accountable," Muttemwar said.
NCP's Memon said: "He is a fierce fighter, full of optimism…Sharad Pawar is the last person to call it a day."
Also read: Congress insider reveals Rahul Gandhi blamed 3 leaders for placing sons before party
This is an updated version of the report.
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Sharad Pawar
Ajay 28 May, 2019 At 9:23 pm
Pawar was never worth being Prime minister. He is selfish, self-centred, unreliable & opportunist to the core. Such people should not be at the top. He was not loyal to his party. Thinks very high about himself.
ashok 28 May, 2019 At 1:51 pm
1978 was a major error of judgment. Like many others, Shri Sharad Pawar was too hasty in writing off Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi. She stormed back to power in 1980, dismissed his government, sent him to the wilderness. It was a humbling experience, which ended when her son readmitted him to the party, made him CM in 1988. 1999 was another miscalculation, fortunately the two sides needed each other to rule Maharashtra, which they did for fifteen years. More than becoming PM, his priority now should be to secure an orderly transition within the family. While people sometimes vote differently for national and state elections, within months at times, the results of the general election from Maharashtra make the return of the Congress – NCP to Mantralaya later this year a remote prospect.
kishor kulkarni 28 May, 2019 At 11:21 am
He can focus on he next Maharashtra assembly elections later this year. If he can manage a good coalition and wrest power, he can be the CM!
He cannot be even CM now. He misused powers when it was confirmed on him. Very cunning fellow
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Sporting Life Preview
It continues to be an exciting season in the Sky Bet Championship. Sporting Life's Tom Carnduff previews the latest round of games.
The action gets under way on Friday night with a mouth-watering clash at Elland Road. League leaders Leeds welcome fellow promotion hopefuls Derby in a tie that could go either way.
Despite impressive victories over Aston Villa and Blackburn, Leeds suffered back-to-back defeats at the hands of Hull and Nottingham Forest.
A much-changed side also lost to QPR in the FA Cup last time out, but their first-team will be looking to make amends against a Rams side who have lost just one of their last eight in all competitions.
Hoping for a slip-up from the hosts is Norwich. The Canaries have also suffered tough results in recent weeks and they face a tricky test away at West Brom on Saturday.
The Baggies boast the second-best home record in the division, while Norwich have the best on the road. That sets it up to be a fascinating encounter at the Hawthorns.
One side who did enjoy a strong festive period is Sheffield United, and three consecutive victories puts them two points off the automatic spots.
They also managed to score three goals in each of those games, although a slip-up in the FA Cup at the hands of National League side Barnet halted that momentum.
This week sees them take on QPR. Steve McClaren's men are unbeaten in their last six, four of which have ended in victory.
As has been the case for the large majority of the season, Middlesbrough remain in the top-six, and will hope to close the gap on West Brom in the place above as they travel to Birmingham.
The Blues have been one of the Championship's surprise packages this season and have lost just two of their last nine in the league.
At the other end of the table, Ipswich will be hoping for a strong second-half of the season as they look to close the ten-point gap to safety.
Occupying 21st currently is Rotherham, and Paul Lambert's side welcome the Millers to Portman Road this weekend.
Rotherham were hammered 7-0 by Manchester City in the FA Cup, although their boss Paul Warne highlighted how the trip is a learning experience for his players.
Reading will be aiming for their first win under new boss Jose Gomes as they face Nottingham Forest, who are just a place out of the play-off positions.
Forest have failed to win in their last four away games, although the Royals have struggled in front of their own supporters and will hope to get going with the new man at the helm.
One side in outstanding form is Hull, who have Nigel Adkins and Jarrod Bowen both nominated for the monthly awards.
They have won their last five in the league and are unbeaten in their last four at home. The Tigers take on a fellow Yorkshire club in Sheffield Wednesday.
The Owls are also hoping for new manager bounce after appointing Steve Bruce, although Steve Agnew is in charge until the end of the month.
Elsewhere, Millwall are looking to make it five wins in a row as they host Blackburn.
Rovers are looking for their first away win in eight, but they can take confidence in the fact that they are unbeaten in their last six games against Saturday's opponents.
Aston Villa find themselves five points off the play-offs under Dean Smith, and they will hoping to cut that gap as they travel to take on Wigan.
The Latics are in a tough run of form with no win in their last eight, although they have welcomed a couple of new faces in the transfer window.
New Stoke boss Nathan Jones takes his side to Brentford in what will be his first game in charge of the Potters.
Jones left Luton sitting second in the League One standings and comes into the role with significant praise for his efforts at his former club.
Stoke are without a win in six away games and Jones will be aiming to stop that run with victory.
Bolton will be looking to go level on points with Rotherham as they take on Bristol City, who have won their last two.
The latest episode of the Sky Bet Championship podcast is available now. Former Leeds, Middlesbrough and Millwall striker Noel Whelan joins Gareth Jones, Dom Newton-Collinge and Tom Carnduff to discuss all things second tier.
For the latest Sky Bet odds, please click here.


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Name Humberto - Meaning and Origin
Humberto is a masculine given name of Germanic origin. It comes from the terms "hun" and "berht" which mean "giant" and "brilliant" or "illustrious".
Humberto Maturana, biologist, cybernetician and Chilean philosopher, Humberto Coelho, Portuguese footballer turned coach, Humberto Ramos, cartoonist of Mexican origin ...
Humberto's patron saint is Humbert, a monk in Ain. He spent the end of his life in poverty and prayer after making a pilgrimage to Rome.
Humberto has an endearing, delicate, emotional and intuitive personality. A shy man with a tender heart, he tends to make his ego disappear for the benefit of others. Its imaginative character gives it a strong sense of altruism, coupled with a certain love for utopia and innovation. His timidity does not prevent him from being sociable and loving the crowd while aspiring to calm and tranquility.
Umberto, Humbert.
Humberto is celebrated on March 4th.
Sexuality and pregnancy: risks of miscarriage?
Top 20 short names on the girl side
Name Itte - Meaning and origin
Copyright 2023 \ Name Humberto - Meaning and Origin...


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Q: Checking if a value exists anywhere in range in Excel I want to check if the value of the cell A1 exist anywhere
from sheet2!$A$2:$z$50.
IF the value exist then return the value of the 1st Row at the column where the match was found.
I tried:

*

*VLOOKUP

*HLOOKUP

but this functions are limited to check if match at a single row / column.
I was hoping for something like =IF(A1,sheet2!$A$2:$Z$50,x1,FALSE)
where x = the column where the match was found.
Is there something like that?

A: An array formula like this would work
Press ShiftCtrlEnter together
=IF(COUNTIF(A2:Z50,A1)>0,MIN(IF(A2:Z50=A1,ROW(A2:Z50),51)),"not found")

A: I think you can do it if you use helper cells.

*

*In a helper row, use MATCH() in exact mode on each column to find the row index of the value in that column (if it exists). Wrap that in an NOT(ISERROR()) to turn the result into true/false binary data. TRUE = match; FALSE = no match.

*Then use MATCH() again on the helper row, this time finding the first TRUE (i.e. matching) column; MATCH() will return the index of the column; then you can use INDEX() to look up the value of the first row in that column.

A: Say Sheet2 is like:

We want a formula on Sheet1 that will return the value in the header row if that column contains a value to be found.  So if A1 contains Good Guy then the formula should return Victor LaszloPut the following UDF in a standard module:
Public Function GetHeader(v As Variant, rTable As Range) As Variant
    Dim rHead As Range, rData As Range, WhereIsIt As Range
    Set rHead = Intersect(rTable(1).EntireRow, rTable)
    Set rData = Intersect(rTable.Offset(1), rTable)

    Set WhereIsIt = rData.Find(what:=v, After:=rData(1))
    If WhereIsIt Is Nothing Then
        v = "NOT FOUND"
        Exit Function
    End If

    GetHeader = Intersect(WhereIsIt.EntireColumn, rHead).Value
End Function

User Defined Functions (UDFs) are very easy to install and use:

*

*ALT-F11  brings up the VBE window

*ALT-I
ALT-M opens a fresh module

*paste the stuff in and close the VBE window

If you save the workbook, the UDF will be saved with it.
If you are using a version of Excel later then 2003, you must save
the file as .xlsm rather than .xlsx
To remove the UDF:

*

*bring up the VBE window as above

*clear the code out

*close the VBE window

To use the UDF from Excel:
=GetHeader(A1,Sheet2!A1:Z50)
To learn more about macros in general, see:
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/getstarted.htm
and
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee814735(v=office.14).aspx
and for specifics on UDFs, see:
http://www.cpearson.com/excel/WritingFunctionsInVBA.aspx
Macros must be enabled for this to work!
NOTICE:
We give the UDF the entire range including the header row (although the header row is excluded from the search)

A: My favourite for returning a value from a lookup sheet if a corresponding cell exists in both the lookup sheet and the sheet you want to enter data into is
INDEX('Sheet1'!I:I,(MATCH(D2,'Sheet1'!A:A,0)))

This is basically a more flexible version of a Vlookup or Match If formula. It say is you find a value matching what's in D2 in the Column A:A of Sheet 1 then return the corresponding value (from the same row) from Column I:I of Sheet 1.
I use this if I want to match data between two sheets e.g. pricing matched on product names or SKU.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


ROCK and roll music man Alvin Stardust has played so many gigs during his lengthy career that he's not sure if he has played Greenock before.
The man whose career has spanned five decades is set to take to stage in the town this week but can't remember if he's been before.
He gave an exclusive interview to the Tele about his upcoming show, which we also have two pairs of tickets in a cracking competition.
Alvin said: "It would be unusual if I hadn't played somewhere before because I have played in so many places over the years.
"But we have had great reports about Greenock and the Arts Guild Theatre.
"It's nice for me because I have worked in theatre as well as performing in concerts. I was the Child Catcher in Chitty and was in Phantom of the Opera.
"But I missed my music so much that I decided to get a band together to play concerts, and it's been fantastic." Earlier this year, Alvin played to a packed crowd at Barrfields Theatre in Largs.
Alvin said: "I always had great memories of playing to Scottish crowds, although I was in a bit of trepidation before the shows.
"But it was even better than I remembered it - I had such a great welcome." The Coo Coo Choo singer said that he loves being able to play the music he knows and loves.
He said: "The show in Greenock will be kind of everything I have known - from 50s rock and roll that I grew up with, through all the hits people know, to cover versions of songs I really like. We do a great rock cover of Duffy's Mercy.
"It's two really good sets and usually by the end of it we have the crowd really going and we have become friends with the audience." Alvin Stardust is at the Arts Guild Theatre on 28 October. Contact the box office on 723038 for tickets.
l The Tele has teamed up with the Arts Guild to offer two pairs of tickets for Friday's show - plus the chance to meet Alvin afterwards.
To be in with a chance of winning tell us: Which character did Alvin play in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?
Send entries marked Alvin Stardust competition, along with a daytime contact number to Greenock Telegraph, 2 Crawfurd Street, Greenock, PA15 1LH or hand them in at the Tele office. Closing date is noon on Thursday 26 October.
- The Tele has teamed up with the Arts Guild to offer two pairs of tickets for Friday's show - plus the chance to meet Alvin afterwards. To find out how to win, buy today's Tele.


Can I change the details on one of my orders? - If you would like to change your message for subsequent deliveries or alter a delivery date, call us on 020 3409 3030 or email [email protected].
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Has my order been successful? - If your order is successful you will receive an automated email from Handy Flowers containing your order number and confirming the order details.
How do I cancel or amend my order? - Please contact us as soon as possible via email or telephone if you wish to cancel or amend an order. Order cancellations are not possible via your account online.
Where can you deliver to? - UK orders can only be accepted for delivery to addresses on the UK mainland Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man and Channel Islands. We are unable to deliver to PO boxes or to addresses outside the UK.
How much does delivery cost? - We offer FREE standard delivery, which means flowers would be delivered anytime from 8AM to 6PM. Timed and weekend delivered available upon additional charge.
Can you deliver same day? - Yes, same day deliveries are available at an additional cost of £8.99. Orders for same day deliveries must be made over the phone. Same day deliveries are only available to post codes within M25. Orders must be placed before 2pm to guarantee same day delivery.
Can I specify a time for delivery? - Any special instructions can be made in the order. Different delivery times, before 9am,10am and before 12pm are available. Unless additionally selected flowers are shipped with standard delivery for free for delivery between 8am and 6pm.
What if the recipient is out at the time of delivery? - If the recipient is not at home at the time of delivery then a card will be left with details of how the item can be collected or redelivered. You can request that your gift be left in a safe place or with a neighbour, however this is at the discretion of the delivery driver and cannot be guaranteed.
Do you deliver to hospitals and funeral homes? - Yes, we deliver to both hospitals and funeral homes. However, delivery cannot be guaranteed when a third party recipient is involved. Please check in advance if the hospital will allow fresh flowers to be delivered to the patients. For a funeral home delivery, write the name of the deceased so that the Funeral Home Director can distribute the flowers accordingly.
How can I check my item has been delivered? - We can track courier delivered items once they have been scanned at the delivery depot. For any questions regarding your order, please contact us at 020 3409 3030 or email [email protected]. We will send you an email confirming your items have been delivered.
Can I choose a delivery date? - Yes, you can order online for any date in advance- in the checkout stage you will reach a calendar showing available delivery dates.
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Saturday or Sunday deliveries are £9.99.
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A Tale of Love, Trust, Friendship & Restoration | Watch LowlaDee's Short Film - "Be My Guest"
Starring Tochi Kanu-Ivi (Mimi), Kevin (Dj Woske) as the lead characters, also featuring SLK, Funmi Sobayo, Abisola Akintunde, Preye Amachree, Anu Allen and Favor Ifeanyi.
sound is soo bad….. but its cool cos they can improve next time.
Y do peeps have their beverage with the tea spoon still in it?
Lovely concepts. Nice acts too. Kelvin needs to relax more next time, he appears quite nervous. In all, I give it a thumbs up!
Easily the best short film I've seen on BN thus far. Weldone to all involved!
But women don't let strangers into your house oh.
I wasn't impressed with the acting at all…good storyline but the actors made watching it a little annoying.
Love the story line, Love the issues it addresses , however it is really bad acting!
Did that girl just use a spoon to take tea?….o my o my!
Uhm yeah. You allow a stranger into your home and spill your guts about your family history? Na so now.
kevin….acting is not your thing ……stick to being a dj…..nice film though…..
Oh, Keji Fatunde- DJ Woske. Funny I didn't notice that. Acting was still crap though.
great script..not sure about the directing and acting though.
Tell me why this man is pretty much shouting over her, that's not how to listen. And girl you're gonna let some random stranger touch you all over the face…when you don't even know how he got in? Please, where's my mase?
And BOTH of them had the spoons in their tea, stirring like it was gonna become wine.
e-bukun!!! I hail o!! LMAO….
I have to write this…I admire Lowla Dee's writing. Screenplay was good but acting was BAD especially Kevin's! Her friends were also very conscious of the camera.
– The hem of the trousers he had on when they were playing cards was undone. I had to rewind to see that. You can literally see the hemline.
-He had the same shirt on from when he cut her on the floor crying to when they were in the kitchen frolicking to when they were dancing. The Director (or whoever is in charge) should have noticed that. The stitch design to the right gave him away.
I like the picture quality however and the cameraman worked his angles very well. I am sure your next attempt would be much better. Well done.
🙁 The hem on the trouser situation, last minute wardrobe malfunction. With the shirt repeat, granted, it's possible it was the same shirt. But what if it wasnt, darling?
lol but all in all it was a great experience and the cast and crew were incredibly patient and tireless. Props.
Your criticism is a high point! It shows your expectations are high due to the quality of the production, and we will keep that in mind going forward.
Hi guys! thanks for the comments. Its my blog's first pro short film & my friends who have not faced the pro cam before acted to support so pls eaaaasy on them oh Lol!
Currently Working on our next short film project and we promise to direct cast better.
Wow…powerful message on letting go. I love Mimi's hairdo and she is so gorgeous. Nice one Kein, fine guy. Great acting by you both.
@ lowla dee God bless you for addressing these issue, adults do things in front of kids and we dont know it affect and hunt that child till he/she is an adult, I dont care if the play cast was good or not, the message was perfect for me, one of the best short movies ever!
Let's not forget a fact – dis movie addressed an issue usually ignored in our so-called Nollywood films. I give them a 'thumbs-up'. And I bliv Constructive criticism'§ wud be more appreciated than some of what I've read thus far…4those dat gave it, thanks. 4dose that didn't,…..
Thanks to all that give constructive criticism especially Anon its obvious you know what you are talking about and I've literally taken the notes down, that's what we young especially film-makers like us need, the way forward. One day we shall make great movies. amen? amen! Love to BN Team and readers.
I must say this is a very good first try at a short film, sure there are some minor things to work on, but IMO the cast and crew can only get better. Can't wait for the next film! I thought the production was really good and Lowladee (Nigeria's answer to Tyler Perry *wink *wink) – keep spinning out awesome scripts like this. Oh and to all the naysayers…go shoot your own movie make we watch am!! Oh I forgot..you cant!
Let's not forget a fact – dis movie addressed an issue usually ignored in our so-called Nollywood films. I give them a 'thumbs-up'. And I believe Constructive criticism'§ wud be more appreciated than some of what I've read thus far…4those dat gave it, thanks. 4dose that didn't,…..
1st,not a bad attempt. Footage is clear and the sound isn't really bad but your actors could have projected a little bit more. Mimi has a flat facial expression and her voice and line delivery does not have the adequate emotion it needs to move the audience. The chemistry between the ladies is weak. It doesn't portray long time friendship . Kelvin's line delivery is not on point either. It is flat and so are his facial expressions. My only issue with the story line is how Mimi opens up to a stranger who comes into her house uninvited. That isn't realistic.
What a movie! Well done.
Nancy, we all have that vulnerable moment when you NEED to talk to someone, so even if it's a mad man that you see at that moment, you will talk o, hence the stranger thing, realistic.
awwww <3 i love the last scene. All i can say apart from the message the story is trying to pass across is that: "WE FIND LOVE IN THE STRANGEST PLACES"


Landscape of cherry blossoms 5 is a photo of MarieMaria author. This photo includes Pictorial postcard spring sakura A picture postcard JAPAN tags. To download photo (S, L, M sizes) you need to register the account and log in.


Helping business leaders maintain healthy and harmonious working environments.
Even in the most harmonious of offices, dealing with conflict often plays a part in the day-to-day working environment. With a variety of personalities which can sometimes clash, tempers may flare – impacting negatively on productivity. The mark of a good manager, however, is being able to resolve these incidents and keep morale high in the process.
That said, because of its potentially high cost, some employees and managers tend to avoid or mishandle conflict because they don't want to deal with its consequences, or they simply aren't trained to do so. Avoiding attempts to handle problems in the office can result in a negative environment, re-enforcing office politics and fuelling biases. The right processes should be in place to help managers address things in an appropriate manner.
As we outline below, there's more to it than simply getting HR involved. While they can train managers on effective conflict-resolution strategies, it's not always up to them to resolve issues in the workplace. To help you control any difficult situations you may have to deal with, here we provide a collection of methods you can use to deal with office conflicts.
A big part of managing conflict is knowing when to act. Say, for example, an employee's behaviour is negatively impacting the performance of those around them. If you attempt to step in too early, you might be lacking any evidence or proof of any wrongdoing.
On the other hand, try to avoid leaving it too late. If everyone else is aware that it must be dealt with and you still aren't doing anything about it, then you risk losing authority and credibility among those you lead.
No matter how big your team is, the mixing pot of people means there'll be all manner of personalities in the workforce. Skilled managers will identify and respect the differences in their team and take differing viewpoints into account when resolving problems staff may be having. As the company becomes more and more diverse in terms of both generation and culture, finding resolutions for every type of conflict could become more difficult.
Adopting a respectful approach is a good way of understanding the conflict. As a leader, recognise that each employee represents a singular, unique opportunity to grow and develop. Rather than being comfortable dealing with those you naturally gravitate towards and trust, moving out of your comfort zone is a big step in dealing with conflict and furthering your own skills as a manager. If you aren't comfortable with certain employees, you only serve to widen the gap between you and them, undervaluing their skills as a result.
Following on from the previous point, an essential quality that managers must have is their sense of self-awareness. In order to identify the problem properly, you must set aside preconceived ideas and biases, which impacts how you react, both physically and emotionally, in these situations.
Don't prepare what you want to say in response to something in advance, but rather, listen to what the relevant parties have to say, and directly respond. While agreeing with the employee isn't necessary, your response should be based on putting yourself in their shoes and appreciating the fact that their discontent has a different perspective to yours.
Improve your listening skills by removing distractions such as checking your email or looking at your phone. Poor body language also gives off a bad impression and implies resistance to what your employee might want to state. Unfold those arms, and don't be tempted to look at the clock; people don't want to feel like they may be wasting your time. Ask questions often to make sure you're on the same page as each other.
That said, it's not enough to merely give the impression that you're understanding employees. Being an empathetic person allows your team to feel that they're being emotionally supported and can help recognise the link between others' emotions and how they behave. Take an interest in your employees' lives outside of work, by showing them that you care they will respond to your efforts by developing trust in you.
Moving towards involving HR should be your last option as a manager, and you should look at different avenues of conflict resolution before escalating the situation to them. If you've attempted to speak to those involved, or scoured the employee code of conduct and still haven't reached a resolution, then this should be when you seek the advice and involvement of HR.
Take time to consider if this is a one-time-only occurrence or the latest in a line of ongoing situations. If it's the latter, then HR can help you create things such as performance improvement plans, as well as timelines over which you should expect behavioural change. However, if there's been an obvious violation of conduct, then HR should be involved immediately.


Twitter Vs. Drake: Are Millennials Too Sensitive For Hip-Hop?
The generation of hip hop fans he helped mold won't stand for his Kid Cudi diss.
In September, Kid Cudi called out Kanye West and Drake on Twitter, accusing them of vulturing his style and leaning on ghostwriters to stay on top.
At the time, Cudi's Tweet-storm came off as an egotistical rant rooted in jealousy. But a few weeks later, the lonely stoner announced that he had checked himself into rehab. Given the context of his past issues with depression, his sudden lashing out at his two closest emo-rap peers looks more like a cry for help than serious threat to their thrones.
Some on social media are upset with Drake because they feel the bar is insensitive to individuals with mental health issues. Charlamagne was quick to point out the hypocrisy of calling a rap diss "too far" considering the scathing disses of hip-hop's past. He argued that if Tupac can make fun of Prodigy's sickle-cell anemia and be a beloved icon, we can't be mad at Drake. But we are in different times.
If you think Drake went too far against Cudi and you a 2 Pac fan you are a HYPOCRITE to the highest power and we don't respect you.
So Pac clowning Prodigy for having sickle cell wasn't going too far but Drake clowing Cudi is going too far? I hate hypocrites.
Twenty years after "Hit 'Em Up," the reckless talk that fueled the flames of Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G.'s deadly feud isn't cool. Would PC young fans and corporate sponsors of today be surprised by the abundance of misogyny, homophobia and violence in the lyrics of mainstream stars like Ice Cube, Nas and Common? At some point, hip-hop became too mature for joning and too sensitive for schoolyard disrespect. And Drake should know that better than anyone.
You know Drake trash moist and weak AF for dissing @KidCudi while he getting help for depression and away from music.
Drake is trash. He's been trash. He's vindictive, petty, kicks people while they're down routinely, and you all keep handing him W's. Wtf.
Drake charmed us by playing the humble nerd who studied the game to a T. But the bigger he gets, the more he's starting to look like a bully abusing his power. Ever since he beat up Meek Mill in front of the whole school, he's quicker to throw his weight around. But all the flexing might turn off listeners who fell in love with the nice guy version of Aubrey.
Considering hip-hop's history of disrespect, Drake's "phases" bar was mild at best. It's not nearly as insensitive as Troy Ave's jabs at Captial Steez's mental health issues (Ave caught flak for joking about his suicide in a diss to Steez's friend Joey Bada$$), and Drake can always say he was only clapping back to defend his honor.
Yo MCM thinks Drake took it "too far" with the Cudi line.
Charlamagne is right, Drake's bar was far from "too far" given hip-hop's past. But Drake isn't playing by the rules of the past. And he can't expect to benefit from new school rules that allow ghostwriting and reckless emoting without considering the new boundaries he helped set. Drake made hip-hop so soft, even his suburban barbs are too hard for the culture. Now, Drizzy has to face the mob of moody millennials he helped mold.


The afternoon we returned from Thailand our a-yi (babysitter) came by to see Juliana. Obviously she had missed Juliana during our three weeks away, and while Juliana didn't come running and squealing like usual, she was excited to see her a-yi as well. A-yi came in the door out of breath, not just from climbing to the sixth floor but from climbing to the sixth floor carrying a very large motorized riding car toy, her very large present for Juliana.
Gift giving is definitely an important part of Chinese culture. You bring fruit or flowers when visiting someone's home. You bring back small trinkets or a local "specialty" from traveling (something we totally forgot about this year in Thailand). At Mid-Autumn Day, you exchange moon-cakes with practically everyone you know. As teachers, our school would always give us a Christmas/New Years gift, and our students would give us presents at the end of the year. Lots of gifting going on. But usually the gifts are pretty small, a couple of dollars worth of fruit, not a fancy toy that probably cost $50. So we felt a little awkward about this gift and wondered what was behind it.
Juliana had no such hesitation. Who cares about the reason; she just got a giant new toy! She climbed up on the seat (backwards), played with the moveable armrests, opened the storage box to examine the instruction packet and wall charger, fiddled with the handle bars (I guess it's actually a giant motorbike), and of course, pushed the buttons that made the very loud noises.
One button made car noises, an endless grinding turn-over sound, like a car that may or may not start. A loud horn. And of course, a button that plays loud, barely identifiable children's songs. Juliana loves it. She was excited to hear the ABC song, probably her current favorite, right up with Old MacDonald. It wasn't until a few days later I realized that while the first part of the song is fine, once it gets to "O-L-N-O-M," it's all downhill from there.
The car also has a little foot petal to activate the motor and made a little jump forward whenever Juliana accidentally stepped on it. The car even has a little seatbelt! Amazing. But did I mention that it's very large? It's really an outside toy. And we live on the sixth floor. The thought of carrying Juliana and a very large toy car down and back up all those stairs didn't really make me happy.
But she had the car, and I figured I'd better let her use it, so the next day I hauled it downstairs for her. I strapped her nicely in and showed her how to push the motor petal...and all she wanted to do was get out and run around. I thought, "I carried this all the way downstairs, darn it! Enough with your exercise – play with the toy! Play with the toy!" And then I let her run around because of course it was ridiculous. I called Kevin to come down and pick up the toy, and Juliana spent the next thirty minute happily wandering around on her own two feet.
The car was moved out to the laundry porch for storage, our catch all for objects we don't really know what to do with, and there I discovered its good use: occupying Juliana while I hang up laundry. She plays with her toy instead of trying to eat lead paint chips and I get the laundry up; a win-win situation.
A few days later we discovered the reason (or at least part of the reason) behind this over-the-top gift; a-yi and her husband started their own business, so she won't be able to watch Juliana anymore. In typical indirect fashion, she didn't mention anything about this when she was with us; it only came out through our teammate's prodding.
So now we begin the semester a-yi-less. We are really sad to lose our old a-yi because she and Juliana loved each other. The first week Juliana cried when I left her; thereafter she cried when a-yi left. It's going to be hard to find someone else who connects so well with Juliana. But find someone we must, if we are going to be able to start meeting with tutors again, an intrigal part of our language learning. And that car is just not going to do a lot of babysitting for us.
After a few bad experiences with poorly designed Chinese airports, last week we finally found something good about one of the worst. Flying through the Guangzhou airport -- where you often have to leave the secure area and run completely across the airport if connecting from a domestic to international flight -- we discovered the nursery.
We arrived from Bankok with almost four hours to kill until our next flight (we had just missed the cutoff to use a special "layover lounge" offered for those with layovers of more than four hours). We weren't looking forward to the prospect of trying to entertain Juliana for that entire time. Just yesterday, Juliana kept an entire crowd of waiting passengers entertained as she threw her little ball across the floor and chased it, tossing out gleeful squeals of delight or "ut ohs" with every toss. Then I spent some time trying to divert her from the trash can and evoking pained screams when I blockaded her from following mommy into the dingy bathroom. By the time we got onto the plane, we were probably more tired than she was.
So, at the Guangzhou airport, when I noted the nearly empty baby nursery, I figured it was worth a try. Ruth seemed apprenhesive: "do you think they would just let us hang out in there?"
When we walked into the carpeted room, which is lined on three sides with 18 comfy plush chairs--the kind airports only supply in some posh first-class lounge--a pair of Chinese grandparents were changing their newborn granddaughter's diaper while her baby's parents quietly looked on. The restrooms were spotless -- better than anything I've ever seen in a public place in China.
And in another corner of the room, an airport employee had pulled a chair cushion onto an armrest, propped up a newspaper, and settled in for at least an hourlong xiuxi in spite of the noisy squelches eminating from her walklie-talkie every few minutes.
We fed Juliana some yogurt and she excitedly imitated the newborn's coos. When the family and walkie-talkie toting napper left, we decided to close the doors and try giving Juliana a nap.
It was like shoving cottin into our weary ears. Immediately, the hustle and bustle of the airport was muffled. Flight announcements disappeared, squeaking luggage wheels faded. We were left with near silence.
Within a few minutes of rocking her in my arms, Juliana was asleep. And Ruth closed her eyes to rest. For a good 20 minutes, the silence remained.
Until another airport worker arrived. Pushing a wheelchair-bound passenger, she thrust the doors wide. Airport noise rushed in like water from behind a dam. Seemilngly oblivious to the napping baby in my arms, she made no attempt to quiet her walkie-talkie, which blared incessantly while she smugly clanked tea cups and scrawled something into a log book. I scoweled at her and scrambled to turn on Juliana's white noise ocean sounds to drown out the clatter. Thankfully, she kept on sleeping. Then, as suddenly as she arrived, the worker hurriedly left the nursery, leaving the doors ajar.
Ruth got up and shut them and the quiet returned. Ten minutes later she returned, now with three young children in tow.She again propped the doors wide. I scowled and again worked to drown out the noise, which clung to her like a shadow. When she left, Ruth again shut the doors. But again she returned ten minutes later and again she smugly propped the doors wide and sat down to sip her tea and chat with another airport employee who had come in moments before.
Soon, a mother with an infant wrapped in several layers of thick clothing joined us. Juliana finally succumbed to the clammor and woke up, but boarding time was approaching, so it was OK. As I changed her daiper, the doors stood open.
But everything changed the moment the Chinese mother started peeling away the layers of her child's clothing. Suddenly, the smug door-flinger-opener became concerned about a draft coming into the room. "The baby will catch a cold," she exclaimed as she hurried to close the doors. Again the room grew quiet as we walked to the gate to begin boarding our plane. Still, I think it was the quietest place we've ever found in an airport -- certainly the first time since Juliana hit six months that she's taken a decent nap in one.
The good thing about traveling with a toddler is that the world is their playground. Juliana loves airports; she can spend hours running around, banging on chairs, and climbing stairs and ramps. At each new hotel room she is excited to find another phone, another fridge right at her level, and more tiny spaces under furniture to shove her toys into. At our last place on the ground floor, Juliana took great joy in walking out the patio door right outside! A nice change from six floors up.
In many ways, though, traveling with a toddler is difficult. I'm not a strict schedule person, but I do think toddlers benefit from a good deal of routine, consistency, and predictability, none of which are abundant in travel. Some days she was already waking up from her nap at 2pm; other days she wasn't getting to sleep until 3pm. Some days she ate dinner at 5pm and other nights we didn't get to eat until 7pm, pushing back bedtime extra late too. Some days she had no problem with a flexible schedule; other days it made for quite a crabby baby. And this time we didn't even have to factor in jetlag!
Finally something I love to eat!
The long days of flights and airports are tiring but the weeks away from home were also starting to wear on Juliana. By the end she started getting extra fussy, even needing extra naps. She wanted to be touching me 90% of her waking hours, and if she was as far as 2 feet away she would pitifully cry, "Mumm-ma! Mumm-maaaa!" At home, Juliana squeals impatiently and grabs her hat when anyone mentions going outside. While traveling, on the other hand, she was excited whenever we got back to our room. Oh, and did I mention that the entire time she was working on two painful molars? I've always heard that molars are difficult, but I didn't realize they took so long to come in! Poor baby.
Despite all that, Juliana mostly enjoyed the travels. She got to charm hundreds of new people and play peek-a-boo with strangers on the plane. She got to ride an elephant and discovered their mutual love of bananas. She even took a nice nap while swaying along atop a lumbering elephant. She played with her aunt Melissa, who taught her important life lessons like how to climb up a slide. She went swimming and sliding and walked barefoot in the grass. She got to have bare arms and legs for three whole weeks. She played with other kids and went outside every day. She took her 16-23rd flights. Quite a lot of activity for a seventeen month old!
Taking a ride atop a 4 ton elephant. (She's inside the carrier getting in a nice little nap).


I've been seriously weight training now for 3 months so it was high time I actually figured out what my maximum weights are. This is important as it will dictate what weights to life for strength training, and what to lift for endurance.
I went to Letchworth gym, and the plan was to warm up then do 2 reps on a machine at a lowish weight and then increase the weight, one setting at a time until I could not do 2 controlled reps any more.
5 mins rowing for a warm up as it is whole body and then hit the machines. The results were actually quite surprising.
I will repeat the test every 4 weeks I think and monitor progress.


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By magicduck
Louisiana Purchase
Was bought from France for 15$ million dollars by Thomas Jefferson. Over doubled the size of the United States, everything west of the Mississippi River. Many people critized Jefferson's decision, stating it was unconstitutional.
Lowell's first Cotton Mill
The father of the factory system, Lowell used a series of machienes in one building that turned raw cotton into finished cloth. He hired women, because they were cheaper to pay, and they were happy to leave thier unpaied farm work for factory jobs.
Was passed by the Senate admitting Maine as a free state into the Union, while Missouri would enter as slave state. This also started the 36'30 line, where slavery was banned above the line, but permitted underneath.
Andrew Jackson gets elected
Jackson ran as the "peoples president" and got many votes from "common people". He formed a new politcal party called the Democratic Party, which claimed to speak for ordinary farmers and workers
Was a descision during Andrew Jackson's presidency in order to remove Native Americans from their home land in order for the U.S. to acquire gold. They were moved to land west of the Mississippi River.
Period: Nov 8, 1838 to Nov 8, 1839
The removal of Native Americans by force over 800 miles. Mostly Cherokee Indians were removed and over 4,00 died because of famine and extreme conditions.
Period: Apr 25, 1846 to Feb 2, 1848
Mexican American War
Was a war caused after Texas seceeded from Mexico and asked to be annexed to the Untited States. Mexican soldiers crossed the disputed border and killed U.S. soldiers on dispusted land, causing a 2 year war to start.
It allowed California as a free state which pleased the Union, while two territories New Mexico, and Utah were admitted as slave states which pleased the South. It also came with the Fugitive Slave law which did not make the North happy.
Publlished by Harriet Beecher-Stowe in order to describe the real life situations of slavery. Showed the life of a former slave, Uncle Tom who was beaten to death, this shocked the North and made them more hostile to the South.
Kansas Nebraska Act
Many Northerners feared that slavery would spread like a plague after Congress allowed a vote to decide whether Kansas and Nebraska would be slave states. As a result they formed a new political party, the Republican Party.
Bessemer process patened
Henry Bessemer patened his process of blowing air through molten air to create steel. Steel could now be massed produced since this process was cheaper and quicker.
Pro slavery forces raided the Free-Soil town of Kansas, burned buidings, looted stores, and destroyed two printing presses. They were there to influence the vote on slavery and take down the free-soilers.
Dred Scott Decision
Asked two questions- First did slaves have the right to bring a case before federal court?, and second, Did the Scott's stay in Wisconsion make them free? Both were ruled as a no, raising more tension between the North and South.
Oil Discovered in Pennsylvania
Edwin Drake went to Titusville, Pennsylvania on a buisness trip after buying stock from Pennsylvania Rock Oil Company. After finally stricking oil, it would later be used for fuels for lamps. lubricants for machienery, and eventually gasoline for cars.
John Brown's Raid
The Dred Scott decision made many abolionisists angry and they wanted to act. John Brown raided Harpers Ferry and seized the arsenal. However without the help he needed he died along with others because they were taken down by soldiers.
Lincolns elected
When Lincol was elected it drew the final line between the North and South, having many states in the South to seceed and form the confederate States of America.
Period: Apr 12, 1861 to Apr 9, 1865
War bewteen the Union states in the North and the confederate states of the South. Started after the election of 1860, conflicts of slavery had been dividing the nation for decades.
Transcontinental Railroad Completed
Was completed by Central Pacific which started in California and had a workforce of Chiense and Union Pacific which started in Nebraska and had a workforce of Irish immigrants. The two would meet in Utah to complete the first railroads in America.
After the battle of Antietam Lincoln issued a warning to the confederate states to return to the union by January 1, 1863 or he would free their slaves. The Proclomation had little effect because the Confederacy did not view Lincoln as their president.
This battle was the turning point in the war. With both sides tied, the North finally got an edge in the war. More than 50,000 confederate soldiers die, over one-third of their army.
Sherman's March to Sea
Union general William Tecumseh Sherman marched his troops through the south implying total war the entire way. He burned the state of Georgia to the ground and left paths of destruction.
Surrender at Appoomattox Court House
After being surrounded by the Annaconda Plan, Robert E Lee decided to surrender. Robert E. Lee met with the Union at the Courthouse and the Civil War finally Ended
Period: Apr 10, 1865 to Nov 10, 1876
The time period after the civil war intended to mend the country back together again. During this time blacks had civil rights taken away, and the south resisted reconstruction
Lincoln's Assassination
After the Civil war ended President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth who believed he was saving the confederacy by murdering the president. Lincoln would never get to see his plans for reconstructing America.
This ammendment finally abolished slavery. Was required to be ratified by the south in order to be accepted into the Untion again
These black codes were laws passed in the south intended to limit the freedoms and eliminate civil rights of blacks. It also ensured a workforce for plantation owners who feared of going bankrupt after the war ended since they lost all of their free labor.
14th Ammendment
This ammendment stated that anyone born in the United States was immediatley an American citizen. The ammendment reversed teh Dred Scott decisison, and allowed citizens to have equal protection under the law.
This ammendment was the last of the Reconstruction ammendments stating that the right to vote would not be denied because of race or color. This ammendment allowed African Americans to finally vote.
Johnson's Impeachment
President Johnson faced impeachment after firing Secretary of War, Edwin Staton appointed by Lincoln. Johnson was trying to prove to congress after they passed laws he claimed were unconstitutional. Congress said his act went against the Tenure of Office Act and held a trial to impeach him. Johnson fell only one vote short from being impeached from office.
Standard Oil Formed
John D. Rockefeller formed Sandard Oil company which would be a monoply for Oil companies everywhere. Rockefeller would buy out other companies, and undercut competeion by lowering his prices after striking deals with railroads to cut his shipping costs. Standard Oil would eventually control 90% of the nation's oil production.
Mark Twain called this period in American history "The Gilded Age" because when something is gilded it only appears to be gold on the outside. While only a couple people were making it bigger in the U.S. the line between poor and wealthy became way to strong.
Carneige forms his Steel Company
Andrew Carneige decided to invest in the steel company and built the larges and most modern steel mill of its time in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Steel would now be used for construction in railroads, bridges, and eventually skyscrapers.
First Telephone Called
Created by Alexander Grahm Bell the telephone would soon replace the telegraph. Along with the telephone came Bell Telephone Company where telephone lines would soon be laid down.
Lightbulb Invented
Invented by Thomas Edison the lightbulb helped start an age of innovation after the Civil War. After trying over 1,000 fillaments Edison finally found the perfect fillament, bamboo fibers/ cardboard. The lightbulb was the first way to connect electricity and be able to use it.
Sherman Antitrus Act
Passed by congress, the act was intended to outlaw monopolies, trusts, and other forms of buisness that restricted trade. However the law was barley enforced and was filled with unclarified terms, which lead to confusion.
Slavery and the Events Leading Up to the American Civil War
Slavery & the Events Leading up to the Civil War
Sarah's Amazing Civil War Timeline
US History Timeline
The South and the Slavery Controversy 1793-1860
Trimester 1 exam timeline
Slavery and the Events Leading up to the Civil War
Events Leading Up to the Civil War
Expanding the New Nation
Historic Moments for Black Americans


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Top Sanders adviser suggests Dems may be 'planning to replace Joe'
With Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders out of the Democratic presidential primary race, former Vice President Joe Biden is now front-and-center as the man most likely to win the party's nomination this summer. But not everyone on the left is thrilled with the idea.
Amid concerns over Biden's fitness to lead, some experts have suggested that the Dems may opt to replace the vice president as their pick to take on President Donald Trump this fall — a theory that the Sanders campaign's former press secretary, Briahna Joy Gray, seems to be on board with, the Washington Examiner reports.
"They're planning to replace Joe"
Gray's thoughts on the subject were made known in a tweet posted by the former Sanders spokeswoman on Thursday. The progressive Democrat shared a video of Fox News host Tucker Carlson arguing that Democrats have now come face-to-face with a hard question for them to swallow: "Is Joe Biden ready to lead this country?"
"Bernie was too kind to go after Biden, but it's coming," Gray wrote in her tweet in response to the clip.
She went on: "Either Dem leadership cares more [about] maintaining a corporate status quo than getting rid of Trump, or they're planning to replace Joe — adopting a pretty fast and loose relationship [with] representative Democracy. Lose lose."
Bernie was too kind to go after Biden, but it's coming.
Either Dem leadership cares more abt maintaining a corporate status quo than getting rid of Trump, or they're planning to replace Joe – adopting a pretty fast and loose relationship w/ representative Democracy.
Lose lose. https://t.co/mzQYMjM2Nc
— Briahna Joy Gray (@briebriejoy) April 9, 2020
He's not the only one
To be sure, Gray is no fan of Carlson — she called him a "cruel bully" in a follow-up tweet — but that doesn't mean the Fox star is wrong about Biden's White House prospects.
As far as who could be up to replace Biden, the most likely — and by far most mentioned — possibility is New York's Democrat Gov. Andrew Cuomo, whose political stock has risen substantially thanks to his near-daily press briefings on how his state is handing its massive coronavirus outbreak. Such speculation was fueled, the Examiner reported, by a number of conservative talking heads who have suggested as much in recent weeks.
"I sincerely and totally believe that Joe Biden will not be the Democratic nominee on Election Day," Carlson himself told Detroit journalist Charlie LeDuff on a podcast earlier this month, according to the Examiner. "Two competing imperatives: We've got to win, but we've got a guy who can't win. Therefore, they're going to replace him."
Carlson went on: "[Biden]'s not going to make it, and the people around him know that. Trust me, I know them. And I know they know it, because they've said it to me."
Former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly expressed a similar sentiment in a discussion on Sean Hannity's radio show in early April, the Examiner noted. "The thinking now is that, if Biden can't make it, they'll get him to a couple of weeks before the convention, and then he'll step aside for health reasons and give his delegates to Cuomo," O'Reilly remarked.
As Election Day draws nearer, only time will tell if Dems go through with these alleged plans to find a new nominee. In the meantime, voters can always throw their support behind a candidate they know can do the job: the one who is already in the White House.


There are probably hundreds of guys who are Elvis Impersonators, singing his favorite love songs, but I would like to share a few with you.
"Love me" and "Blue suede shoes." I think this guy is very funny.
Johnny Cash said that Andy was Elvis' favorite impersonator.
When I was typing it, I made an error and typed Dollingwood! Maybe Dolly Parton will come next! This is Ben singing "I can't stop loving you" – one of my own personal favorite love songs.
One of the ultimate Elvis Impersonator winners. CC Rider.
6. Wayne Fontaine – When my blue moon turns to gold again.
He plays the guitar real good!
The make up is incredible. All of these artists are so incredible, and do such wonderful imitations of the king.
It is very interesting to hear Donny's story of how people persuaded him to get into it.
He looks a lot like Elvis.
This is a good song – the words are so true. So many people love to criticize, when they don't know what it's like to be in your shoes.
So many Elvis Impersonators. Looks like the women love it!
Receives the "Heart of the king" award, then goes into action. Wow, Dean does all the moves of the king in just a couple of songs. He is very good at his imitation. I wonder how his girlfriend feels about him kissing all the girls.
Wow, it is so nice to see her. She is the real deal. The ex-wife. Up close and personal. Knows all about him. I read her book some years back. She is a year older than me – I just looked it up.
I think this might be part of a movie.
It is sad to see he died so young.
17. A Canadian woman looking for her father – he turns out to be an Elvis impersonator in Thailand.
I saw this on the news the other week, and I thought it was very interesting.
I saw Elvis and a UFO, but not at the same time! This guy is so funny.
I have had his poster on my bedroom wall for the last 20 years!


Claire Seneviratne - Ceramic Artist: Small smoked fired vessel with gold.
How I smoke-fire my work.
Video 1. Smoke fired pot with gold lustre.
Video 2. Ceramic Pot with overlapping shapes and suspended circles.
Video 3. Round smoke-fired porcelain pot with gold lustre.
Video 4. Small ceramic smoke fired pot with black and whire markings.
Video 5. Small pinch blues.
Video 6. Smoke fired porcelain pot with gold lustre.
Video 7. Small gold lustre, smoke fired pot.
Video 8 Smoke fired porcelain pot with gold lustre.
Video 9. Porcelain smoke fired pot with gold lustre.
Video 10. Ceramic pot with glaze and gold lustre.
Video 11. Ceramic pot with gold lustre.
Video 12. Upright smoke fired pot.
Video 13. Ceramic pot with black and white.
Video 14. Ceramic fine at pot. Smoke fired in sawdust.
Video 15 Smoke fired with blue shades.
Video 16 Ceramic smoke fired pot with gold and copper.
Video 17 Small round smoke fired pot with gold and copper.
Video 18 Small ceramic smoke fired pot with gold and copper.
Video 19 Smoke fired pot with gold.
Video 20 Smoke fired pot with gold.
Video 21 Small ceramic pot with black and white.
Video 22 Smoke fired pot with gold.
Video 23 Smoke fired pot with gold.
Video 24 Ceramic pot with black and white.
Video 25 Ceramic pot with gold lustre.
Video 26 Ceramic pot with gold lustre.
Video 27 Ceramic pot with black and white.
Meeting Keith Brymer Jones at the handmade fair Ragley hall.
How to paint your snowman.
How to make a clay lion.
How to make a snowman with air drying clay.
How to make a clay elephant.
How to make a clay pig.
How to paint a clay pig.
Video 37. Ceramic fine art pot.
Video 38. Tall smoke fired ceramic pot.
Video 39 Ceramic pot with gold lustre.
Video 40 Smoke fired porcelain vessel with gold lustre.
Video 41 Ceramic pot with gold lustre.
Video 42 Large round porcelain pot with gold lustre.
Video 43 Large round smoke fired pot.
Video 44. Ceramic pot smoke fired with gold and copper.
Small smoked fired vessel with gold.
This small ceramic pot has been made from porcelain, burnished prior to firing (smoothed with a piece of glass) and then partially glazed and fired in my electric kiln.
I have used copper carbonate as a paint to add further textural markings to the surface.
Next, the gold lustre has been added and fired on, again in the kiln.
After the electric kiln firings the pot has been smoke fired in sawdust. The sawdust must be packed in a specific way and only a certain type of sawdust is used.
Lastly it has been cleaned and waxed with beeswax.


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ACLU-CT to Governor:
COVID vaccine rollout must include incarcerated people
Ahead of Governor Lamont's COVID-19 vaccination roll-out plan announcement, the ACLU-CT calls on the Governor to ensure people who are incarcerated are included in the same tier as all others in congregate living situations.
ACLU of Connecticut
Smart Justice
New beginnings for public policy and advocacy at the ACLU-CT
Legislative session starts January 6. Here's what we're fighting for.
As prison settlement ends, the state must work harder to protect incarcerated people from COVID-19
What is Clean Slate?
By Melvin Medina, Public Policy and Advocacy Director
If you're paying attention to Connecticut's legislative session, you've probably heard the term "Clean Slate." By joining the conversation about Clean Slate, Connecticut is entering a national movement – Utah, California, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey have passed Clean Slate laws. The mechanics of those laws are different from state to state. But Clean Slate does have one unifying principle: the idea that every person living with a criminal record who has earned the chance to be in society deserves a fair chance at supporting themselves and their families. Fundamentally, Clean Slate is about providing a light at the end of the tunnel for people who are dealing with the collateral consequences of a record – inability to find housing, employment, education, or even insurance or financial products, based solely on a scarlet letter from their past.
So what are we talking about when we talk about Clean Slate? For the ACLU of Connecticut, "Clean Slate" is automatic record erasure after a defined period of time, for anyone living with a criminal record, with anti-discrimination protections.
Automatic record erasure
"Erasing" a record means the record is removed from criminal record electronic databases and will not show up if, for instance, a landlord or employer conducts a background check. It means a person can legally say that they have no criminal record.
Critically, erasing a record through Clean Slate is also automatic. Unlike a pardon, under Clean Slate, people who are living with a record do not need to apply to be eligible; do not need to jump through complicated, lengthy, or costly hoops to access it; and are eligible based solely on the amount of time they have gone without a new conviction. Making Clean Slate automatic is the state making a promise: earn your chance to be part of society, show that you can reenter without a new conviction, and the state will guarantee that someday, you will live record-free.
After a defined period of time
Under Clean Slate, people are eligible to have their record erased after they have gone a certain amount of time without a new conviction. This means people would be eligible for Clean Slate after they have already shown they can successfully reenter society. Research has shown, after all, that people who go seven years without a new offense are no more likely to reoffend than someone without a criminal record.
The ACLU of Connecticut believes people should be able to live with a Clean Slate as soon as they have earned the chance to reenter society, not after years of waiting. Someone reentering society has already paid their debt to society and should not be forced to keep repaying it. Until the legislative conversation about Clean Slate catches up to that principle, however, we will push for the state to at least define the amount of time necessary for Clean Slate eligibility, so the rules are clear and not arbitrary.
For anyone living with a record
Ninety-five percent of people who are incarcerated in the U.S. will return to society. Once someone has finished their sentence and earned their chance to reenter society, we should be setting them up for success, no matter what crime they were arrested for or convicted of.
Unfortunately, people have a lot of misconceptions about the differences between felonies and misdemeanors and about what constitutes a violent offense. This can lead to states attempting to exclude people from Clean Slate based solely on the type of offense on their record, without even considering how old the record was or how long they have gone without another conviction.
In reality, people who have been convicted of a felony or a violent crime can turn their lives around and be productive members of our communities, especially if they can get the right kind of help. For instance, a study of the U.S.'s largest employer, the U.S. military, found that enlistees with felony records were more likely to be promoted to sergeant. Providing people with a chance at opportunity and hope builds public safety – locking people into a permanent underclass by preventing them to reentering society perpetuates harm and makes us all less safe.
Racial disparities in felony convictions should also make anyone think twice before trying to limit second chances solely to people with misdemeanors. A nationwide study conducted in 2017 found that overall, eight percent of people in the U.S. are living with a felony record. But among Black adult men, the rate is one in three. That same study estimated that overall, between six and eight percent of Connecticut residents are living with a felony conviction – but among Black adult men, the rate was between 25 and 31 percent. Racial disparities in felony convictions reflect racism in arrests, charging, and sentencing. Indeed, excluding people with felony convictions from participating in society has traditionally been used to further racism.. After the Civil War, Florida banned people with felony records from voting in an attempt to prevent Black voters from gaining power.
With anti-discrimination protections
For Clean Slate to be more than an empty promise, it must include a way to hold people accountable if they discriminate against someone based on their criminal history. We live in a digital age. Even if someone's record is erased, there is a chance that a potential landlord, employer, or another gatekeeper could learn about their criminal history outside of a background check. Without anti-discrimination protections, word of mouth or a Google search of old news stories could put someone in just as precarious a position as if their record had never been erased.
A strong Clean Slate law is one that closes this potential loophole by prohibiting discrimination against people based on their history of arrest or conviction in things like housing, employment, education, insurance, credit, and public programs. In Connecticut, this would mean giving people a pathway to file a claim with CHRO (Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities) if they face discrimination after their record has been erased.
In the Connecticut General Assembly's discussions about Clean Slate, all four of these components – automatic record erasure, after a defined period of time, for all people living with a record, with anti-discrimination protections – are likely to be up for debate. The ACLU of Connecticut will be fighting for the strongest Clean Slate possible, so more people and their families are able to have a fair chance at thriving.
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© 2021 ACLU of Connecticut


So you must be on the watch, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming??n the evening or at midnight or toward daybreak or early in the morning??36 for fear he should come unexpectedly and find you asleep.
And they obeyed, and about daybreak went into the Temple and began to teach. The high priest and his party came over and called together the council and indeed the whole senate of the Israelites, and sent to the prison to have the apostles brought in.
Until daybreak Paul kept urging them all to take something to eat. "For fourteen days," he said, "you have been constantly on the watch, without taking anything to eat.