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ELECTRONICS—based on JEITA survey
Production of the global electronics industry is estimated to have increased 20% year on year to 181.4 trillion yen (US$1.8 trillion*) in 2013, led by rapid expansion of the smartphone and tablet markets. And production will rise a further 5% to 191.4 trillion yen in 2014—the third straight year of growth, as the world's appetite for mobile terminals continues to increase and demand for electronic devices and components trends upward underpinned by steady growth of the automotive market, according to an annual survey by the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA)
*Original figures are in Japanese yen. The exchange rate is roughly US$1=100 yen.
While global electronics production has been on a vigorous upward trajectory, Japan's electronics production, including Japanese companies' production overseas, decreased in 2012, but resumed growth in 2013 with a 6% increase to 32.5 trillion yen and is expected to continue growing this year, rising 3% to 33.4 trillion yen.
The growth of Japanese companies' production overseas reflects their drive to lower costs, ameliorate the impact of exchange rate fluctuations, and enhance responsiveness to demand by locating production in or adjacent to major markets. Production in Japan has consequently trended downward, declining 3% to 11.4 trillion yen in 2013. However, this year, in view of the anticipated improvement of the Japanese economy, a 3% rise to 11.8 trillion yen is expected.
Japan looms large in electronic components: the value of global production in 2013 is estimated at 19.8 trillion yen, with Japan accounting for 38% of the total, though less than 1/3, 12%, of that was manufactured in Japan.
Japan still accounts for a large share, 37% worth 16.8 trillion yen, of global production of digital consumer electronics. In this category, however, the shift of production to regional markets is particularly marked: made-in-Japan products represented only 5% of global production in 2013.
Japanese manufacturers remain formidable contenders in certain product fields, with dominant shares of global production, but these markets tend to be relatively small. For example, of global production of video and digital cameras worth 1,226 billion yen in 2013, Japanese companies accounted for 89%, and for printers worth 136 billion yen, the figure was 68%.
Japanese manufacturers have a low profile in the mobile phone/smartphone business; of global production worth 25.6 trillion yen in 2013, they accounted for only about 6%.
Although Japan used to dominate the global semiconductor and display panel markets, in 2013 it accounted for 15% of global semiconductor production and 13% of global display panel production, according to JEITA.
SEMICONDUCTOR—based on WSTS survey
Japan's semiconductor market—that is, the sum of semiconductor sales in Japan by Japanese and overseas vendors—was worth US$34.8 billion, accounting for 11.4% of the global market, in 2013, according to a WSTS survey.
In 2013, sales in Japan dropped sharply, 15.2%, year on year, and a further 1.3% decline is forecast for 2014. But these decreases are largely attributable to the weakening of the yen against the dollar. On a yen basis, the picture is very different: a 3.7% increase in 2013, with 4% growth expected for 2014.
The yen reached unprecedented heights against the dollar in the period from 2009 to 2012, peaking at less than 80 yen to the dollar. For now, to the relief of many Japanese companies, the exchange rate seems to have stabilized at around 100 yen to the dollar. The weaker yen is a tailwind for many manufacturers and, along with the general improvement of the Japanese economy, domestic demand is expected to grow. WSTS forecasts that the Japanese semiconductor market will continue growing: 4% this year, 2% in 2015 and 3% in 2016 to 3,710 billion yen.
2014 Production Forecasts for the Global Electronics and Information Technology Industries
WSTS Semiconductor Market Forecast Spring 2014
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August book-to-bill ratio stays below 1
Toshiba starts 15nm fabrication at Fab 5
July book-to-bill ratio slips below 1
June book-to-bill ratio back above 1
Fujitsu to sell 300mm fab to UMC: media reports
UMC allying with Fujitsu for 300mm fab
Next steps are efficient HR deployment and ecosystems for system products: Sakuta, CEO of Renesas
Murata cheerleader robots to debut at CEATEC
Sharp readying MEMS display for 2017 launch
Chip-apposable solid-state rechargeable battery developed by NGK
Renesas starts offering its first ADAS SoC R-Car V2H
Electrons behave freely in perovskite PV cells
Rohm to offer first general-purpose Wi-SUN module
Sharp offering compact PM2.5 sensor device
Fuel cell power generation for condos
Panasonic targets niche tablet market
NEC Engineering offering ESD visualization system
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Download "Through :Mr. Rajiv Nayar, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Darpan Wadhwa, Ms. Abhiruchi Arora, Mr. Akhil Sachar and Ms. Jaishree Shukla, Advs."
1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI SUBJECT : CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE IA No /2010 (u/o 7 R 10 & 11 r/w Sec. 151 CPC) in CS(OS) No. 1830/2010 IA No /2010 (u/o 7 R 10 & 11 r/w Sec. 151 CPC) CS(OS) No. 1831/2010 AND IA No /2010 (u/o 7 R 10 & 11 r/w Sec. 151 CPC) in CS(OS) 1832/2010 Reserved on 17th February, 2012 Decided on 8th May, 2012 TATA MOTORS LIMITED... Plaintiff Through :Mr. Rajiv Nayar, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Darpan Wadhwa, Ms. Abhiruchi Arora, Mr. Akhil Sachar and Ms. Jaishree Shukla, Advs. versus JSC VTB BANK LTD... Defendant Through : Mr. A.B. Dial, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Rajiv Nanda, Adv. Coram: HON BLE MR. JUSTICE A.K. PATHAK A.K. PATHAK, J. 1. By this order, I shall dispose of applications under Order 7 Rules 10 and 11 read with Section 151 CPC filed by the defendant in the above referred three matters, as the same are in similar facts, inasmuch as, question of law involved therein is also same. 2. Whether Delhi Courts have territorial jurisdiction to entertain and try the suit? is the question involved in the above matters.


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Department of Environmental Protection Announces Expanded Recreational Boating Programs Led to More Than 1,000 Visits to Catskill Reservoirs in 2013
More Than 750 Boat Tags Issued in 2013 and New Rental Program led to Hundreds of Additional Visitors
More Than 20 Certified Outdoor Guides Participated in New Opportunity to Access City Lands
New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Carter Strickland today announced that more than 750 individual boat tags were issued in 2013 during another successful season of recreational boating on City-owned reservoirs in the Catskills. The popular boating program on Cannonsville, Neversink, Pepacton, and Schoharie reservoirs was supplemented this year by two new programs. A boat rental program, administered in partnership with the Catskill Watershed Corporation, allowed local businesses to store and rent recreational boats alongside the four reservoirs. The rentals attracted more than 300 additional boaters and supported local businesses with thousands of dollars of new revenue. The second program opened City-owned lands and waters for the first time to more than 20 state-certified outdoor guides who provided professional tours to dozens of visitors. These programs are in addition to the traditional use of metal rowboats for fishing, which has been permitted for decades.
"Our efforts to encourage boating and guided outdoor recreation underscore DEP's commitment to support the Catskills' tourism economy," said Commissioner Strickland. "This year we've heard feedback from many boaters and vendors who said these programs offered a unique way to exercise, attract visitors, and enjoy the scenic beauty of the Catskills, and we look forward to finding new and responsible ways to expand recreational access in the years to come."
DEP issued 757 tags to boaters, including 505 kayaks, 189 canoes, 33 rowboats, 25 sailboats, and five sculls. Pepacton Reservoir attracted 461 boaters, the most of any reservoir, followed by 126 tags issued at Neversink, 108 at Cannonsville, and 62 at Schoharie. Nearly 63 percent of recreational boating tags were issued to residents of the five watershed counties, including Delaware, Greene, Schoharie, Sullivan, and Ulster. About 14 percent of tags were issued to residents of New York City or Long Island. Visitors from six states also received tags, including Alabama, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
After a successful expansion of recreational boating last year, the program was further enhanced this year by a new initiative allowing local businesses to rent kayaks and canoes from 10 launch sites alongside the four reservoirs. The seven businesses that participated rented more than 300 boats. The program was administered with significant help from the Catskill Watershed Corporation, which funded the acquisition of 30 storage racks for the rental boats. The Catskill Watershed Corporation also administered the process to vet and approve businesses that applied to participate in the rental program.
"Installing racks to allow boat rental vendors to safely store canoes and kayaks has made it easier for them to do business, and to attract people without boats of their own to get out and have fun on the water," said Catskill Watershed Corporation Executive Director, Alan Rosa. "The CWC is happy to have played a part in assisting small business, and introducing new boaters to this great sport."
The program also served as a new source of revenue for the local companies who rented boats to residents, tourists, and summer camp groups.
"My business more than doubled in 2013 as more and more people learned about the recreational boating program," said Jim Rafferty, who owns Bradley Boat Rentals and participated in the rental program at Neversink Reservoir. "New York City and the Catskill Watershed Corporation have provided the public with a wonderful recreational opportunity and their efforts are appreciated."
2013 marked the second year of the expanded recreational boating program, which followed a three-year pilot that began in 2009 at Cannonsville Reservoir. Prior to 2009, DEP only issued tags for metal rowboats that were used and stored at the reservoirs for the purpose of fishing. That original program remains popular, with more than 12,212 tags currently issued to anglers who have rowboats at the reservoirs. While many residents enjoy this traditional program, there is a waiting list at many reservoirs and tourists and casual visitors to the Catskills could not get access to the reservoirs. Regular water-quality monitoring at each of these reservoirs has shown no impact from recreational boating and DEP's invasive species experts surveyed every boat launch site this summer and found no sign of aquatic plants or animals that can harm drinking water quality. Every boat that is used on the reservoirs is required to be inspected and steam cleaned to avoid the spread of invasive species.
This year, DEP also began a new program for New York state-certified outdoor guides to use City-owned lands and reservoirs in the watershed for the first time ever. In total, 21 certified guides received permits to offer fishing, hunting, and hiking tours that have long been a hallmark of the Catskills. Outdoor guides that offered services on City-owned properties required certification from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Among other guidelines, the state program requires all guides to be certified in first aid, CPR, and water safety. Guides also must pass a state exam.
"As a licensed guide in the Catskills since 1983, I was really happy to hear about the new program to allow guided tours on DEP land," said Charles "Sonny" Somelofski, who runs Catskills Outdoor Adventures in Margaretville. "My customers from downstate, New Jersey, and Connecticut were also very excited, and many of our tours on the reservoirs this year yielded world-class brown trout. We appreciate the City's efforts to work closely with us and help promote tourism in the Catskill and Delaware watershed."
DEP manages New York City's water supply, providing more than one billion gallons of water each day to more than nine million residents, including eight million in New York City. The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the city, comprising 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses throughout the five boroughs, and 7,500 miles of sewer lines and 96 pump stations take wastewater to 14 in-city treatment plants. DEP has nearly 6,000 employees, including almost 1,000 in the upstate watershed. In addition, DEP has a robust capital program, with a planned $14 billion in investments over the next 10 years that will create up to 3,000 construction-related jobs per year. This capital program is responsible for critical projects like City Water Tunnel No. 3; the Staten Island Bluebelt program, an ecologically sound and cost-effective stormwater management system; the city's Watershed Protection Program, which protects sensitive lands upstate near the city's reservoirs in order to maintain their high water quality; and the installation of more than 820,000 Automated Meter Reading devices, which will allow customers to track their daily water use, more easily manage their accounts and be alerted to potential leaks on their properties. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/nycwater, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/nycwater.
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Trudeau 'broke rules in SNC-Lavalin affair'
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau violated federal conflict of interest rules in the handling of a corruption inquiry, the federal ethics tsar has found.
The ethics commissioner says Mr Trudeau improperly tried to influence a former minister in the SNC-Lavalin affair.
The prime minister has denied political meddling to shield engineering firm SNC-Lavalin from a criminal trial.
The findings could be an issue for Mr Trudeau in advance of October's general election.
Earlier this year, former justice minister and attorney general, Jody Wilson-Raybould, accused Mr Trudeau and his staff of spending months trying to convince her that taking SNC-Lavalin to trial would cost Canadians jobs, and their party votes.
Her accusation proved to be politically costly to Mr Trudeau – leading to the resignation of two high-profile cabinet ministers, his top personal aide and the head of the federal bureaucracy – and cast a shadow over his leadership.
What did the ethics commissioner report say?
Commissioner Mario Dion's scathing report found that Mr Trudeau had violated section nine of conflict of interest act, which prohibits public office holders from using their position to improperly further another person's private interests.
"The Prime Minister, directly and through his senior officials, used various means to exert influence over Ms Wilson‑Raybould," said Mr Dion in a statement released with his 63-page report on Wednesday.
He said the authority of the Mr Trudeau and his office "was used to circumvent, undermine and ultimately attempt to discredit the decision" by Ms Wilson-Raybould and the federal prosecution service not to go ahead with a deferred prosecution agreement for SNC-Lavalin.
His findings carry no legal implications beyond a possible minimal fine.
What is the SNC-Lavalin affair?
SNC-Lavalin is one of the world's largest engineering and construction companies and employs some 9,000 people in Canada.
It is accused of bribing officials in Libya to win contracts under Muammar Gaddafi's regime and was charged in February 2015 with criminal offences that allegedly took place between 2001 and 2011.
SNC-Lavalin has openly lobbied for an agreement that would allow it to avoid prosecution and instead face alternative penalties or measures, such as a fine.
A conviction could result in a decade-long ban on bidding on Canadian federal contracts and and would allow authorities to cancel the company's current such contracts.
The firm had argued it should be allowed to avoid a trial because it has changed following the federal charges and it has "worked tirelessly to achieve excellence in governance and integrity".
The company hoped that it could come to an agreement with prosecutors that would be an alternative to trial. The attorney general must consent to the negotiation of the agreement.
Ms Wilson-Raybould said members of Mr Trudeau's inner circle pressured her to cut a deal, and when she did not, she was removed from her position as justice minister.
She and her colleague Jane Philpott resigned from Mr Trudeau's cabinet citing their concerns over the affair. They are both now running for re-election as independent candidates.
In his report, Mr Dion said that "because SNC-Lavalin overwhelmingly stood to benefit from Ms Wilson-Raybould's intervention, I have no doubt that the result of Mr Trudeau's influence would have furthered SNC-Lavalin's interests".
What has been the reaction?
"Justin Trudeau said he would be accountable and ethical," said federal Conservative leader Andrew Scheer on Twitter.
"Instead he used the power of his office to reward his supporters and punish his critics."
Mr Trudeau's political rivals also noted this is not Mr Trudeau's first ethics violation.
In December 2017, the federal ethics commissioner office found that Mr Trudeau's luxury trips to the Aga Khan's island in the Bahamas violated four conflict of interest rules.
Mr Trudeau, his family, and some senior members of the Liberal Party vacationed on the island owned by the philanthropist and spiritual leader in 2016.
No politics in Huawei arrest – Trudeau
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Posted in AmericasTagged broke, in, rules, SNC-La, TRUDEAU
Trent-Severn Waterway navigation season delayed until May 24: Parks Canada
Florida residents urged to 'kill iguanas' as population of 'menace' lizards explodes
Mexico sees decrease in US-bound immigration from Central America
Federal agency wants to make it easier to get mortgages on condos


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SAARC & Modi | Sounding The Death-Knell?
Dr D.K.Giri (Prof. International Politics, JMI)
The invitation to heads of BIMSTEC countries (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) for the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi's second government on 30 May almost sounded the death-knell for SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation). In five years, SAARC was allowed to die a natural death.
Recall Modi had laid the red carpet for SAARC leaders in his first swearing-in as Prime Minister in 2014. In the second term of his government, he had replaced it with BIMSTEC. It is not just symbolic, but a heavily substantial change. It is matter of time, SAARC is administered the euthanasia by South Asian leaders, and buried.
The terminal illness of SAARC had begun quite some time ago, but was diagnosed when India as a member of BRICS invited BIMSTEC in 2016 to Goa, as a part of BRICS outreach efforts in the developing world. In the same year, SAARC suffered another setback as the 19th Summit scheduled to be held in Pakistan, was suspended sin-e-die. The member countries declined to attend the Summit in the absence of a conducive environment, in particular, the scene of insecurity created by Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in the region.
Admittedly, SAARC process has been stalled by the India-Pakistan hostility which shows no sign of abatement. Although SAARC does not discuss bilateral issues; the climate of confidence is cluttered, and the India-Pakistan animosity spills over to the functioning of SAARC, and paralyse it. The new member of SAARC Afghanistan also suffers from Pakistan's machinations and proxy aggression on its territory.
New Delhi, perhaps, wisely decided that South Asian cooperation cannot proceed with a hostile, obdurate, and terrorist-infested Pakistan. It decided to isolate Pakistan by building up BIMSTEC, which includes five SAARC members and two members of ASEAN – Myanmar and Thailand. These two members will provide access to New Delhi to penetrate the ASEAN territory. Three members that are left out of BIMSTEC are Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan. New Delhi is resetting ties with Maldives after a pro-India government took over in the island country. And India has deep defence and development relations with Afghanistan.
New Delhi has thus managed to isolate Pakistan in the South Asian region. But talking about SAARC, which started in 1985 with good intentions of some of the South Asian leaders, shall we sing the 'Swan Song'? Like the aphorism goes "the road to hell is paved with good intentions", SAARC was doomed from the beginning. The leaders failed to foresee the complications in its functioning due to the internecine enmity between India and Pakistan.
Perhaps, the leaders had thought that one could talk about collective good by sidelining the bilateral issues. Little did they realise, the 'Kashmir issue' between India and Pakistan, so emotive and volatile, could engulf SAARC. That is exactly what happened, the smoke rising from India-Pakistan fire has blinded the path for SAARC. Since the fire is not likely to extinguish, it is better to stop the journey of SAARC, and rather withdraw it from any movement. That said, let us draw the trajectory of SAARC until 2014, and examine if it could have had a chance to survive despite India-Pakistan hostility.
SAARC envisioned by Zia ur Rehman of Bangladesh in 1970s was shrouded in mistrust and suspicion. New Delhi was reluctant to join as it was seen to be a pro-American grouping to counter Soviet Union with which India had close ties. But members had lackadaisical approach to it, the institutions took too long to develop, and mechanisms were weak to take swift decisions. Since 1985, summits have been postponed 11 times for political reasons either bilateral or internal.
The foremost reason for failure in addition to India-Pakistan conundrum is the problem of implementation. A number of regional agreements have been signed, but they have not been implemented. Quite often, Pakistan throws a spanner. For instance SAARC-MVA agreement during the 18th summit at Kathmandu could not be implemented because of Pakistan's reluctance. Similarly, Islamabad objected to the satellite project proposed by New Delhi. It has been established that Pakistan did not allow any SAARC agenda to proceed.
The second area of failure is the common security. The member countries did not have a common perception of threat. While India appealed to Pakistan about cross-border terrorism, the latter was indifferent.
Third, SAARC did not have any conflict management mechanism. The leaders envisaged a conflict-free situation to promote cooperation. But any meaningful cooperation has to be preceded by conflict resolution. Consequently, in absence of mediation for conflict resolution, disputes among the member countries affected the consensus-building and stunted the integration process.
Fourth, in view of the slow progress of SAARC, member countries turned to bilateralism. That in-turn hampered the growth of SAARC. Bilateralism should contribute to multilateralism, not substitute it.
Fifth, SAARC did not receive adequate attention in terms of resources, and encouragement of non-governmental players. Notably, the European Union, which is by far the best example of regional integration despite its current troubles, was built by movement of four elements – capital, people, goods and services. There were no substantive movement of any of these amongst SAARC countries.
There were heavy visa restrictions for people in and out of Pakistan, only India and Nepal have had visa free movement. Goods were also heavily taxed or smuggled; capital and services also did not have hassle-free movement. South Asian Free Trade Association, SAFTA touted as an example of regional cooperation did not improve multilateral trade in the region.
Obviously, before the agreements are made and signed, confidence building measures among the contracting parties are put in place. SAARC heavily lacked in this area, and was bound to fail. On the other hand, BIMSTEC founded in 1997, has been pervaded by an atmosphere of goodwill and friendship. That will stand it in good stead despite, as critics point out, BIMSTEC's achievements has been less than impressive. It should be noted that BIMSTEC was operating in the shadow of SAARC, hence grew slowly. With SAARC being sounded the death-knell, BIMSTEC will move faster as a new platform.
A word or two about the status of regional cooperation and the fate of BIMSTEC; there is renewed doubt about regional cooperation as the preferred mechanism for peace and prosperity of participating countries, mainly in the wake of Brexit and US withdrawing from trans-pacific partnership in 2017.
Arguably, Brexit and Donald Trump are considered to be aberrations in normal functioning of democracy, as they remind us of Plato and Aristotle's caution about democratic politics. However, democracy renews and self-rectifies itself. These 'abnormal times' will pass, and regional cooperation leading to healthy multilateralism will stay. Therefore, BIMSTEC and such regional initiatives have a future for peace & prosperity of their people.—INFA
Tagsmodi SAARC
Patna Vs Delhi | All Is Not Well?
World Environment Day | Sharp Focus On 'Air Pollution'


North of the former airport at Fornebu we find Arneberg Gardens. Five new blocks of flats with 147 flats built by Skanska Norge. There were several villas in the area, which have been demolished. However, Villa Helle still stands, with its white plaster and large grey stonework. As a result, the architect, Anne Marie Lööf of Løvseth + Partner, was looking to play with black and white contrasts.
While the facade inside the courtyard is mostly clad in calm and discreet dark brick, the front of the blocks has a lighter and brighter expression. The side panels of the balconies are in green and white STENI façade panels. In addition, the entrances, which use white STENI panels have been given an orange ceiling that continues into the stairwell.
White façade panels with black joints emphasise the shapes and give the façade nice, clean lines. An interesting contrast between white façade panels and black bricks.
The strong orange colour of the ceiling panels continues into the stairwell.


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Office of the Governor > News > Press Releases > 2021 Press Releases > Gov. Justice announces Sheetz to build $2 million distribution depot, create 30 new jobs in Jefferson County
Gov. Justice announces Sheetz to build $2 million distribution depot, create 30 new jobs in Jefferson County
Sheetz selects Kearneysville for one of only two truck transfer stations serving six-state coverage area
CHARLESTON, WV – Gov. Jim Justice announced today that convenience store chain Sheetz Inc. will build a $2 million distribution truck transfer station at Burr Industrial Park in Kearneysville.
When completed, the truck transfer station will employ 34 workers. That number includes the creation of 30 new jobs, primarily for truck drivers and delivery assistants. Interviews will begin in the summer of 2021 for positions starting in early 2022.
"Any day when we're able to announce dozens of great new jobs and millions of dollars of investment coming into West Virginia is a great day," Gov. Justice said. "For years now, Sheetz has been a wonderful partner. We've been happy to see them grow all across our state, and the addition of this new truck transfer station is yet another exciting example of how Sheetz and West Virginia are moving forward together with all kinds of momentum."
This transportation depot will become just the second such facility in the company's operations and will support Sheetz's two distribution centers, located in Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
"To the great people at Sheetz, as a business guy myself, I know what kind of commitment you're making to our state, and I want you to know just how much West Virginia truly appreciates you," Gov. Justice continued. "We want you to be so profitable it's unbelievable, because your success is our success."
The $2 million investment includes 5.5 acres in the industrial park, construction of a 1,900-square-foot building, and designated parking area for tractor/trailers hauling grocery and retail items.
The project was announced in a virtual ceremony today that included remarks from Sheetz Inc. President and COO Travis Sheetz, West Virginia Department of Commerce Secretary Ed Gaunch, West Virginia Development Office Director Mitch Carmichael, West Virginia State Delegate Paul Espinosa, and Jefferson County Development Authority Director Dennis Jarvis. West Virginia State Senator Patricia Rucker also joined the ceremony virtually.
"West Virginia is a great place to operate a business, without question," Sheetz said. "It's a great employee base for us...it has that advantage of being close to the action – close enough for us to have those efficiencies in delivery – but it's kind of out on its own a little bit, it's easy to get in and out. That's what we like and that's certainly what our drivers like."
"I've operated throughout the six states in our organization and I can say that West Virginia is just a really, really friendly and relationship-oriented place to work," Sheetz continued. "We're always happy to do new development in West Virginia, because we meet great people and we meet people that are looking to get things done as we are."
Sheetz operates 614 stores throughout Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, and North Carolina. More than 1,200 individuals are currently employed by Sheetz in West Virginia.
"The new Sheetz transportation depot is another step forward for West Virginia's economy," Secretary Gaunch said. "Much of the credit for this success goes to the Jefferson County Development Authority. We also have the advantage of West Virginia's prime location close to distribution hubs, supply lines and customer markets."
Sheetz was established in 1952 as a family-owned business and remains so today. As it expanded over the years, the convenience store chain adapted to changing markets with innovations such as Sheetz coffeez, bakery goods, and quality "made-to-order" food that customers can order electronically on a touchscreen or online.
"We stand ready, willing, and able to help you in every way possible to make your continued investment in West Virginia a resounding success," Director Carmichael said. "Your company, I think, fits perfectly with the West Virginia mentality about ensuring that we do things on a family-type basis, and we're excited to have the opportunity to watch you expand and to help you facilitate future growth in our state."
"On behalf of my legislative colleagues in Jefferson County and the Eastern Panhandle, we certainly want to add our congratulations to you, Travis, and your company for your transportation depot," Delegate Espinosa said. "Over the last several years, under Governor Justice's and Secretary Gaunch's leadership, a big focus of our activities has been to help job creators say 'Yes' to West Virginia, and we certainly welcome your affirmation of your operations here in West Virginia and expanding your operations in Jefferson County."
"Mr. Sheetz, thank you for investing in Jefferson County and investing in West Virginia," Jarvis said. "All of us know Sheetz; it's a cup of coffee in the morning, a burst of energy with a made-to-order sandwich and a gallon or two of gas on the way out to our workplaces...You all fit the cradle of West Virginia family-owned business, you understand our region, you understand our state, and we're pleased to have you."
"We are pleased that Sheetz has chosen to locate its new distribution terminal in the Burr Business Park," said Neil McLaughlin, president of the Jefferson County Development Authority. "We welcome the 30 new jobs, their match with our mission, and the additional investment in Jefferson County."
"I want to thank Sheetz for choosing to expand operations in Jefferson County," said Josh Compton, president of the Jefferson County Commission. "They have been a great member of the community for years, and the new jobs that this brings will definitely benefit our residents."
Jordan Damron, jordan.l.damron@wv.gov
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Many of our guests choose to visit us in February and March, when the peace and quiet of the islands and the likelihood of some early Spring flowers and sunshine makes a break away on Scilly irresistible. Of course, this time of year can also bring with it a few breezy showers, so in 2019, we are making sure that you will only have to leave the castle if you really want to, by offering more than just breakfast and dinner as part of your package.
Our new Relax & Recharge offer includes breakfast and a four course gourmet dinner, as you would expect, we will also be welcoming you with a half bottle of chilled champagne, providing a hearty homemade soup and sandwich for lunch and offering daily afternoon tea and cake, together with your chosen newspaper.
So, even if your favourite lunchtime café is not open yet or you just prefer to head back to your room each afternoon and curl up with a cup of tea and a newspaper, we will be catering for your every need.
Our fine wines are drinking well!
The Vineyard is open March to October inclusive, Monday to Friday 12:30 – 16:30, weekends are by appointment only. Visitors are welcome to visit the vineyard free of charge, but also on offer are wine tastings, which are hosted by Robert himself and include tastings of five wines, including some from the vineyard itself, as well as tasty tapas chosen specially to pair perfectly with each wine. The wine tastings last up to 90 minutes and cost £18.50 per person, for more information click here.
If after reading this you've built up quite a thirst, The Star Castle also offers wine weekends on several dates throughout the year. For more information click here.
https://star-castle.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Vine.jpg 373 590 bardenTB76 https://star-castle.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/logo-11.png bardenTB762012-06-19 09:31:092017-11-01 13:04:32Our fine wines are drinking well!


text:
package mg.fishchicken.core.conditions;

import groovy.lang.Binding;
import mg.fishchicken.gamelogic.characters.GameCharacter;
import mg.fishchicken.gamelogic.characters.groups.CharacterGroup;
import mg.fishchicken.gamelogic.inventory.items.InventoryItem;

import com.badlogic.gdx.utils.GdxRuntimeException;
import com.badlogic.gdx.utils.XmlReader.Element;

/**
 * Returns true if the supplied Character or CharacterGroup
 * has the supplied Item.
 *

 * Examples:
 *
 *

 * <hasItem targetObject="__npcAtDialogue" item="itemId" />
 * <hasItem targetObject="__player" item="itemId" />
 *

 * @author ANNUN
 *
 */
public class HasItem extends Condition {

	public static final String XML_ITEM_NAME = "item";

	@Override
	protected boolean evaluate(Object object, Binding parameters) {
		String itemId = getParameter(XML_ITEM_NAME);
		if (object instanceof GameCharacter) {
			return ((GameCharacter) object).getInventory().getItem(itemId) != null;
		} else if (object instanceof CharacterGroup) {
			for (GameCharacter character : ((CharacterGroup)object).getMembers()) {
				if (character.getInventory().getItem(itemId) != null) {
					return true;
				}
			}

		}
		return false;
	}

	@Override
	public void validateAndLoadFromXML(Element conditionElement) {
		if (conditionElement.get(XML_ITEM_NAME, null) == null) {
			throw new GdxRuntimeException(XML_ITEM_NAME+" must be set for condition HasItem in element: \n\n"+conditionElement);
		}
	}

	@Override
	protected String getStringTableNameKey() {
		return "hasItem";
	}

	@Override
	protected Object[] getStringNameParams() {
		return new Object[]{InventoryItem.getItemPrototype(getParameter(XML_ITEM_NAME)).getName()};
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
'50 Words For Snow': How Kate Bush Made A Wintry Wonder Of An Album
A classic Christmas album, '50 Words For Snow' was Kate Bush's second release of 2011, her hibernation giving way to a creative reawakening.
Over the years, Kate Bush fans have become accustomed to the gentle pace at which she works. You can't hurry genius, and when the double album Aerial emerged in all its radiance in 2005, 12 years after its predecessor, The Red Shoes, the world was as surprised as it was grateful. Six years later came Director's Cut, a reworking of material from The Sensual World (1989) and The Red Shoes – an unusual move that worked as a creative catalyst for Bush and led to a brand-new studio album, 2011's icily beautiful 50 Words For Snow.
Listen to the '50 Words For Snow' album here.
https://open.spotify.com/album/1VAB3Xn92dPKPWzocgQqkh
"I thought it would be so funny if I brought out two albums in one year"
Bush reflected on the circumstances around the recording of the album in an interview with The Quietus. "This has been quite an easy record to make, actually, and it's been quite a quick process," she revealed. "What was really nice for me was I did it straight off the back of Director's Cut, which was a really intense record to make. When I finished it, I went straight into making this, so I was very much still in that focused space; still in that kind of studio mentality. And also, there was a sense of elation that suddenly I was working from scratch and writing songs from scratch, and the freedom that comes with that."
Bush admitted to a sense of urgency when interviewed by pianist Jamie Cullum for BBC Radio's The Jazz Show. "I really had to pull my finger out at certain points because otherwise it was gonna have to wait until next winter, because you can't bring a record like this out in the summer," she explained, adding that the speed at which she was now working had amused her: "I also thought it was really funny, because people are always going on all the time about how long I take to make my albums, and I thought it would be so funny if I brought two out in one year."
Speaking to the Irish Independent on the release of 50 Words For Snow, Bush emphasised how important she felt it was to balance her work with family commitments, something that home recording had allowed her to do ever since she built her own studio prior to beginning work on the Hounds Of Love album.
"It's difficult explaining to myself why some albums take so long," Bush said, revealing that the actual recording process wasn't as protracted as it seemed to the outside world. "If you've had a five-year gap, people assumed that it took you five years to do an album, which is simply not true. I take a few years to do other things in life… It's great because I'm able to work at home and have a family life. I couldn't work in a commercial-studio environment. Most of the time the process is quite elongated for me, so it would end up being quite expensive, too. That's really why I set up a home studio. I realised I'd have to if I wanted to continue working experimentally."
"It's interesting how many people have reacted so powerfully"
Released on 21 November 2011, 50 Words For Snow represented one of Bush's most daring and experimental albums to date – a collection of long, ruminative and subtle songs with a wintry thread running throughout, which helped it find a place in fans' hearts as one of the best Christmas albums of all time. The album's opening track, Snowflake, sets the scene with flurries of meditative piano and sparing, hushed percussion and strings. Written from the perspective of a falling snowflake, it features a vocal from Bush's then 13-year-old son, Albert McIntosh.
Bush told Jamie Cullum that she had always intended to have Albert sing the song. "When I wrote the song it was something that I wrote specifically for him and for his voice, and I guess there was a very strong parallel in my mind between the idea of this transient little snowflake and the fact that Bertie at this point… still has a really beautiful high, pure voice which soon he will lose… there seems to be this sort of link between the brief time that his voice will be like this and the brevity of the snowflake.
"I think his performance on this is really powerful, and obviously I'm quite biased because I'm his mother," she continued. "But it's interesting how many people have reacted so powerfully to his performance, it's, you know, I think it's really something." Bush's simple, soulful chorus, "The world is so loud/Keep falling/I'll find you," offers calm and reassurance in the blizzard.
"I've never done another project like it. She's so unafraid"
The following track, Lake Tahoe, features more guest vocalists, this time two classical singers, Stefan Roberts and Michael Wood, who provide a counterpart to Bush's warm, earthy tones. She explained her thinking to Cullum: "Well they're just two friends of ours who just have very beautiful voices but quite unusual… what a lot of people would think of early music. I was trying to set up something that sounded a bit kind of haunting, so they would set up the narrative of the story and then my voice would come in to continue the narrative, and also I quite liked this idea of playing a bit with men who had high voices but my voice would be quite low."
Bush's lyrics explore the idea of a woman rising from the icy depths of the titular lake ("You might see a woman down there/They say some days, up she comes, up she rises/As if out of nowhere"). Again, the song has an unhurried beauty, with Jonathan Tunick's restrained string arrangements and Steve Gadd's subtle percussion allowing it to grow organically over the course of its 11 spectral minutes.
Gadd had worked with Bush for the first time on Director's Cut, and the storied drummer (Paul McCartney, Aretha Franklin, Steely Dan) became a key collaborator on 50 Words For Snow. "Sometimes it was just Kate playing piano and her vocal, and then the two of us together trying to construct a rhythm based on what was there now and what might be there thereafter," Gadd told Uncut in 2012. "I've never done another project like it. She's so unafraid. She's all about the art of it. We never really talked about the concept, but I was amazed how she put this record together sonically and visually – not just the songs, but the photographs, images, themes. It's the whole package with her, and amazing to see."
"Mystery is all around us, but the way we live our lives now, we're too busy to be bothered with it"
Gadd's nuanced playing was an essential element of 50 Words For Snow's centrepiece, Misty, a gently swinging song which Bush, Gadd and bassist Danny Thompson (Talk Talk, John Martyn, Tim Buckley[https://www.thisisdig.com/artist/tim-buckley/]) intuitively steered through nearly 14 minutes of jazz-influenced exploration. Bush opened up about the musical inspiration behind the track while talking to Jamie Cullum, "I was trying to get almost a kind of Dave Brubeck kind of feel, really, and then of course the song starts to move through these different phases and different shapes… that was possibly the most difficult track to do in terms of piano and then drums. But I'm really pleased with how it's come out." Lyrically, Misty is one of Bush's most striking songs, a story about a girl who, as Bush coyly told The Huffington Post, "builds a snowman, and later the snowman comes to visit her in her bedroom".
Wild Man was the only single released from 50 Words For Snow. As Bush told The Huffington Post, "I guess in some ways, you could say that it's the most immediate song on the album… It's really a song entity for the Yeti – this mysterious creature that no one is sure whether or not it exists. It's about how precious that mystery is, you know? We have such little mystery in our lives, generally, because of how we live now. I mean, of course, mystery is all around us, but the way we live our lives now, we're too busy to be bothered with it."
Bush's pursuit of everyday magic here typifies how she feels about her music in general. On Wild Man she half-whispers warnings to the mythological creature, backed up by the tremulous vocals of Andy Fairweather Low, a singer Bush praised to The Quietus: "I just love his voice. When I wrote the song I just thought, I've got to get Andy to sing on this song because he sounds great."
"The idea is that there are two lovers, two souls who keep on meeting up in different periods of time"
And the guests kept coming. Snowed In At Wheeler Street was a breathtaking ballad, with a pulsing, ambient backdrop building tension as Bush and her duet partner, Elton John, detail the various ways in which their love has been derailed by circumstance. Typically for Bush, there was a twist, as she told The Quietus: "The idea is that there are two lovers, two souls who keep on meeting up in different periods of time. So they meet in ancient Rome and then they meet again walking through time. But each time something happens to tear them apart."
Working with such a formative influence as Elton John was a landmark moment for Bush, who had covered John's song Rocket Man in the early 90s. "He is one of my great musical heroes, and when I wrote the song, I very much had him in mind," she told The Huffington Post. "At the risk of sounding corny, it was like a dream come true having him come into the studio and sing so beautifully. I think his performance on the song is so fantastic; it's so emotive. I love him singing in that lower key. I really couldn't have been happier with what he brought to the track."
A very different kind of guest vocalist featured on 50 Words For Snow's title track, a playful song that showcased Bush's love of language. Amid swirling sound effects, animal noises, doomy bass and tribal drums, Stephen Fry (in character as Dr Joseph Yupik, named after a native tribe of Siberia and Alaska) recounts 50 different synonyms for snow. All the while, Bush counts them off and periodically breaks into a chorus in which she goads the poor doctor on ("Come on, Joe, just 22 to go").
"The idea was that the words would get progressively more silly, but that they would have been important"
Explaining how she conceived of such a unique song, Bush told The Quietus, "Years ago I think I must have heard this idea that there were 50 words for snow [in the Inuit language]… And I just thought it was such a great idea to have so many words about one thing. It is a myth – although… it may hold true in a different language – but it was just a play on the idea, that if they had that many words for snow, did we? If you start actually thinking about snow in all of its forms, you can imagine that there are an awful lot of words about it. Just in our immediate language, we have words like 'hail', 'slush', 'sleet', 'settling'… So this was a way to try and take it into a more imaginative world."
On choosing her collaborator, Bush said, "I really wanted Stephen to read this because I wanted to have someone who had an incredibly beautiful voice but also someone with a real sense of authority when he said things. So the idea was that the words would get progressively more silly, really, but even when they were silly there was this idea that they would have been important, to still carry weight."
And Bush's own favourite word for snow? According to interviews at the time, it's "furloopingjumpala".
50 Words For Snow ends with Among Angels, a spare and celestially beautiful solo performance that was the first song written for the album. Immediately ranking among the best Kate Bush songs, it's also the only track from the record to be performed live, during encores for her 22-night Before The Dawn residency at London's Hammersmith Apollo in 2014.
Over a decade on from its release, 50 Words For Snow is the last collection of new music we've heard from the pioneering singer, songwriter and producer, who remains one of the most influential female musicians of all time. There are still not enough words to describe its beauty.
Buy Kate Bush vinyl and CDs from the Dig! store.


Ahead of the international DCD>Energy Smart event on March 13, DCD are delighted to announce that Niklas Johansson, State Secretary to Minister of Enterprise & Innovation, will deliver an opening speech on the Swedish government's incorporation of sustainable, energy efficient data centers into their national digital economic strategy. Read Full Press Release.
With just four weeks to go, passes for the event are now extremely limited.
Participants will join senior executives from AWS, Microsoft, Baidu, Google, Facebook and more, to discuss opportunities to leverage advanced and integrated tech in order to become "energy smart." We advise you to register as soon as possible in order to secure your place.
You can view a sample of the delegate list for DCD>Energy Smart here.


text:
Il Bārûtu, larte dell'aruspice, è un monumentale compendio mesopotamico della scienza della ieromanzia che si estende su un centinaio di tavolette cuneiformi e che fu assemblato nel periodo neo-assiro o neo-babilonese sulla base di testi  precedenti.  Alla corte assira, il termine "bārûtu" si estese fino a indicare tutto quanto appartiene all'esecuzione dell'arte divinatoria: i tipi di preghiere, i rituali sacrificali, gli organi degli animali sacrificati  Likribu era il nome dato a raccolte di incantesimi recitati per accompagnare l'esame delle viscere. Il bārûtu ha profonde radici nella storia antico-babilonese; a Mari erano già presenti modelli di fegato nei quali la disposizione delle viscere era ampiament fissata.

Il compito del bārû, o aruspice, era riassunto come lipit qāti hiniq immeri naqē niqē nēpešti bārûti, "il 'tocco della mano', la restrizione? delle pecore, l'offerta del sacrificio, l'esecuzione dell'estirpazione". Ciò richiedeva un'elaborato rituale di purificazione, che prevedeva lavare delle mani e della bocca indossare abiti freschi, porre tamerice e cedro nelle orecchie, l'untura e la fumigazione con zolfo; tutte misure per evitare l'esito dell'apodosis lā ellu niqâ ilput, "una persona impura ha toccato il sacrificio". L'ispezionae delle interiora  veniva effettuata in senso antiorario, iniziando dal fegato, i polmoni, poi lo sterno, le vertebre, le costole, il colon e infine il cuore.

Il testo
L'opera è particolarmente difficile da interpretare a causa dell'ampio uso di grafemi, ma si stima che elencasse 8000 presagi Questi erano il risultato di un millennio e mezzo di osservazioni di eventi politici, sociali e privati e dei segni divinatori che li accompagnavano, seppur privi del loro contesto cronologico. Occasionalmente viene fatta un'attribuzione a un re, ma generalmente è arcaica:

 "Presagio di Šarru-kīn, le cui truppe furono bloccate da un temporale e si scambiarono le armi tra di loro". (padānu tavoletta 4)
 "Presagio del re Tiriqqan, che in mezzo al suo esercito prese il volo" (tavoletta pān tākalti 6)
 "Presagio del re Rimuš, che i suoi cortigiani uccisero con i loro sigilli" (tavoletta pān tākalti 13)

Alcuni dei segni sono identificati come pitruštu ("ambiguo") o nipḫu ("inaffidabile"), mentre altri fanno eco a preoccupazioni moderne, come la frase šatammu ekalla imallalu, "i contabili saccheggeranno il palazzo!" Alcuni predicono il tempo: enūma lullik šamū ikallâni, "ogni volta che voglio uscire la pioggia mi fermerà". Alcuni presagi danno previsioni abbastanza specifiche, come ad esempio edû rākib imēru irruba, "un personaggio famoso arriverà cavalcando un asino", mentre altri rimangono vaghi: ina ūmi rūqi rigmu, "previsione a lungo termine: lamento". Alcuni predicono malattie di tipo li'ibu, masla'tu o qūqānu: "Se la parola piacevole è divisa sopra e sotto: i denti dell'uomo si staccheranno". La maggior parte dei presagi, tuttavia, riguarda affari militari e dei reali.

Le parti del bārûtu
Il barūtû è suddiviso in dieci "capitoli" (riassunti nella tabella sottostante), ognuno dei quali tratta un diverso aspetto della divinazione delle viscere, anche se è l'esame dell'ṭuppu ša ilī, la "tavola degli dei", o il fegato (amūtu) che occupano il posto principale. Le versioni babilonese e accadica variano leggermente nella disposizione a causa della predilezione babilonese per le tavolette da sessanta righe.

Esistono dei commentari per ogni parte del testo, chiamati NÍG.PÀD.DA (mukallimtu); tipicamente riuniscono presagi con una protasi simile presi da ogni capitolo.  I testi niṣirti bārûti, "segreto dell'estosità", precedenti al capitolo multābiltu del bārûtu e successivamente sostituiti da esso, si sforzavano di chiarire il carattere esoterico dei presagi. Sono stati scritti estratti o compendi per rendere il manuale più facile da usare, come quello noto come KAR 423, e sono state queste versioni troncate dei presagi che sembrano essere state consultate durante l'effettivo processo di divinazione. Le tavolette dub ḫa.la riguardano il "calcolo del termine stipulato", ovvero il tempo e la durata del presagio. La šumma immeru registra osservazioni derivate da dibattiti accademici relativi al comportamento degli agnelli sacrificali prima e durante il rituale e c'erano anche "tavole di orientamento" sotto forma di modelli di viscere e griglie interpretative per venire in aiuto all'addestramento dei bārû.

I copisti
Il compendio sembra essere stato sotto una continua direzione editoriale, come testimoniato nella corrispondenza degli indovini anziani Marduk-šumu-uṣur e Naṣiru e Tabni, che collettivamente consigliarono al re Esarhaddon che

Nel 647 a.C., almeno 135 tavole di bārûtu vennero espropriate da collezioni private, molte delle quali provenienti da Bīt Ibâ, oggetto di una rivolta babilonese. La manodopera degli scribi in cattività fu impiegata nella capitale assira per arricchire il repertorio locale di materiale acquisito da biblioteche più antiche, come quella di Nabû-zuqup-kēnu, che fu menzionato come copista di un commentario di manzāzu del 704 a.C., proveniente da Ninive.
Nabû-ušallim, figlio di Nabû-pašer, era un bārû il cui nome compare sul colophon di un mukallimtu, e un individuo con questo nome è noto tra gli autori di interrogazioni divinatorie, o tamītu, durante il periodo neo-assiro.

Nel tardo periodo ellenico, il testo si era fortemente consolidato, in quanto l'astrologia aveva soppiantato come metodo di divinazione preferenziale la ieromanzia. Si trovano esempi di questi testi nella tavoletta 6 di pān tākalti, copiata da Anu-aha-u šabši nel 180 a.C.,  la tavoletta 15 di pān tākalti e Uruk copiata da Itti-Marduk-balāṭu, figlio di Ša-našī-šu, dal tardo babilonese di Sippar .

Note

Bibliografia

Divinazione
Testi babilonesi

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


This book defines the concept and practices of literacy through a discussion of knowledge, information media, culture, subjectivity, science, communication, and politics. Examining the ways in which the spread of literacy and education have caused culture wars in pluralist societies since the 16th century, the author reviews an interdisciplinary array of scholarly literature to contend that science, and more broadly evidence-based inductive arguments, offer the only reliable source information, and the only peaceful solution to cultural conflict in the 21st century. With a focus on the multifaceted practice of literacy-as-communication as embedded within larger social and political processes, this book offers a comprehensive study of literacy through five core topics: knowledge, psychology, culture, science, and arguing over truth in pluralist democracies. The central thesis of the book argues that we require a new literacy that incorporates reading and writing with advanced cognitive and epistemological skills. Today's citizens need to be able to understand the basic cognitive and cultural processes through which knowledge is created, and they need to know how to evaluate knowledge, peacefully debate knowledge, and productively use knowledge, for both personal decisions and public policy. How Do You Know? The Epistemological Foundations of 21st Century Literacy is an interdisciplinary study that will appeal to scholars across the sciences and humanities, especially those concerned with pedagogy and the science of learning.
4. Discontent with Democracy: Culture Wars in U. S.
J.M. Beach is a lecturer with the University Writing Program at the University of Texas, San Antonio, USA. He has advanced degrees in the fields of English, History, Philosophy, and Education, and has taught students in the United States, South Korea, and China. He is the Director of 21st Century Literacy; a non-profit organization focused on literacy education, and is also a poet. His research interests focus on the philosophy of knowledge, the science of culture and society, the history and philosophy of education, and literature. Some of Beach's previous books include What Is Education? On the Social Ecology of Teaching, Learning, and Schooling (2014), Gateway to Opportunity? A History of the Community College in the United States (2011), Children Dying Inside: Education in South Korea (2011), and Studies in Poetry: The Visionary (2004). Visit the author's website at www.jmbeach.com.
"The ability to learn and reason is badly taught in our public schools, and deserves a radical upgrade. The pathway for this crucial improvement is clearly marked out in Beach's How Do You Know?"
Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor Emeritus, Harvard University.
"Beach outlines the kind of curriculum that has long been needed to clarify the mysteries of intellectual culture, a culture that otherwise will remain a secret society reserved for the few. It won't help students much to learn masses of factual information unless they learn "how to use" that information, which for Beach (drawing on the important work of psychologist Deanna Kuhn) means being able to use what they know to make arguments, which includes assessing the arguments of others. This argument literacy lies at the core of Beach's proposed critical thinking curriculum for the 21st century, and nobody I know has said all this better than has Josh Beach in this book."
Gerald Graff, Emeritus Professor of English and Education, University of Illinois at Chicago, and 2008 President, Modern Language Association of America.
"A giant step towards a comprehensive theory of literacy that would help to explain its role in the shaping of mind and society."
David R. Olson, University Professor Emeritus, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto .
"Beach forges a wide and studious path across much of philosophy, science and psychology in an effort to answer the question of how we can know. His answer -- to commit to open argument, grounded on values of truth and freedom -- doesn't resolve all concerns. But I agree that it is the best one we have, and today's world makes it more urgent than ever that we embrace it."
Deanna Kuhn, Professor of Psychology and Education, Teachers College, Columbia University.
"This is a book that calls for a wide readership – basically, anyone interested in the role of critical and rational thinking in a democratic society, the compelling need to teach individuals to make discerning evaluations of the array of information encountered, and the importance of understanding the premises of scientific theories, methods, and empirically grounded claims. Providing a sweeping (and deeply engaging) historical, philosophical, and cultural context for his argument, Beach makes it clear why an expanded definition of literacy must include a focus on how we know what we know, what psychologists call epistemic cognition. Such a definition of 21st century literacy would be an invaluable one for the muddled and complicated times in which we are living. Seldom is a book of such scope and depth so imminently readable and engaging."
Barbara Hofer, Professor of Psychology, Middlebury College.
"Beach helps us understand how in a pluralistic society we got to culture wars, alternative facts, the era of post truth, spin and fake news and how to develop an interdisciplinary approach to knowing, judging wisely and acting skillfully. He explores the relationships amongst subjectivity, biology, culture and the objective world. Since we can't trust our subjectivity, our biological brains, cultural influences, authority, or the news, Beach asks what do we do? How do we distinguish sophistry from truth? For practical, critical thinking to succeed, it needs to incorporate the foundational elements of science: empiricism, rationality, and open debate. Beach proposes that to have respectful democratic deliberations, we need an education that helps us critically understand and evaluate our knowledge and premises about value, offering a way to knowledge and out of our divisiveness."
Robert Frank, Professor Emeritus of English and Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, Oregon State University.
"This book makes a critical intervention into a very old problem: what does it mean to be an 'educated' person, to be a citizen in the classical sense? Working in a vein that stretches back from Richard Rorty through John Dewey to Horace Mann, Josh Beach offers pragmatic solutions to the question posed by The Uses of Literacy for 21st century Americans."
John Cline, Lecturer in Engineering Communication, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin.