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An Overview of the Consumer Protection Act?
By Anand Singh
An Overview of the Consumer Protection Act Introduction The World Economic Forum has declared that by 2030 with the GDP growth rate of 7.6% India tends to become the 3rd largest Consumer Market. Various aspects are to be taken into consideration while calculating these ranks and one of them is the satisfaction of the consumers, which depends upon the existence of the laws supporting them. In India, we have many consumer laws and one such law is the Consumer Protection Act of 1986 (COPRA). Objectives & Importance of the Act The Consumer Protection Act was implemented in order to provide better protection to the rights of the consumers. Prior to the implementation of this Act, there was no special act for protecting the consumers and the only remedy available to the consumers was under the Law of Torts i.e filing a civil suit for damages against the shopkeeper or the service provider. This act is based on the doctrine of Caveat Emptor which means that it is the responsibility of the buyer to identify the defects in the good. There are various objectives which are sought to be protected under the Consumer Protection Act such as- 1.	To promote and protect all the six rights of the consumers which will be discussed later. 2.	To provide simple and speedy disposal to the cases by providing quasi-judicial machinery for the redressal of consumer disputes. 3.	The act also aims to provide inexpensive redressal to the issues of the consumer. 4.	A consumer dispute redressal forum called state commission has been set up in order to settle the disputes of each and every consumer in all the states of the country. Who is a consumer? According to Sec-2(1)(d) of the Act, a consumer is a person who purchases any goods or services or hires or avails the services of some person for his own personal use and not for manufacturing or resale of that good. For instance, a person purchasing wheat flour for his own personal use is a consumer but a person purchasing wheat flour for baking bread which he is going to sell in his bakery shape is not a consumer. Rights and Duties of a Consumer The Consumer Protection Act has recognised six rights of a consumer which are : 1.	Right to Safety 2.	Right to Information 3.	Right to Choose 4.	Right to be heard 5.	Right to Redressal 6.	Right to Consumer Education Right to Safety This right refers to as the right to be protected against the marketing of goods and services which are hazardous to life and property of the consumers. This right has a very wide scope of application, for instance, this right is available in the areas of electrical appliances, healthcare, automobile, pharmaceuticals, housing, travel, etc. Nowadays, each and every field has an office for researchers who research and experiment and launch new products and appliances accordingly. Most of these products are not tested by the producers which prove to be harmful to the consumer. Therefore, after the implementation of this act, there is a mandate for each and every field to get all their products which are a danger to the life to be carefully tested and validated before launching it to the market. Right to Information It refers to the right of a consumer to be informed of the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard, and price of the goods and services being sold by the shopkeeper. This right is given to the consumer in order to protect them from the various unfair trade practices conducted by the seller in order to earn more profits. Therefore, it is an obligation on the seller to provide the consumer with all the relevant information on the product he wishes to purchase. Right to Choose It is defined in the act as the right to be assured, wherever possible, to have access to a variety of goods and services at competitive prices. It is very common to find one product being sold at different possible prices by different sellers. This reflects the age of market competition which is found in almost all the countries. Therefore it is the right of all the consumers to purchase any product at any price which according to him is the best. A consumer cannot be forced to purchase a product of some particular brand or quality. Right to be heard It is referred to as the right to be heard and to be assured that consumers' interests will receive due consideration at appropriate forums. This right was introduced for a consumer in order to ensure that all the complaints and issues of the consumers are heard duly under the appropriate authority. This is because of this right that almost all the big selling companies have a separate department known as the customer service to help the consumers in case of any dispute or any complaint regarding the quality or quantity of the product. Right to seek Redressal If any consumer has been exploited by the seller or faced any unfair trade practices he can seek redressal i.e. compensation or damages under this right. This right ensures that all the issues of the consumers are dealt with and justice is done to him. A proper redressal mechanism has been set up by the government of India such as the consumer courts and forums at the district and national level which is discussed later in this article. Right to Consumer Education It is the right of each and every person who is a citizen of India to have knowledge about all the laws and policies relating to the consumer. Therefore it is made sure the material regarding the consumer-related laws is easily available all over India but there is still a major part of the population who is not aware of his laws and rights. This is the reason many awareness programmes have been organized by the government of India such as 'Jago grahak Jago' and the camps organized by various lawyers in the remote areas of the country. Duties of a consumer Every consumer right comes with the opposite duty. Right of one consumer is the duty of the others. Accordingly, there are various duties such as:- •	On purchasing of goods or hiring of any services, it is the duty of the consumer to pay for the same. •	While purchasing something it is his duty to check weights, balances, prices etc. and also to give a careful reading to the labels. •	It is the duty of the consumer to update himself about the various consumer protection schemes. •	Duty to be careful while purchasing and not to fall in the trap of misleading information and advertisements. •	It is the duty of the consumer to not purchase anything from the black markets. •	It is the duty of the consumer to be aware of his rights and duties and also spreading the awareness of the same among others. •	It is the consumers' duty to file a complaint if the goods which he purchased are defective. •	Each and every consumer should secure the bills of the goods purchased or the services availed so that if in the future he finds the goods or services to be defective he can easily file a complaint against the same and can prove it. Major definitions •	Complaint– According to Sec-2(1)(c) any allegation made by the consumer regarding any restrictive or unfair trade practice which the traders have adopted such as goods bought by a consumer are defective, services hired or availed by him suffer some deficiency, trader has charged an excessive price of the goods mentioned in the complaint, goods or services which are hazardous to the life and property of the consumer has been offered for sale to the public by the trader or the service provider. •	Consumer Dispute– according to Sec-2(1)(e) of the act it is a situation when a person denies the allegations filed against him in a complaint. •	Person– according to Sec-2(1)(m) of the act the word person includes a registered or unregistered firm, a Hindu undivided family, co-operative society and any other association which is registered as a person under the Societies Registration Act of 1860. •	Service– according to Sec-2(1)(o) service means any description or any facility which is provided to the potential users and is not rendered free of charge or under a contract of personal service. Redressal Mechanism The Consumer Protection Act proposes three-tier redressal mechanism: quasi-judicial machinery at the National, state and district level. The jurisdiction of each consumer redressal forum has been described under this act. District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum Each and every district has a District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum. According to Sec-11 of this act, this forum has the jurisdiction to entertain complaints and disputes only where the value of the goods or services and the value of the compensation claimed does not exceed Rs 20 Lakhs. The District Forum shall have the same powers as that of a civil court in the following matters: •	In the summoning and enforcing of attendance of any defendant or witness •	In examining the witness on an oath •	In receiving the evidence on affidavit •	In any other matter which may be prescribed •	Demanding of the report of concerned analysis or test from the appropriate laboratory or from any other authorized relevant source. •	In discovering and producing any document or other material objects which are producible as evidence in the forum. The District forum shall consist of a President i.e. the head of the commission who is or has been or is qualified to be a district judge and two other members possessing a bachelors degree from a recognized university and one of them shall be a woman. The members of a commission shall be the persons of ability, integrity and standing and have adequate knowledge and experience regarding the field of a consumer. Each and every member of the district forum shall either hold the office for a term of 5 years or up to the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission Each and every State has a State Commission. According to Sec-17 of the act, the pecuniary jurisdiction of a State Commission for entertaining complaints or issues where the value of goods or services and the value of the compensation claimed exceeds Rs. 20 Lakhs but is less than Rs. 1 crore. The State Commission shall consist of a President and the other two members. The President shall be a person who is or has been qualified to be a Judge of High Court and the other two members shall be possessing a bachelors degree from a recognized university. Out of two members, one shall be a woman. The members of a commission shall be the persons of ability, integrity and standing and have adequate knowledge and experience regarding the field of a consumer. Each and every member of the district forum shall either hold the office for a term of 5 years or up to the age of 67 years, whichever is earlier. National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission The National Commission was instituted in 1988. It is headed by a sitting or retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India. The present President of the commission is Justice R.K. Agrawal who is a former Judge of the Supreme Court of India. According to Sec-21 of the act, the pecuniary jurisdiction of a National Commission for entertaining complaints or issues where the value of goods or services and the value of the compensation claimed is more than Rs. 1 crore. The National Commission has been constituted with various powers such as: •	It has the powers of administrative control over all the State Commissions. It can call all the State Commissions or any one of them for periodical returns regarding the institution, disposal and pendency of cases. •	It can adopt a uniform procedure in the hearing of the matters. •	It can provide a speedy grant of copies of documents to the parties. •	It also has a general power of overseeing the functioning of the State Commissions and the District Forums. •	It has the power of providing prior service of the copies of the documents produced by one party to the opposite parties. In addition to the President of the commission, it shall consist of 4 other members, out of which at least one shall be a woman. All of these members shall fulfil the following conditions to be able to qualify as a member in the National Commission: 1.	Their age should not be less than 35 years of age. 2.	They shall be possessing a bachelors degree from a recognized university. 3.	They shall be a person of ability, integrity and standing and have adequate knowledge and experience regarding the field of a consumer. Every member of the commission shall hold office for a term of 5 years or up to the age of 70 years whichever is earlier. Who can file a complaint? According to sec-2(1)(b) a complainant can be a person who is: •	A consumer, or •	Any voluntary consumer association registered under the Companies Act of 1956 or under any other law for the time being in force, or •	The Central Government or any State Government, who or which makes a complaint, or •	One or more consumers, where there is more than one consumer they shall have the same interest for filing a collective complaint, or •	In the case of death of a consumer, his legal heir or representative who or which makes a complaint. How to file a Complaint? The very first step before filing a complaint the aggrieved party should do is to send a notice to the service provider from whom the goods were purchased or the service was availed informing him about the defects in the goods or the deficiency in the service or unfair practice. This notice is sent to the trader or the aggrieved party in order to see if that company or trader is willing to give the compensation or offer any other remedy. If in case the trader or service provider is not willing to provide with any remedy, the aggrieved party shall go ahead with filing a formal complaint. The next step is to file a formal complaint under the Consumer Protection Act of 1986. Here the aggrieved party does not need to hire a lawyer in order to file a complaint. He can file the complaint on his own. The aggrieved party just need to write down the following contents on a plain paper: •	Name, description and the address of the complainant and of the opposite party or parties •	Facts relating to the complaint and time and venue where it arose •	All the possible documents in support of the allegations contained in the complaint •	The relief or the remedy claimed by the complainant •	The complaint should consist of signatures of the complainant or his authorized agent The next step after the drafting of the complaint is to choose the appropriate authority under whom the complaint is to be filed. The complainant shall choose the authority according to pecuniary jurisdiction of his complaint i.e. the total value of the goods or services and the compensation claimed by him. It is to be noted here that the complainant can also file an online complaint on www.consumerhelpline.gov.in Furthermore, the complainant needs to pay the prescribed court fees according to the pecuniary value of his case. Following are the fee details of the court fees: For District forums •	Up to Rs 1 lakh: Rs 100 •	Between Rs 1-5 lakh: Rs 200 •	Between Rs 5-10 lakh: Rs 400 •	Above Rs 10 lakh and up to Rs 20 lakh: Rs 500 For State Commissions •	Above Rs 20 lakh but less than Rs 50 lakh: Rs 2,000 •	Above Rs 50 lakh and up to Rs 1 crore: Rs 4,000 For the National Commission A standard amount of Rs 5,000 The Forum under which the complaint has been filed by the aggrieved party is under a mandate to provide the resolution to the parties within a period of 30 days. If it fails to adhere with the same the party can move to the next commission. The limitation period for filing a Complaint or Appeal to higher commission •	Filing of a complaint– the complainant can file a case against the trader or the service provider only within two years from the date on which the cause of action arose. The forum may entertain the case in case of delay only if the complainant gives sufficient cause. •	Appeal to the State Commission– according to sec-15 of the act an appeal can be filed to the State Commission by any person who is aggrieved by an order passed by the District Forum within a period of thirty days from the date of an order, in a form and manner prescribed under the act. If an appeal is filed after the expiry of the period of limitation the State Commission has the discretion to entertain that appeal if the complainant shows sufficient cause for not filing an appeal within the limitation period. •	Appeal to the National Commission– according to sec-19 of the act an appeal can be filed to the National Commission by a person aggrieved by the order passed by the State Commission within 30 days from the date of receipt of order. The appeal to be accompanied by a copy of an affidavit. •	Appeal to the Supreme Court of India– according to sec-23 of the act an appeal may be referred to the Supreme Court of India by the party aggrieved by the order passed by the National Commission within a period of 30 days from the date of order passed. •	Revision Petition to the National Commission– sec-21(b) of the act vests the power in the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission to call for the records and pass appropriate orders in any consumer dispute which is either pending or has been decided by the State Commission. The National Commission can exercise its revisional jurisdiction only if it appears to the commission that the State Commission has acted illegally or with irregularity or outside its jurisdiction. Such a Revision Petition can be filed within a period of 90 days from the date of the order passed by the aggrieved party. Remedies available under the Act The Consumer Protection Act provides consumers with various remedies. Following are the remedies available under the act: •	Removal of Defects– if the consumer after conducting a proper test by using the product finds the product to be defective then the authority can pass an order of removing the defects in the product. •	Replacement of goods •	Refund of the price paid by the consumer while purchasing the product. •	Award of Consumption– a consumer can demand compensation from the trader or service provider if because of his negligence the consumer has suffered some physical or any other loss. •	Removal of Deficiency in Service– the authority can pass orders for removal of the deficiency if there is any deficiency in delivery of the service, for instance, if the consumer has applied for a loan and has fulfilled all the formalities but the bank is making unnecessary delay in sanctioning the loan, then the court can pass orders to sanction the loan. •	Discontinuance of Unfair/ Restrictive Trade Practice– if a complaint is filed by the consumer against any unfair trade practice in the market, the authority can order an immediate withdrawal of such practice and can also pass an order for banning such trade practice. •	Stopping of sale of hazardous goods •	Withdrawal of hazardous goods from the market. •	Payment of the adequate cost Consumer Protection Amendment Bill of 2018 The Consumer Protection Act of 1986 has been amended thrice but the act is still not sufficient to deal with challenges such as online transactions, multi-level and digital marketing. The Bill has proposed to make various changes in the ancient act in order to provide better protection to the rights and interests of the consumer. Following are the changes which the Bill proposes: •	Central Protection Councils(CPCs)– in the act of 1986 CPCs just has the authority to promote and protect the rights of consumers but as proposed in the Bill CPCs will be advisory bodies for promotion and protection of consumer rights. •	The ambit of law– the 2018 Bill includes all goods and services, telecom and housing construction and all modes of transactions for consideration while excludes free and personal services. •	Unfair trade practice– this Bill proposes the addition of three more types to the list of unfair trade practices as given in the act of 1986 i.e. 1.	Failure to issue a bill or receipt 2.	Refusal to accept a good returned within 30 days 3.	Disclosure of personal information given in confidence, unless required by law or in public interest. •	Product liability– earlier there was no provision of product liability in the act of 1986 but now this Bill proposes that claim for product liability can be made against the manufacturer, service provider and seller. Moreover, compensation can be obtained by just proving one of the various conditions mentioned in the Bill. •	The pecuniary jurisdiction of the Commissions– this Bill proposes to change the pecuniary jurisdiction of the commissions to Rs 1 crore for District Forum; between Rs 1 crore and 10 crores for State Commission; and above Rs 10 crores for National Commission. •	Alternate dispute redressal mechanism– there was no such provision in the original act but now the Bill proposes to attach Meditation cells to the District, State and National Commissions. •	E-commerce– the Bill mentions and defines direct selling, e-commerce and electronic service provider which were not there in the act of 1986. Moreover. The central government may prescribe rules for preventing unfair trade practices in e-commerce and direct selling. •	Penalties– the Bill proposes a change in the penalty i.e. imprisonment up to three years or fine not less than Rs 25,000 which can be extended to Rs one lakh or both. Conclusion The Consumer Protection Act has proved to be a helping hand to the consumers and protected them from being exploited in the hands of huge companies and famous traders. The traders and the firms are still working on how to make huge profits and one of the ways is by exploiting the consumer. Corresponding to this the Legislature and the Judiciary are making amendments in the act from time to time but the consumer himself needs to be careful and aware of the people in the market.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Former Korn, Hed P.E. guitarist Wesley Geer to play for Gamblers' Heavy Metal Night
Kendra Meinert
Green Bay Press-Gazette
ASHWAUBENON - Heavy metal meets hockey when the Green Bay Gamblers hit the ice on Saturday.
The team is hosting Heavy Metal Night on Saturday for its 7:05 p.m. game against the Lincoln Stars at the Resch Center.
Former Korn and founding Hed P.E. guitarist Wesley Geer will perform before and during the game.
Players will be wearing gray metal-inspired jerseys with a skull and cross bones design on the front and a cemetery graphic on the back. Fans will be able to bid on the jerseys during a live auction after the game in the arena lobby.
Heavy metal Gamblers T-shirts will be available for sale in the team store inside the Resch, but the auction is the only way to purchase one of the jerseys.
RELATED: Megadeth, Lamb of God to play Resch on Halloween
A portion of proceeds from the auction and T-shirt sales will benefit Rise Together, an Appleton-based nonprofit that works to prevent addiction and promote positive mental health.
Geer is the founder of Rock to Recovery, a nonprofit that uses music to help people who are working to overcome addiction, eating disorders and mental health issues.
Saturday is also Bud Night. Budweiser and Bud Light drafts are $2.
Tickets start at $10 at gamblershockey.com and the Resch Center box office.
This is third year for Heavy Metal Night. The Gamblers' biggest promotion of the season, the 21st annual Teddy Bear Toss, is March 28.
Contact Kendra Meinert at 920-431-8347 or kmeinert@greenbay.gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @KendraMeinert.


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Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine will turn on former gang members in plea deal to cut down jail time in racketeering case, court docs show
- in Usa News
RAPPER Tekashi 6ix9ine has sorted a "squeal deal" in a desperate bid to cut the amount of time he spends behind bars, new court documents reveal.
The bad boy is prepared to turn on his own gang mates after pleading guilty to nine federal charges, including firearms offences and racketeering.
Getty – Contributor
Daniel Hernandez – aka Tekashi 6ix9ine – at his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court[/caption]
The rainbow-haired star will take the stand against accused Anthony 'Harv' Ellison, 31, and Aljermiah 'Nuke' Mack, 33, in Manhattan federal court.
Ellison is accused of kidnapping Tekashi last July along with racketeering and gun charges. Mack is charged with narcotics trafficking and racketeering.
The news was revealed after the US Attorney sent a letter to the judge in the case, which includes testimony from the rapper who is behind bars after striking the deal.
According to the letter, the tattooed star will also implicate himself and gang members in a conspiracy to harm a rapper who wrote lyrics they felt were critical of the New Yorker.
He will even testify one member of Nine Trey Gangsta Blood gang sent out a message if any rival bloods were to come across Tekashi they were to "fire on him."
It had been reported the rapper faced a minimum of 47 years in prison[/caption]
AP:Associated Press
On his release from prison he may become a member of the witness protection programme[/caption]
TMZ reveals the rapper will link individuals to "incriminating texts, social media posts, DMs, and other communications."
The letter states Tekashi – real name Daniel Hernandez – was considered 'bank' for the gang and was responsible for doling out cash to the others.
The performer is currently in prison facing charges of racketeering, conspiracy, firearms offences and drug trafficking.
It had been reported he faced a minimum of 47 years in prison, but he could now get out a lot sooner in return for his cooperation.
He previously admitted to the Feds that he was a member of Nine Trey which "engaged in such activities including shooting at people, robbing people, and at times drug trafficking."
TMZ speculates on his release from prison he would become a member of the witness protection programme, but points out that may be difficult given his distinctive face tattoos.
A BEEB MISTAKE
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DRUGS COCKTAIL
Louis Tomlinson's sister, 18, accidentally OD'd on 'perfect storm' of drugs
BEASTIE PLOYS
How to prep for 'worst winter in decades' as Beast from East brings -15C lows
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TOWERING TRAGEDY
'He whispered I love you as smoke thickened'… disturbing tales from 9/11
Hernandez was raised in Brooklyn, New York, to a Mexican mother and a Puerto Rican father.
His debut mixtape 'Day69' was released on February 23, 2018, and peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 and No20 in the UK.
He's had several run-ins with law enforcement and pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in Brooklyn Criminal Court in connection with a May traffic stop.
He also pleaded guilty to "the use of a child in a sexual performance" after posting a video in 2015.
The controversial rapper found fame after becoming a viral sensation
Previous article Brit man arrested on attempted murder charge after shooting doorman who refused entry outside Benidorm nightclub
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Doesn't this look like a perfect oasis of calm?
Fireplace blocking the view to the garden. I think my mind can't get around it.
Needs a nice thick rug under the chair.
I want those bookshelves! I would also want drapes on the windows, if it's somewhere cold enough to have a fire. And a little table for my cup of tea, and probably a reading lamp.
A thick rug with a dog lying on it would be perfect.
Brilliant room – only needs a thick carpet and a chocolate labrador!
My first impression is that it similar to the area in which the gorillas are kept in our local zoo, where they are in a lovely grassy enclosure with trees on which to climb, and we observe them from behind glass … all that is missing outside this area are some monkeys/apes/gorillas, har, har!
I don't like the fireplace blocking the 'view', although really, a tree trunk isn't what I'd want for my 'view'. However, the bookshelves look neat and tidy but the whole space looks a trifle too academic for me, as if belongs to some institution of learning, not a residential home. The chair and foot stool might offer some comfort, but I'd want a bit more that just that one item. Having said that (sorry, cliché) the bare floor boards offer space to practice tap dancing!
I rather agree with Margaret — it looks cold and unwelcoming to me. I know those chairs are comfortable but I'd rather have a squashy old sofa. And I'd have a rug on the floor, especially as the weather is obviously rather chilly.
It does look serene at first glance, but I too, would want a different chair and a rug on the floor. Confession: my first thought was how dusty that floor would be when it wasn't being photographed!
It does look very nice, but apparently only one person is allowed to read at a time.
A scenic spot for what I believe is an Eames chair. Very modern.


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For some people working with documents is just a boring way of making money. For me, paperwork is a method of self-expression and self-development. For example, do you think that translating a document is just that - replacing the words with their equivalent in another language? Not really. Something as seemingly simple as a standard Birth Certificate can be an adventure in learning, especially when a person was born in a small, not well-known locality. In order to properly translate geographical locations and the names of various government offices where the documents were issued, it takes research, and I often get carried away discovering many interesting and cool things about some small faraway places. And what do I mean by self-expression? Working on documents is a perfect outlet for my inner perfectionist. I must make sure that my work is flawless before I hand it over to you. That includes orthography, the use of proper and applicable terminology (very important for translation of Diplomas, for example), beautiful formatting, and presentation, - I use good quality paper and other supplies without charging my customers extra. I love what I do, and I'm happy to pass the love around!
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Did you know that 80% of all small businesses fail within the first 18 months? In most cases, business owners cite a lack of revenue as the reason for the failure. Some businesses just weren't able to turn a profit.
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Without business interruption insurance, business owners have a difficult choice to make. They can choose to keep their business closed, or they can pay to have their business restored.
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With business interruption insurance, you don't have to worry about paying your employees. As a business expense, the policy may cover their wages too.
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In most cases, you get business interruption insurance when you have commercial property insurance. It's part of the coverage. However, it's in your best interest to make sure you have enough coverage. You can't assume your cover is sufficient.
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Support the Little Free Library at 4th Street Farms directly with a purchase from Customized Girl. Or, just come by and use the Little Free Library at 4th Street Farms.
A Little Free Library is a "take a book, return a book" free book exchange. There is an understanding that real people are sharing their favorite books with their community. Little Libraries have been called "mini-town squares" because they bring people of all ages together to expand their minds through sharing ideas.
4th Street Farms and Bonga Media Group are partnering with the Weinland Park Community Civic Association to build a little free library. Building a Little Free Library at 4th Street Farms brings together a unique combination of a book exchange with a garden campus to hold meetings, activities, and events, as well as further reading space in an inspiring setting. The location is 1/2 block north of Weinland Park Elementary School and the Schoenbaum Family Center, making it easy to reach for families. Placing this Little Free Library at 4th Street in Weinland Park makes a big community impact in areas that matter like youth, literacy, safety, creativity, and a lifetime of engagement within a revitalizing diverse neighborhood.
Along with many garden events, 4th Street Farms has hosted literacy programs engaging neighborhood children. A Good Start has dedicated the initial donation of children's books and also pledged to continue literacy programs! Watch for 2017 dates to come and everyday, 24/7 come find a book to enjoy anytime!


Athena Malloy and Carolina Kroon collect signatures on THIS petition (sign it!) outside the Park Slope Food Coop on Halloween.
We, the undersigned, sincerely request an end to the use of harmful pesticides, Anvil 10+10 and Dibrum.
These are used as an attempt to counteract the West Nile virus throughout NYC boroughs and many parts of the nation.
Anvil 10+10 states on its label that it is toxic to bees. Dibrum is an organophosphate that EPA research shows is not only harmful to bees, it's also carcinogenic and detrimental to the endocrine system of humans.
Honeybee populations have declined by 40-50% in the last few years! And the Agriculture Department says a quarter of the American diet, from apples to cherries to watermelons to onions, depends on pollination by honeybees. Please stop the use of these dangerous pesticides and use alternative means to prevent and tend to the few who have been harmed by the West Nile Virus.
One factor that would lessen the population is to increase the presence of mosquito predators. Bats and dragonflies are natural predators of mosquitoes who are also being harmed by the use of pesticides.
Petition was initiated by Brooklynites Carolina Kroon and Athena Malloy.


TransCEND Drop-In Hours Fenway Health: Health Care Is A Right, Not A Privilege. TransCEND Drop-In Hours – Fenway Health: Health Care Is A Right, Not A Privilege.
Come relax, and socialize with staff and clients of the TransCEND program! This will be a safe space open to anyone who is transgender or gender non-conforming, where you can always be yourself.
There will be computer/internet access, board games, good conversations and light refreshments. HIV/STI testing available for anyone who wants it.
Hours are from 5-9pm on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month at 75 Amory Street.


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A  When I'm Sixty-Four a kilencedik dal a The Beatles 1967-ben megjelent Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band című albumáról. A dal szerzői John Lennon és Paul McCartney voltak. McCartney a dalt tizennégy éves korában, 1956 tavaszán írta.

A dalt egy fiatalember énekli szerelmének, akinek arról énekel, hogy milyen tervei lesznek, amikor hatvannégy éves lesz. Mark Lewisohn, a Beatles történésze szerint ez volt McCartney második szerzeménye, a Call It Suicide után és az I Lost My Little Girl előtt.

Közreműködött

 Paul McCartney – ének, háttérvokál, zongora, basszusgitár
 John Lennon – háttérvokál, gitár
 George Harrison – háttérvokál
 Ringo Starr – dob, harangjáték
 Robert Burns – klarinét
 Henry MacKenzie – klarinét
 Frank Reidy – basszusklainét

Jegyzetek

Külső hivatkozások
 Dalszöveg

The Beatles-dalok

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Church / Crisis
Catholic Leaders: South Africans Be Vigilant
by CNS · Published December 22, 2020 · Updated December 22, 2020
A bottle of hand sanitizer is seen on the altar prior to Mass at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Washington July 11, 2020. (CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn)
Catholic leaders have called all South Africans to vigilance as the second wave of Covid-19 hits South Africa.
In a joint statement issued today, the Leadership Conference of Consecrated Life (LCCL) in conjunction with the Southern African Catholic Bishops (SACBC) said that the death of nine sisters of the Daughters of St Francis in KwaZulu-Natal recently as a result of Covid-19 "is a very painful reminder that though we are at Alert Level 1, the scourge of Covid-19 is yet to lessen its devastation to communities and society at large".
The statement signed by LCCL superior-general Sr Nkhensani Shibambu CSA and SACBC president Sithembele Sipuka of Mthatha noted that Alert Level 1 alert "is more to create conditions for the functioning of economy so that people can survive than it is an indication of a reduced level of infection".
The Sisters of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary have also had 20 of their members infected with Covid-19 in the last two weeks. Three of the sisters were hospitalised, two have since been discharged. "This is a clear indication that during this so-called 'second wave', by most accounts, the virus appears to be more infectious and lethal than in the first wave", the statement said.
The statement called all South Africans and religious congregations and priests in particular to vigilance. "We urge all religious congregations and communities to be extra vigilant and cautious during this very deadly second wave of the pandemic, as none of us is immune to this pandemic," the Church leaders said.
"As religious, community life is the essence of our religious life, as most of our life revolves around community and coming together for prayers, meals, professions, ordinations, chapters, Masses, recreations etc. However, these key occasions of our witnessing are guaranteed occasions for the virus to spread and infect others.
We therefore call for a prudent relook at these activities and to put sentiments of 'we always do it this way and at this time' aside in order to protect everyone concerned, especially the elderly and those with chronic conditions. It is in our hands to protect each other," Sr Shibambu and Bishop Sipuka said.
"During these unprecedented times, we need to continue adhering to the safety protocols of Covid-19 prevention and containment as without a vaccine, we are our own best defence against the virus," they said.
"In light of the above, the LCCL and SACBC leadership jointly make a plea to all major superiors in the conference to suspend all gatherings until the viciousness of this virus significantly diminishes," they said.
Priests entrusted with the pastoral care of people should continue to adhere "to the safety directives given by their bishops", the statement said.
Catholic News Service has a rich history of journalistic professionalism and is a leader in the world of Catholic and religious media. With headquarters in Washington, offices in New York and Rome, and correspondents around the world, CNS provides the most comprehensive coverage of the church today
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Arts Resources
Finding Art
Arts Work
Participation Projects
"The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support our nation's writers and translators and their efforts to expand our literary landscape through their artistry, creativity, and dedication," said Mary Anne Carter, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. Recently, the National Endowment for the Arts also announced the first round of FY 2020 grants for arts projects, which included 53 grants totaling $1,150,000 for literary publishing projects. Click here for The Hub's coverage and here for the NEA's announcement
The National Endowment for the Arts will award 36 Creative Writing Fellowships of $25,000 each, for a total of $900,000. Fellowships alternate each year between poetry and prose and this year's fellowships are to support prose—works of fiction and creative nonfiction, such as memoirs and personal essays. The Arts Endowment received nearly 1,700 eligible applications, which were reviewed anonymously by a panel solely on the artistic excellence of the writing sample submitted. These fellowships allow recipients to set aside time for writing, research, travel, and general career advancement. Among them is Greenville writer Dr. Joni Tevis (right), an assistant professor of English at Furman University. Her bio on the Furman website says she is a creative writer with research interests in the essay, environmental writing, and atomic literature. Her first book of nonfiction, The Wet Collection, was published by Milkweed Editions. Since 1967, the National Endowment for the Arts has awarded more than 3,500 Creative Writing Fellowships totaling over $55 million. Many recipients have gone on to receive the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry and Fiction, such as Anthony Doerr, Louise Erdrich, Tyehimba Jess, Jennifer Egan, and Juan Felipe Herrera.
In fiscal year 2020, the National Endowment for the Arts will award 24 Literature Translation Fellowships of $12,500 each, for a total of $300,000. These fellowships will support the English translation of works from 19 countries including Brazil, Egypt, and Japan. Most of these fellowships are to translate works of award-winning and bestselling authors, many of whom have not yet been represented in English. Supported projects include a translation by Bill Johnston of the first two books in the novel cycle Nights and Days by Polish writer Maria Dąbrowska and a translation by Nancy Naomi Carlson of two poetry collections by Congolese author Alain Mabanckou. Since 1981, the Arts Endowment has awarded 504 fellowships to 445 translators, with translations representing 70 languages and 86 countries. Past recipients include Natasha Wimmer, whose fellowship supported her translation of Roberto Bolaño's 2666, and Jennifer Croft, whose fellowship supported her translation of Nobel Prize-winner Olga Tokarczuk's Flights. Visit the Arts Endowment's Literature Fellowships webpage to read excerpts by and features on past Creative Writing Fellows and Literature Translation Fellows.
Two winners of the state's highest arts award will further live in infamy as members of South Carolina's Hall of Fame in Myrtle Beach. Darius Rucker (above, left) received the Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Governor's Award for the Arts with his Hootie & the Blowfish bandmates in 2016. Dr. Leo Twiggs (above, center) received it in 2017. Both awards were special awards for lifetime achievement. They will be enshrined with Evelyn Wright (above, right) on Feb. 7, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. in the ballroom of the Myrtle Beach Convention Center (2101 North Oak St.). The event is free and open to the public. Fittingly, the accomplishments of all three inductees are almost too numerous to list, and neither Rucker nor Twiggs need to be introduced to Hub readers (but we'll provide brief ones anyway):
National Association of Women Artists admits Heath Springs artist
The National Association of Women Artists, Inc. (NAWA) is pleased to announce that Fran Gardner of Heath Springs, has been accepted into membership, having met the standards required by the membership jury of NAWA. Gardner was inducted on Nov. 14 at the Rubin Museum in New York. In addition to this honor, her work is exhibited in the New Members Show that also opened on Nov. 14 at the NAWA Gallery, her first New York exhibit. She is a professor of art and art history at the University of South Carolina Lancaster where she teaches a variety of studio courses, art history, art appreciation, and art education. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Columbia College (1982) and later, her Master of Fine Arts from Vermont College of Norwich University (1993). Gardner stated, "This organization has a long and important history of supporting women artists. I am honored to be included in the membership of this group that continues to address the inequity of opportunities for women in the arts. I look forward to working with both the National Association and the South Carolina Chapter to open doors and break down barriers for women artists and to exhibit and present my work on regional and national levels in support of the NAWA mission." Dean Dr. Walter Collins at UofSC Lancaster added that, "Prof. Fran Gardner has helped to create a dynamic culture of artistic expression, critique, and appreciation at UofSC Lancaster. Over the span of her career, we have seen interest in art courses grow which has served to diversify not only our academic offerings but our student body. The NAWA induction and her recent exhibition in their gallery space are such fitting honors and recognitions for Prof. Gardner and add esteem to both her national reputation and the influence of her scholarly work."
The National Association of Women Artists, Inc. (based in New York City with a chapters in Florida, Massachusetts and South Carolina), is a source of culture and education through its active exhibition scheduled throughout the U.S. as well as in the NAWA Gallery. NAWA has a permanent collection at the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University in New Jersey, and other educational opportunities to its members and the general public. Most NAWA members are listed in Who's Who in American Art, and are represented in museums, galleries, corporate collections and traveling exhibitions through the U.S. and abroad. A non-for-profit, non-political member-supported organization of professional women in the Fine Arts, NAWA was founded in 1889 by five innovative women: Grace Fitz Randolph, Edith Mitchill Prellwitz, Adele Francis Bedell, Anita C. Ashley, and Elizabeth S. Cheever. The five founders were seeking exhibition opportunities for gifted artists who had been denied participation in the prominently male-dominated art institutions of the time. Early annual exhibitions included the notable Rosa Bonheur, Mary Cassatt, Suzanne Valadon, and Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney. As the organization grew, Louise Nevelson, Judy Chicago, Janet Fish, Mariam Shapiro, Marisol, Audrey Flack, Faith Ringgold and many additional illustrious artists supported the organization. NAWA looks forward to new challenges for art in the 21st century and is committed to including its membership other accomplished women artists capable of significant contributions to the ongoing history of American Art. NAWA is archived in numerous museums and libraries throughout the U.S. Please visit the NAWA website for more event information, to download applications or to support the organization: www.thenawa.org.
Arts Access SC presented statewide award
United Cerebral Palsy of S.C. honors accessibility efforts
Arts Access South Carolina was named "Community Partner of the Year" by United Cerebal Palsy of South Carolina at an awards reception Monday evening in Columbia. Executive Director Julia M. Brown-DuBose accepted the award on behalf of Arts Access SC, a nonprofit organization that provides South Carolina children, youth, and adults with disabilities quality arts experiences, working with artists; educators; arts administrators; health, human, and social service professionals to establish inclusive spaces, programs, and communities dedicated to the arts and people with disabilities. (Arts Access SC is a South Carolina Arts Commission grantee.) Also present were other leaders of Arts Access SC, including Board President LaMondre Pough (at right with Brown-DuBose). This award started of a glittering week for the S.C. Arts Commission, which received a Grant Professionals of America award yesterday in Washington. UCP Director of Day Services Jocelin Jenkins (above, left) gave the following introduction in honor of Arts Access SC at the "Evening of Impact" annual awards reception:
"Arts Access South Carolina has partnered with UCP for at least five years. However, Ms. Julia Brown developed her relationship with us prior to as a former member of the board for UCP.
As the executive director for Arts Access South Carolina, she has given us opportunities to work on various projects, lots of which the individuals had a first time experiencing. We started out with an eight-week photography class in which they had the chance to capture the beauty of Riverfront Park. Then we took a class with a florist and created our own floral arrangement at the end of the session. Following the florist was an artist who not only enhanced our painting and drawing skills, but also helped us with clay modeling and gardening.
These are a few of the many projects that have made an positive and creative impact on us at UCP. Outside of these projects, last year in 2018 Ms. Julia offered to match the donations we received from Midlands Gives for up to $1,500! We then used that donation for more projects from Arts Access because we were so excited about the next projects to come. To this day, Ms. Julia still keeps in correspondence with us regarding new classes and furniture for the offices that she willingly donates to us. The love and support we have from Ms. Julia and the Arts Access of SC is sincere and genuine and the 'Community Partner of the Year award' is truly deserved this evening. Congratulations."
S.C. Arts Commission to receive national grantmaking award
Grant Professionals Association to present award in November
OVERLAND PARK, KAN. – The Grant Professionals Association is announcing that the South Carolina Arts Commission was named its 2019 Grantmaker of the Year for the public sector. The Grant Professionals Association (GPA) is a +3000-member organization dedicated to promoting professionalism and ethics in the grant industry. Formerly known as the GPA Pioneer Award, the Grantmaker of the Year Award recognizes public funders (federal, state and local agencies) and private funders (family, community and corporate foundations) that have improved the way grant professionals do their work and acknowledges outstanding contributions to the field of grantsmanship. S.C. Arts Commission (SCAC) Executive Director David Platts will accept the award for the agency Nov. 7, 2019 at the GPA Annual Conference in Washington. "It is so gratifying to receive recognition of this magnitude for the work we do supporting the arts and arts education in South Carolina. Grants from the arts commission ensure artists can commit to their chosen crafts and thrive artistically and make a living here, that our students reap the benefits of a rounded education including arts and creativity, and that all our citizens have access to the many benefits of the arts," Platts said. In her nomination of the SCAC, Alicia Kokkinis of Charleston said the agency "provides 1:1 technical support throughout the grant making and grant management process. They are readily available by phone and email, which is unusual for a government organization. They develop relationships with potential and current grantees. has a small staff, yet still makes the time to talk to potential and current grantees often. Artists are not typically grant professionals. meets potential grantees where they are without compromising accountability."
About Grant Professionals Association The Grant Professionals Association (GPA) is an international membership association for everyone in the grants industry. GPA and its affiliates work to advance the profession, certify professionals, and fund professionalism. GPA offers continuing professional development through local chapter meetings, regular webinars, the GPA Journal, and an annual conference. The Grant Professionals Certification Institute oversees the GPC credential based on a body of knowledge for the profession. The Grant Professionals Foundation provides scholarships to individuals to advance their career. Find out more at GrantProfessionals.org. To find out more information about this award, including how to apply and information about previous winners, please visit: https://www.grantprofessionals.org/grantmakeraward
About the South Carolina Arts Commission With a commitment to excellence across the spectrum of our state's cultures and forms of expression, the South Carolina Arts Commission pursues its public charge to develop a thriving arts environment, which is essential to quality of life, education, and economic vitality for all South Carolinians. Created by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1967, the Arts Commission works to increase public participation in the arts by providing grants, direct programs, staff assistance and partnerships in three key areas:
#SCartists sweep top prizes at WMAC's first juried show
The first-place winner in West Main Artists Co-op's first four-state juried art exhibit -- WMAC 2019 -- is Cindy Shute of Lockhart, SC, for her oil-on-linen painting Peacemaker: Hrair Balian. She receives a cash prize of $2,500 that was given in memory of Frank P. Cyrill, Jr. Second prize of $1,000 was taken by Gordon Dohm of Greenville for his photograph Fungi Fantasy. The third-place prize of $500 was won by Tracey M. Timmons of Spartanburg for Manacle of Justice, a bracelet made of vitreous enamel, copper, silver, brass, and photography. The seven merit awards of $100 and $250 went to Mark Flowers of Alexander, NC; Lee Sipe of Columbia; Sabrina Barilone of Macon, Georgia; Tom Dimond of Seneca; Christina Dixon of Roebuck; David Stuart of North Augusta; and Martha Worth of Hilton Head.
WMAC 2019 opened on Saturday, Sept. 14, and closes Saturday, Oct. 19. It was open to all adult visual artists in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. Two-hundred-forty-one (241) artists from the four states applied, and 66 were admitted into the show based on the judgement of jurors Ann DerGara and Mike Vatalaro. The winners were announced Saturday, Sept. 21, during a reception and awards ceremony. Seventy-four (74) works of art in this exhibit are on display at the Co-op, which is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. There is no charge to see the exhibitions. In their jurors' statements, DerGara said, " I am amazed at the quality of work that was entered. I think that opening the show to additional states has made this become an important show for the region and Spartanburg. The arts are growing rapidly in the region and this show will make Spartanburg known as art venue as well as Asheville and Greenville. As the Arts grow so does the economy. WMAC produced this show and jury with professionalism and expertise." "The very nature of a juried exhibition celebrates a broad range of medium and imagery. I enjoyed the task of identifying works that well represented the mediums chosen, techniques accomplished and the subjects investigated. The exhibition reveals a broad selection of work which I believe demonstrate an individual vision within both conventional and experimental genres. I was very impressed by the quality and richness demonstrated in all of the mediums displayed. I hope you will find each work invites close examination and has something unique to offer," Vatalaro said. A list of all accepted work can be found online at WestMainArtists.org. "We could not be happier with our first juried show," Chairwoman Beth Regula said. "This is something we had wanted to do for several years, and it took more than a year of planning, but it was worth it. Having a show of this magnitude and with these cash prizes establishes West Main Artists Co-op as an art agency that is leading Spartanburg in its quest to be an art Mecca in South Carolina and throughout the South. It says we have the creativity, the know-how, the professionalism, the resources, and the desire to take the Co-op to the next level. Next year will be even better!"
"I'm so excited to be a part of WMAC's world," Shute said. "This first exhibition was as professionally conducted as I have ever seen. When I was told I was Best in Show, at the time, honestly, I was shocked. It's not that I didn't think my painting is good. As a professional artists mature, we know our good work from our less successful efforts—I think that's a key part of being a professional. So I wasn't surprised to have been included in the show. "When I arrived that evening and saw the body of work I was thrilled. Virtually every piece in the exhibition is good—very good. A couple of pieces took my breath away. So, I felt particularly honored to be included. With Peacemaker, I had pushed myself into a new space with portraiture. In my early work I tended to avoid background, contextual elements, thinking at the time that the subject should convey their story a priori—that the essence of the sitter should be codified in the presentation of their likeness, and if successful, the minimalist approach would say everything that needed to be said. So this new approach for me, including symbolic elements to tell the story, was a big leap. "I honestly feel validated," she continued. "I wasn't sure if the piece worked. So now I'm really charged up about this new direction, and ready to take on more portrait-stories. And I'm so very grateful to WMAC for giving me a big hug along the way!"
The Co-op is a membership-based nonprofit arts agency with more than 50 members, who are visual artists and performing artists. It is housed in a former Baptist church near downtown Spartanburg on West Main Street. Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Co-op houses 31 artists studios, two stages, three galleries, a printery, a ceramics studio, and the largest collection of for-sale locally made art in Spartanburg. Each month, the Co-op normally installs three exhibits by its members and guest artists. For more, visit the Co-op's website by clicking here.
Nominations open for S.C.'s top arts awards
Let's honor exceptionalism in the arts
S.C. First Lady Peggy McMaster (L) and former SCAC Board Chairman Henry Horowitz (R) present the Verner and Folk Heritage awards to 2019 recipients in May 2019.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 22 August 2019 COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Arts Commission, in conjunction with its partners, wants to honor the next round of exceptional arts and folklife practitioners, professionals, and advocates in the Palmetto State. Eligible persons fitting those descriptions can now be nominated for the Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Governor's Award for the Arts or the Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Award. Both awards honor South Carolinians who create or support the arts, and both award programs use a simple, online nomination process. Nominations for both awards are due Friday, Nov. 8, 2019. Both awards will be presented at the South Carolina Arts Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, May 6, 2020. An art sale and luncheon by the South Carolina Arts Foundation will follow the ceremony.
Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Governor's Awards
Nomination letters for Verner Awards should describe the nominee's exemplary contributions to the arts in South Carolina and should address any characteristics included in the category descriptions. The letter should answer these questions:
What makes the nominee superior or extraordinary?
How has the nominee demonstrated leadership in the arts?
What exceptional achievements or contributions has the nominee made, and what has been their impact on the community, state or beyond?
What other information about the nominee is important to know as they are considered for the state's highest award in the arts?
Verner Award nominations can be made in the following categories:
Business/Foundation
For complete nomination guidelines or more information about the Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Governor's Awards, visit SouthCarolinaArts.com, or contact Senior Deputy Director Milly Hough: mhough@arts.sc.gov or 803.734.8698.
Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Award
Created by the legislature in 1987 to recognize lifetime achievement in the traditional arts, the Folk Heritage Award is presented annually by the South Carolina General Assembly to practitioners and advocates of traditional arts significant to communities throughout the state. The S.C. Arts Commission partners with USC's McKissick Museum to manage the awards. Up to four artists and one advocate may receive awards each year. Nominations are accepted in two categories:
Artists: South Carolina artists who have dedicated their lives to the practice of art forms that have been passed down through their families and communities and who have demonstrated a commitment to keeping their tradition alive. Past awards have recognized art forms such as basket making, gospel singing, fiddling, hammock making and boat building.
Advocates: South Carolina individuals and groups that have worked to further traditional culture in the state. Those who are not traditional artists, but who have provided service that helps to sustain and promote South Carolina traditions, are eligible for the advocacy award.
Before submitting a nomination, you are strongly advised to contact Program Specialist for Community Arts & Folklife Dr. Laura Marcus Green to determine whether your nominee is eligible: lgreen@arts.sc.gov or 803.734.8764. For more information about the Folk Heritage Award, visit SouthCarolinaArts.com.
With a commitment to excellence across the spectrum of our state's cultures and forms of expression, the South Carolina Arts Commission pursues its public charge to develop a thriving arts environment, which is essential to quality of life, education, and economic vitality for all South Carolinians. Created by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1967, the Arts Commission works to increase public participation in the arts by providing grants, direct programs, staff assistance and partnerships in three key areas:
Mass shooting memorial wins outdoor sculpture competition for Doster
Decorated South Carolinian wins in North Carolina
Bob Doster is no stranger to accolades, and now he has another. The Lancaster sculptor's all-too-timely entry in the 33rd Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition won first place in the late July. A Memorial 2014-2018 "is a memorial to those lost to senseless violence for the years 2014-2018. each figure represents a lost soul rising to the heavens," according to the artist statement. The tragedies this past weekend in Texas and Ohio render the work unfortunately relevant. In the High Country Press, competition juror Bill Brown from Anvil Arts said, "This is a strong thought-provoking piece created in stainless steel that addresses senseless gun violence as it memorializes victims of mass shootings. I believe it is a must-see piece of art." If you want to do just that, head to Boone, North Carolina and the campus of Appalachian State University. The sculptures are to be displayed until May 2020.
Doster is an award-winning, nationally acclaimed artist who has been creating and teaching for more than 50 years. Prestigious awards include the Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Governor's Award for the Arts in 2006. Doster has been named Keeper of Culture by the York Heritage & Cultural Commission, Hero of the Child by SC First Steps, Small Business of the Years by Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce, CN2 Hometown Hero and received City of Lancaster Mayoral Proclamation. Doster has been featured in publications and broadcasts including Southern Living Magazine, Carolina Arts, Sandlapper, SCETV, Arts Hub, National Welders Magazine, and a myriad of newspapers and travel magazines. Works by Doster can be found in museums, galleries, public art, corporate and private collections worldwide.
Submitted material
Fulbright grant sending Furman musicologist to Russia
Laura Kennedy, Furman University associate professor of musicology, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar award to conduct research in Russia during the 2019/2020 academic year. For her research project, "Ballet in a Waning Empire: Shostakovich, Lopukhov, and the Search for Soviet Dance," Kennedy will work in music and dance archives in St. Petersburg and Moscow. She will research costumes, set designs, choreographic notes, musical scores, photographs and other materials from early Soviet ballet productions written in Leningrad in the 1920s and 1930s, a formative period of experimentation in the Russian arts. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright honor represents a national competition across the humanities, arts, sciences and education. Grantees undergo a rigorous peer-review process, in which proposals are evaluated in both the U.S. and destination countries and are finally selected by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. "I'm thrilled with the opportunity of this Fulbright and with the chance to pursue new research on Russian ballet. My goal is to author the first book ever written on the ballets of Dmitri Shostakovich: The Golden Age, The Bolt, and The Limpid Stream," said Kennedy. "These early ballets set the direction of Soviet dance, ensuring ballet's place as a central expression of Soviet cultural achievement and diplomacy in the 20th century."
This latest Fulbright award marks Kennedy's second grant to study in Russia. Her first Fulbright was awarded to conduct research in 2006/2007 on Shostakovich when she was a doctoral candidate at the University of Michigan. "The Fulbright Scholar award combines my expertise in Shostakovich's music and manuscripts with my work on dance," said Kennedy. "I'm grateful to the Department of Music, the Research & Professional Growth Committee, and the Humanities Development Fund at Furman for generously supporting the opportunities that have shaped my scholarship in music and dance. And I'm equally grateful to the Fulbright program for the unique experiences it has afforded me as a scholar," said Kennedy.
Kennedy joined the Furman faculty in 2012. She coordinates the music history curriculum and teaches courses on music and dance history. With Patricia Sasser, director of Furman's Maxwell Music Library, she also co-directs the department's study away course to Paris and London: "Rites of Spring: Paris, the Ballets Russes, & the Arts of Modernism." Her work has been published in Fontes Artis Musicae, Notes: The Journal of the Music Library Association, the Journal of Music History Pedagogy, and Information Literacy in Music (A-R Editions). She holds a bachelor's in music from Wheaton College and a Ph.D. in historical musicology from the University of Michigan. For more information, contact the Furman News and Media Relations office at 864.294.3107.
Furman music librarian Sasser honored with international award
Patricia Puckett Sasser, director of Furman's Maxwell Music Library, has won the Vladimir Fédorov Award from the International Association of Music Libraries (IAML) for her paper "A Recording Artist: Enrico Caruso and His Scrapbooks." Presented annually, the award recognizes the best article published in peer-reviewed Fontes Artis Musicae, the quarterly membership journal of the IAML. Announced at the IAML Conference in Krákow, Poland, in July, the award is named for Fédorov (1901-1979), noted music librarian, first editor-in-chief of Fontes Artis Musicae, and Russian music scholar. An abstract of Sasser's winning paper may be found at: https://muse.jhu.edu/article/709645.
Sasser, who has served as a Furman library faculty member since 2014, said, "I was surprised and delighted to receive this award, both because it is a special honor to be recognized by my IAML colleagues and because it represents the culmination of a long-standing research project. "My work on Caruso has been generously supported by the Furman Libraries and it could not have been achieved without their help and enthusiasm–whether by locating resources or by funding research trips to New York and Italy." As director of Maxwell Music Library, Sasser oversees music information literacy, research assistance and collection management. She is deeply embedded in the Department of Music's four-year curricular pathway, working closely with students and faculty in first-year seminars, the music history survey sequence and upper-level independent studies. With Associate Professor of Musicology Laura Kennedy, Sasser co-teaches the department's study away course to Paris and London: Rites of Spring: Paris, the Ballets Russes, & the Arts of Modernism. Her research focuses on musical ephemera from the late 19th and early 20th century, studying items like ticket stubs, newspaper clippings, playbills, programs and receipts–"things produced during artistic activity that aren't intended to be preserved," said Sasser. She is especially interested in the ways in which both amateur and professional musicians have collected and curated such material in order to shape their own identities, a fascination which spurred her research into Caruso's scrapbooks, nine of which survive among his private papers. "His scrapbooks," said Sasser, "are just one example of the ways in which a popular artist sought to cultivate a private identity." Her work has been published in Music Reference Services Quarterly, Notes: The Journal of the Music Library Association, and the Journal of Music History Pedagogy. She has contributed to a number of large-scale collaborative digital projects, including Chronicling America and the Music Treasures Consortium, and has served the Southeastern Music Library Association and the Music Library Association in a number of roles.
Sasser earned her Master of Music from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University, and her Master of Library and Information Science from the University of South Carolina. She holds a bachelor's in music from the American University. For more information, contact Sasser at 864.294.2192.


John Kane has a very short name. Eight letters in fact. He's hoping this will come in handy if he ever becomes famous and has to sign things.
When he was younger he liked to make up stories for his little sister. Jimmy and Bear, who had a broken arm, are still remembered to this day. It was the joy these stories brought that made him want to tell more stories.
He works as a Creative Director in advertising. Which means he gets to direct creative things, which is nice. He also spent 12 years in Australia, so tends to call people 'mate' way too much.
His first book I say Ooh You say Aah was released at the beginning of 2018. Jimmy and Bear don't appear in it but it does have a donkey, which is his second favourite animal, after a pig. It's also got pink frilly underpants with yellow spots, just because. His plan is that it won't be his last.
John Kane © 2019 . All Rights Reserved.


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Well, it's that that time of year again, on the cusp of spring we start to look forward to the summer months and the summer movie slate. And with that comes the long-running Fantasy Box Office league that myself, Chris, Greg, Tim, and Paula participate in. After a dominant 2018, I'm looking to stay on the mountaintop, but I have to admit that it will be very difficult this year. This summer is incredibly stacked, so much so that we decided to extend the summer rosters from 7 to 8 and our auction budgets from $70 to $80. It made for an interesting draft and some unique rosters and calculations on everyone's part, which should make for a fun summer. Let's take a look at the rosters, going in order from last season's last place to first.
Tim clearly did not want to end up in last place. And so he went and spent most of his budget on two movies that are pretty much assured to hit the $250 million earning cap, Toy Story 4 and The Lion King. It's definitely not a bad strategy. It pretty much assures that you won't end up in last place. Winning, however, depends on what you add around them. And considering that he only had $10 left to spend on a max of 6 spots, I think Tim did well for himself. Tim often likes to target the animated movies, and here he was able to pick up three are bargain basement prices. And they'll all probably perform at least decently. It would not shock me if those three combined netted him $100 million combined. Tim has a legit shot to win.
Chris, on the other hand, probably does not have a shot to win. Look, Chris is a great editor in chief of the OnStage Blog. He's even good at producing podcast content. However, I'm beginning to think that maybe the movies aren't for him and that the stage really is his true calling. It probably doesn't help that he was draft via Skype while driving and checking into a hotel room for the first half of the draft. Captain Marvel is going to cap. After that, John Wick 3 is probably going to come in somewhere around $100 million. Outside of that, it doesn't look like he has any big earners. Maybe Artemis Fowl is the next big YA novel adaptation, but that comes out in August and earning cuts off at the end of the month. I'm very excited for Brightburn, but that is a smaller movie. Longshot and Yesterday and Child's Play are probably making anywhere from $30-60 million each. And Ad Astra is a space film starring Brad Pitt, but is it closer to Gravirty or Solaris? Probably Solaris. I think Chris is the likeliest to end up in last place.
Say what you will about Greg, and BELIEVE ME, there are things to say, but one thing you can't say about him is that he drafts poorly. Except for one truly awful draft in the summer of 2017, Greg consistently comes out of these auction drafts with an enviable roster. This one is no exception as he spent half his budget on Avengers: End Game, a movie that could cap on its opening weekend. Somehow, he managed to end up with Secret Life of Pets 2 for only $16, a sequel to a movie that did cap back in the summer of 2016. Those two movies should give him a starting point of $500 million or close to it, similar to Tim. After that, he bought up Detective Pikachu at a price that could be a steal, Dark Phoenix at a price that actually could be a real value, and got Us for a decent figure too. Greg figures to be in the mix in the end.
Paula had her best showing ever in the Fantasy Box Office league last year, ending up within striking distance of first place. I don't think her roster is quite as strong this time around, but it certainly cannot be dismissed. Spider-Man is a likely cap candidate and Dumbo is another Disney live-action reimagining, the first of three this summer. I suspect it will be the lowest of the three, but it should still do good numbers. Men in Black: International moves the franchise beyond Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones and re-teams Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth as a comedy duo (last seen together in Thor: Ragnarok). That could be a big comedy hit. I'm curious to see how New Mutants is after a few delays. Rocketman, though, could be a real steal if it finds as big of an audience as Bohemian Rhapsody did this past year. If so, she could be a contender.
I will admit, I do not think I had the best draft, have the best chance to win, or executed my draft strategy exactly how I would've preferred. However, I do not hate my chances. My strategy, such as it was, was to avoid blowing my budget while others did and then hope to catch at least one heavy hitter and then supplement it with a strong middle class. Shazam! was the first movie I got, and I didn't mind spending $11 on it. Right after that, though I made a miscalculation in throwing out Hellboy for $5 and hearing crickets. I should've nominated it for $1 because I wasn't really interested in owning it, so bad job on my part. Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood should be a crowd pleaser and the only other movie he released in the summer was Inglorious Basterds, which made $120 million a decade ago. Aladdin was my heavy hitter. It's a risk, because there is some concern out there with the trailers that we've seen, and Guy Ritchie is no sure thing as a director. But this would have to be an outright disaster to not make significant money. Godzilla and Hobbs and Shaw join Shazam! and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as the strong middle class movies I was hoping for, and Scary Stories and Stuber are stabs in the dark hoping they find an audience and exceed expectations. My roster is high risk, high reward, which normally I try to avoid. If Aladdin caps or comes close and I can get roughly $100 million each from my middle class movies, I've got a shot.
So there you have it. The game is afoot for 2019. And it's anyone's game. Except for Chris. Probably. A reminder, the winner makes the last place loser watch a punishment movie. Worst of luck to the others. We'll check in periodically throughout the spring and summer to update the standings and handicap where things might be headed.


Los Angeles County is home to 7 huge poker casinos. These are state-licensed and regulated by the California Bureau of Gambling Control.
Card rooms are licensed to play Texas Hold'em, Omaha and Omaha Hi/Low Split, however card rooms are prohibited from offering house-banked games such as blackjack rules and other traditional table games. In California house-banked games are the exclusive right of Indian casinos.
In recent years some of the larger card rooms have modified blackjack by replacing the house as the bank with players taking turns as the dealer. Similar changes have been made to craps, EZ Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker and Casino War as a way to allow these games in card rooms.
As a result three California tribes have filed a lawsuit in federal court against the State for allowing these new games. The lawsuit was filed in January 2019 by the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, who owns the Cache Creek Casino in Northern California, the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, who owns the Viejas Casino in San Diego County and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, owners of the Sycuan Casino in San Diego County.
Which ever way this lawsuit is finally decided will have a profound effect on the future of all California card rooms.
There are no Indian casino in Los Angeles County but there are several within driving distance. The closest Indian Casino is 65 miles from downtown LA, San Manuel Casino in San Bernardino County.
The Bicycle Club began in 1984. It was recently renovated in 2015. The casino is open 24 hours everyday and features over 200 poker tables. It is a regular host for the World Series of Poker Tour and the World Poker Tour Legends of Poker.
Commerce Casino is the largest poker room in the entire world with 240 poker tables. It is located just south of downtown LA on Interstate 5 in Commerce City, California.
The Gardens Casino in Hawaiian Gardens was recently renovated in 2016. Its 225 poker tables are the seond most in Southern California next to the Commerce Casino.
This casino was named for the former Hollywood Park Racetrack which is closed and will now become the NFL home of the LA Rams and LA Chargers. It is located about 3 miles from LAX. It was totally renovated in 2016 and features 125 poker tables. Hollywood Park Casino is open 24 hours daily.
San Manual Casino offers Vegas-style gaming including slot machines, table games and poker. It is an Indian casino located in San Bernardino County about 65 miles from downtown LA.
There are no Indian Casinos in Los Angeles County or in adjacent Orange County.
There are, however, four Indian casinos in the nearby Inland Empire that are within 60-90 miles driving distance, and the Chumash Casino about two hours north of downtown LA in Santa Barbara County.


7.1 Earth is our home; its resources mold civilizations, drive human exploration, and inspire human endeavors that include art, literature, and science. We depend upon Earth for sustenance, comfort, places to live and play, and spiritual inspiration.
7.2 Geology affects the distribution and development of human populations. Human populations have historically concentrated at sites that are geologically advantageous to commerce, food production, and other aspects of civilization.
7.3 Natural resources are limited. Earth's natural resources provide the foundation for all of human society's physical needs. Most are nonrenewable on human time scales, and many will run critically low in the near future.
7.4 Resources are distributed unevenly around the planet. Resource distribution is a result of how and where geologic processes have occurred in the past, and has extremely important social, economic, and political implications.
7.5 Water resources are essential for agriculture, manufacturing, energy production, and life. Earth scientists and engineers find and manage our fresh water resources, which are limited in supply. In many places, humans withdraw both surface water and groundwater faster than they are replenished. Once fresh water is contaminated, its quality is difficult to restore.
7.6 Soil, rocks, and minerals provide essential metals and other materials for agriculture, manufacturing, and building. Soil develops slowly from weathered rock, and the erosion of soil threatens agriculture. Minerals and metals are often concentrated in very specific ore deposits. Locating and mining these ore deposits provide the raw materials for much of our industry. Many electronic and mechanical devices have specific requirements for particular rare metals and minerals that are in short supply.
7.7 Earth scientists and engineers develop new technologies to extract resources while reducing the pollution, waste, and ecosystem degradation caused by extraction. For example, land reclamation can partially restore surface environments following surface mining.
7.8 Oil and natural gas are unique resources that are central to modern life in many different ways. They are the precursors to chemicals used to make numerous products, such as plastics, textiles, medications, and fertilizers. Petroleum sources are needed to manufacture most industrial products.
7.9 Fossil fuels and uranium currently provide most of our energy resources. Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, take tens to hundreds of millions of years to form. Their abundance will make them the dominant source of energy for the near future. New sources, such as methane hydrates, are being explored.
7.10 Earth scientists help society move toward greater sustainability. Renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal, are being developed. They will replace fossil fuels as those become scarcer, more expensive to retrieve from Earth, and undesirable due to environmental damage. Earth scientists foster global cooperation and science-informed stewardship that can help to ensure the availability of resources for future generations.


Why do we garden? Everybody will have an answer for this, but how much you have understood about the value of gardening is a big question mark. Few people say that they garden for just to have the pleasure of happiness, others garden on the point of harvesting their own fruits and vegetables, few others make their garden to show their financial status sometimes. But the essence of garden and gardening is immense. We cannot measure the healing power of garden. Here is an interesting article written by Sue Stuart-Smith, where she has talked about the garden and mentioned the value of gardening. I felt it was very interesting and want to share it with you.
"Most gardeners would prefer to be busy in the garden, rather than thinking about how tilling the soil and growing plants affect the mind. But as a psychiatrist and psychotherapist, I cannot resist reflecting on these things. This is partly because of my own gardening experiences but also because there is a renewal of interest in horticultural therapy.
Recent research carried out by the National Gardens Scheme (NGS) showed that more than a third of people questioned (39 per cent) said that being in a garden makes them feel healthier, while 79 per cent believe that access to a garden is essential for quality of life. The survey coincides with the NGS Festival Weekend (June 7-8) when more than 350 gardens will be open, with proceeds to charity.
"In the plant world, regeneration is a matter of course, but psychological repair does not come so naturally to us. While we have an innate capacity to form strong attachments, we are less well equipped to deal with trauma and loss. In our secular and consumerist world, we have lost touch with many of the rituals that can help us navigate our way through life. Gardening is a form of ritual; as well as creating beauty around us; it works within our minds, as a symbolic act.
What did she mean by this feeling of goodness? Could it be linked to the perception of gardening as a virtuous activity? I think it is more than that, and reflects a deeper kind of change, linked to the discovery of being able to make things grow. Gardening was not a cure for her, but it gave her a source of stability and self-worth.
Now you go to your garden or even a plant. Spend time with your plants, talk to the plants if you feel like. Take time to do all the gardening activities, do not rush up. And tell me what garden and gardening exactly means to you.
Plants are an important part of Nature, and one of their properties is the ability to heal pains and remove stress. To use this property and heal patients naturally in a residential area, it is necessary to have a garden, whether big or small. Many garden activities help such patients to lead a normal, healthy life. Garden experiences are life enhancing and life rebuilding. Connecting with Nature is the best answer to all our pain- and stress-related problems.
In many countries, people have started accepting the therapeutic value of horticulture. Experts, who believe in the healing properties of Nature and have studied it, conduct awareness programs about the benefits of connecting people to plants and Nature. In India also, various associations are conducting campaigns, activity sessions and workshops to spread among the people knowledge of the importance and power of plants. This healing using garden plants is known as horticultural therapy.
Horticultural therapy does not only heal people. It also teaches them the healing power of Nature, which they understand in steps. To help such understanding, we, the therapists document the progress of each patient who participates in the therapy. As an illustration, let me tell you about a case study of Mr. Fung, a therapist, in a recent interesting article of his.
Fung trained therapists and custom-designed activities, based on their individual abilities and the needs of their patients. This is done through the auspices of an association, which works mostly with dementia and stroke patients, students with special needs and those diagnosed with depression.
One of the student-patients in a class in the association is 11-year-old Tony Li Ching-Tung. He had been diagnosed with autism when he was two. His mother, Shirley Ng Bun-sure, is pleased with his progress.
Horticulture therapy can also build self-esteem in stroke patients, who often feel frustrated and depressed. Fung usually makes them transplant plants into bigger pots. He gives them adapted tools, depending on their abilities.
Pots are placed on non-slippery surfaces and patients can fill them with soil, or water the plant. Depressed patients are given colorful, low maintenance plants to look after. This is done for sensory and visual stimulation.
Fung uses plants and flowers in different forms, from potted plants to cut and pressed flowers to show that plants are beautiful in many ways.
Horticulture therapy offers advantages to each individual in terms of physical and mental well-being and greater acceptance in society. It gives a chance to learn life-skills such as sequencing, memory use and problem solving. The activities are designed to create self-confidence, social abilities and self-esteem, which will help them and give them a positive outlook in life.
Gardening and interacting with nature is an effective method for nurturing lives. Understanding the healing power of nature is very important. That may be learned from different methods but from experience is more acceptable for a needy soul. Gardening always give a positive impact on the participants. The impact may either be physical or psychological. When a person is closer to nature, then he/she can forget all unwanted thoughts that disturb and be able to enjoy himself/herself with what he/she is doing or engaging with.
Emotional imbalance, mobility issues, cognitive problems, social and communication problems are the main areas that a person having multiple sclerosis(MD) is suffering from. Because of these problems, they may be constantly depressed. Pain is another issue they face most times. The stiffness of the muscles, inflexibility of bones and muscles may hamper with physical fitness and movements. It is very important that they distract themselves from pain and depression and enjoy the moments when they were doing some task in nature.
There are many activities we can use in horticultural therapy, especially for the person having multiple sclerosis. There are intensity-based activities which will be given by the therapist according to the patients' capability. The activities are very specific for each individual and should be designed according to the patients' needs. Garden also has a very important role here. It will be better to design a garden according to the patients' needs and accessibility.
You can't measure the healing power of nature. By connecting with nature, you can make magic in your life and in the lives of your wards.