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Remote-Control Redundancy: the Lows and the Learnings
by Paul Bulos | Aug 1, 2021 | Blog post | 2 comments
Redundancy, noun. Definition: the state of not being necessary.
Remote Control, noun. Definition: control of the operation or performance of an apparatus from a distance.
You know that little light on your TV and computer that stays on after they're switched off? A barely noticeable glimmer that signifies 'standby' mode, it's a lingering reminder that, just seconds before, there was something far brighter and meaningful on the screen. That was me in November 2020: that little glow blinking in the sudden darkness. Shell-shocked. Slightly terrified – actually hugely terrified. Redundant.
Even though I felt totally, utterly alone, statistically I wasn't. According to the Office of National Statistics, in the three months prior to September 2020, redundancies reached a record high of 314,000, an increase of 181,000 on the quarter. (The figure is significantly higher now, and likely to increase further.) Given the global shift towards home-working during the pandemic, how many of those had this lightning bolt delivered via a screen? I did, and it was traumatic. In fact, it's only now, a few months down the line, that I've felt able to reflect on that time – and what I've learned from it.
Let me take you back to November 2020. The UK was in the midst of a second lockdown, the nation once again cooped up at home, with dark winter evenings adding to a stifling sense that the walls were closing in on us. As we shrank back into our homes-come-makeshift-offices, our only window on the world was a screen, our only contact with colleagues an endless and exhausting succession of TEAMS or ZOOM meetings. Smiles fixed in place, we sat in our little virtual boxes, sometimes varying the backdrop to liven things up, but still looking – and feeling – like a battery cage of office drones living at work.
The convenience of home-working was undeniable, and for the large part professional effectiveness was uncompromised. But we are all far more than our job functions: we need colleagues. We need real human interaction. Yet for months on end, impromptu office chit-chat was replaced by contrived virtual conversations; opportunities for spontaneous praise and recognition gave way to stage-managed ZOOM meetings to deliver the requisite gratitude and public applause alongside the quarterly results.
More rehearsed performance than spontaneous engagement, such meetings were exhaustingly intense yet curiously detached, leaving us feeling drained more than invigorated, isolated more than connected. Yet if we weren't included in meetings, the resulting sense of exclusion fostered not so much FOMO as uncertainty and paranoia.
As if to add insult to injury, government reminders about a 'looming mental health crisis' seemed laughably out of touch: our entire sense of wellbeing had been hanging by a thread for so long, none of us could recall when it had started to unravel. Yet despite struggling to remember what month it is, we stoically masked our creeping stress and anxiety, continuing the silent national conspiracy that we were all coping – that we were 'fine'.
Because it's easy to fake being fine until the 'off' button is pressed, isn't it? No one is there to see you sit staring blankly into your coffee after the call is disconnected; you don't need to hide in the office loo to have a cry. (Yes, men cry too.) Even counselling via the EAP moved online during the peak of Covid. But it felt one step removed, a little hollow; it lacked humanity.
In fact, what struck me most strongly during this time was that, as employees, we ceased to be people during the pandemic and instead became numbers, statistics, resources for businesses. Conversations about the future happened behind our backs, when we weren't even in the same building, let alone the same room. Furlough. Cutbacks. Rationalisation.
Even routine performance reviews became terrifying, over-shadowed by threats to company profits and riddled with a subtext of secret executive conversations about how to readjust the business. How to cut costs – and staff. When it came to redundancy consultations, the pandemic revealed employers' true colours in startling Technicolour. Good managers handled it sensitively, compassionately; others dished out bad news like they were scraping yesterday's leftovers into the bin.
No matter how you feel about your job, one thing is true: it pays the bills and keeps a roof over your head – perhaps your family's head, too. It's also a huge part of your sense of routine, identity, status, self-worth and, crucially, purpose. People often refer to redundancy as being like a bereavement; in fact, I liken it more to a divorce. Both parties are still alive, but they have to completely reinvent themselves. And it's tough. Emotional. No matter how the news is packaged or presented, the message is the same: you are unwanted. Surplus to requirements. Switched first to 'standby mode', swiftly followed by a brutal stab to the 'off' button. There is no lonelier, or darker place to be.
The phrase 'mental health impact' is often bandied around, but we need to talk more honestly about what that actually looks like, particularly in traumatic situations such as redundancy. It can mean crushing anxiety, of course – perhaps debilitating panic attacks. Insomnia. Depression. PTSD. Suicidal thoughts. The only thing that can possibly make it worse is receiving that news via a TV screen, while you're sitting in your tracksuit at the kitchen table as your boss (typically accompanied by an HR representative) fires the bullet, and all you can think is: 'Please let this be over before the kids come into the room.'
Home-schooling. Remember that? Most parents try to shield their children from bad news, but try concealing the sudden panic, terror and shock of redundancy while your kids are sitting in the next room battling with lessons during a global pandemic! Already acutely conscious of their confusion, stress and vulnerability, the pressure to protect them from further stress – the financial worries that instantly weigh down on you – can tip people over the edge. Surely, you think, the company where you have worked loyally and diligently all these years will offer a supporting hand? But even as the question 'What now?' forms in your dry mouth, the ZOOM meeting – that last flickering connection with the business you've dedicated a significant portion of your life to – is switched off. Terminated.
How did I feel being made redundant while working remotely? I felt as though I'd been switched off by remote-control: zapped by forces greater than myself. I felt as though a mechanical voice instructed me to 'exit quietly' through a door I hadn't even realised existed, with absolutely no idea what might be on the other side – and no way of stepping back into the room and asking them to think again. Was this situation avoidable? In cold, hard business terms, perhaps not. Could it have been handled more sensitively and compassionately? Almost certainly. It's hard enough to be doing a job, any job right now; it's even harder to have one taken away without warning after 13 years.
These continue to be strange, almost dehumanised times, and a very human style of management is called for if we're to stand a chance of navigating our way out of the global mental health crisis that – yes – we are well and truly in the thick of. Leadership underpinned by a thoughtfully developed, intentional, properly trained and resourced, systemic wellbeing strategy, not just relying on sticking plasters such as 'ambassadors' or links to guided meditation, or the 'outsourcing' of redundancy support.
The best leaders inspire rather than dictate, motivate rather than criticise, listen more than they talk, but right now what is needed more than anything is compassion, empathy and conscious, emotionally intelligent, authentic leadership. Oh, and let's dispense with well-trodden redundancy platitudes such as: 'This could be the best thing that ever happened to you!' Or, my own particular favourite: 'We're giving you a stepping stone to achieve the future you want!' Redundancy can eventually lead to better and brighter things, but it's a tough path to travel, requiring an incredible amount of resilience and hard work on the part of the person who has been – to use another popular euphemism – 'let go'.
What does compassionate, authentic leadership look like in practice? Here are my suggestions:
Be empathic. Before launching into meetings (virtual or IRL), invite everyone to share where they are in that moment. Listen, learn and be curious. Reflect on what you could do to help, and what might not be helping.
Be present. Don't tap away at your computer during video calls, or start reading something else on your screen or desk.
Be aware. Listen to the gaps and tune in to unspoken clues; notice when colleagues seem distant, strained, or are behaving noticeably out of character.
Be kind. It might feel like there is little you can do practically to help, but taking the time to talk through your colleagues' experiences and feelings, can help them feel less alone.
Be real. Remember your team is comprised of people, not processors. They don't exist purely to perform a job function.
Be respectful. Even the slightest criticism is magnified when delivered remotely, and receiving challenging, or just plain bad news in the virtual world is extremely frightening, lonely and deeply impersonal. Always check the other person has some support around them, and if not, talk through where they might find it.
Be patient. Details of redundancy or settlement proposals can be overwhelming: check understanding, offer more explanation if needed, and invite the person on the receiving end to come back to you with any questions. Openly recognise there is likely to be an impact and offer support, time and a safe space to talk it through.
Be sensitive. Check that the scheduling of a potentially difficult meeting works: remember there may be young children nearby, or flatmates/partners . . . or nobody at all. If you are aware someone lives alone, ask what support they might be able to call upon.
Be affirming. Remember it's a role that is made redundant, not the person. Avoid negative language that makes them feel culpable, rejected or a failure.
Be human! Remember that there is more to life than work, and there may be other significant things going on for that person.
Always remember to ask one simple question: 'How are you?' Ask it twice – and mean it. Then listen to the answer, and don't try to fix feelings!
I have worked incredibly hard to come through my redundancy experience and, thankfully, emerge in a better place. I hope I'm a better colleague and leader as a result of the things I've learned, and not only from others. Yes, reaching out to people you trust and respect is so important. Don't let pride, or the unfathomable stigma that still surrounds redundancy to deter you from allowing others to help and support you. Pick up the phone, meet for coffee and a chat: express, don't repress. But alongside the reassurance, learning and potential networking opportunities with friends and colleagues, there is also self-work.
The one silver lining in the redundancy thunder cloud is the (enforced) chance to press pause: to take stock, unpick your values, reassess your priorities and generally figure out how you want your life and career goals to align more happily going forward. What helped me in that process was coaching: having dedicated time within a safe, empathic space to talk through how I wanted life to be, and what might be stopping me from getting there. Employing a coach to support me through this time and process was essential.
No one can take away the pain and distress of redundancy, but the blow can be delivered compassionately, and my belief is that, wherever possible, companies should offer coaching to those affected – even more so now, with the impending wind-down of the furlough scheme, which has been a lifeline for so many.
Coaching can be transformational and empowering; it can turn one of the worst experiences of your life into a positive. It is also a safe place where you can be authentic and explore what is really important to you, and to start setting your goals towards your desired outcomes. It helped me enormously, and as a qualified coach myself, I feel very privileged to be able to help others on their own journey.
With the right support, we can all learn to thrive again after tough times; we can find fresh clarity on our goals and increased self-belief to achieve them. There is life after redundancy, and I intend to live it to the fullest. I hope I can encourage you to strive for the same – to reach for your dreams, one step at a time.
Sarah Kilby	on 13th August 2021 at 8:22 am
This is such a thoughtful, open and inspiring article Paul. Your experience sounded ghastly. Even though I 'chose' redundancy along with many of my colleagues (it was pretty much inevitable thanks to the financial effects of the pandemic) and it was handled with some sensitivity, it still hurt. To be told remotely in such a manner demonstrated such a lack of empathy, in a situation where we all need to strive harder to be human! Your observations and recommendations are so helpful and wise. Thank you.
Paul Bulos	on 26th August 2021 at 9:41 am
Dear Sarah, thank you so much for reading my blog and taking the time to comment, I am very grateful. I am pleased this resonated for you and I am heartened to read that your redundancy was handled with some sensitivity, and I am really delighted that my observations and recommendations are helpful to you. Thanks again and do reach out if you feel my services as a coach might be helpful to you or colleagues. Very best..Paul
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Paul Bulos on Remote-Control Redundancy: the Lows and the Learnings
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Graham Coxon Is Working On A New Solo Project
Plus, Blur could potentially record something new together...
Graham Coxon has revealed he is working on a new solo project.
The Blur guitarist recently scored the Channel 4 drama End Of The F*cking World, raising hopes for something new.
Speaking to the Consequence of Sound podcast, he revealed that he has a number of projects in the works.
"I'm always writing," he said, before explaining that he has just finished a "conceptual piece of recording" that he will do "something with at some point."
There is also another full solo album "that's been sitting around for years" which could emerge shortly. "I think people who like my music will like that," he continued. "It's very me-ish – it's kind of indie-ish and '60s-influenced," he said, explaining that the material was recorded at the same time as previous solo LP 'A+E'.
The topic of Blur loomed in the background, with Graham Coxon saying there were "no plans right now" for a new record.
However he insisted he wanted to make one, but that it was "impossible to say yes and when to because these things just come out of nowhere."
"I really don't see why not and why there can't be another Blur album," he said. "We're all still alive and in reasonable control of our faculties. It's just the time when that notion comes upon us all and the stars align and we go, 'Yeah, why not?'"
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EMBARQ's work would not be possible without the generous support of its many donors around the world. We would like to particularly acknowledge our founding funder, Shell Foundation, who helped establish EMBARQ in 2002 with an initial $7.5 million investment. Twelve years later, EMBARQ has leveraged that investment to attract other funders that helped us grow centers for sustainable transport in five countries around the world. EMBARQ is especially grateful for our global strategic funders who contribute multi-year, multi-million dollar support: Bloomberg Philanthropies, Caterpillar Foundation, FedEx Corp and Shell Foundation.
Current and Past Funders (PDF)
Bloomberg Philanthropies provides generous support to EMBARQ to implement programs that prevent death and disability from road traffic crashes. Other members of the Bloomberg Global Road Safety Program include the World Health Organization, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, World Bank Global Road Safety Facility, Global Road Safety Partnership and Association for Safe International Road Travel. Bloomberg Philanthropies' website
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The Caterpillar Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Caterpillar Inc., the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment. This year, the foundation announced a multi-year, multi-million dollar grant to the World Resources Institute to advance the progress of environmentally sustainable and livable cities in China, India, and Brazil. Caterpillar Foundation's website
FedEx Corporation provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. The company provides substantial financial and in-kind support to EMBARQ to provide technical expertise on sustainable transportation projects that improve quality of life in Mexico, Brazil and India. Fedex Corporation's website
Shell Foundation
Shell Foundation's mission is to develop, scale up, and promote enterprise-based solutions to challenges arising from the impacts of energy and globalization on poverty and the environment. Shell Foundation's website
EMBARQ is a program of the World Resources Institute (WRI). Learn more about WRI's donors in the most recent annual report.
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Tai Kamiya Presents "Gatekeepers"
Episode Two- Play That Funky Music, Sora!
(TK and Kari are looking through the script for the next episode.)
Kari: Okay… so then you and Mr. Matsuki speed over to Shinjuku and help not only me, but your mother and… your sister? Since when did you have a sister?
TK: That's what I'd like to know. Oh well… maybe I just have to save you and Mom.
(Tai walks in, grabs the scripts from TK and Kari, and tosses them into a nearby processor, which converts them into mulch.)
Tai: Good news guys- we're skipping episode two.
TK/Kari: What?!
TK: But I stayed up all night learning my lines!
Tai: Oh… well here's episode three.
TK: (taking the script) Great, I'm not going to get any sleep tonight either.
Tai: Yes you will. That won't be an issue.
Kari: Why's that?
Tai: Because we're filming it today!
Kari: But how can we skip episode two? That seems important. It establishes the relationship between TK and his mother and sister.
TK: One of which I don't have!!
Tai: Yeah. Exactly. If the episode focuses on his mother and his sister, and he doesn't have a sister, then why bother?
TK: So you aren't going to give me a sister?
Tai: Nope! I haven't gotten through the entire series yet, but I don't think she's important. So why bother?
TK: You sure?
Tai: Yeah. When was the last time the main character's little sister had any significance to a series?
Kari: Um… Tai…
TK: I suppose… but what about…
Tai: Anything that was really important was thrown into this episode.
Kari: What does that mean- we're going to be battling Invaders during this episode, then suddenly get teleported to Shinjuku to battle some more?
Tai: Hm… that's not a bad idea!
Kari: Forget I said that. Please.
Tai: Oh… okay. But wow- I've got to listen to you more often!
(Tai heads out.)
Episode Three- Let the Magical Music Play!
(TK and Kari are walking to school, in appropriate uniforms.)
TK: Kari… could you tell me why I have to switch schools?
Kari: I've already told you twice!
TK: Yeah, but both times they were off camera.
Kari: Oh. Okay. You are now a Gatekeeper, and AEGIS needs you available around the clock in case an emergency arises. Their underground headquarters is under this school, so if you go here, you'll be more accessible.
TK: But this is miles from my house. Where am I supposed to live?
Kari: Mimi's doing some house hunting. She'll find you something.
(A landlord shows Mimi an apartment. It looks really bad and unkempt. Mimi sniffs the air and reels back from the stench.)
Mimi: Ew, what's that smell?
Landlord: It's um… uh… an air freshener. It's Glade's new "dead rat" scent. It's accuracy to the real thing amazes even me.
Mimi: And how would you know what the real thing smells like?
Landlord: Uh… because all of the other apartment complexes I own are infested with them. Not this one though. It's just an air freshener.
Mimi: (not believing him) I see…
(Back at school, a bunch of girls approach Kari.)
Kari: Uh oh… um, uh…
TK: What is it?
(Kari shoves TK off to the side as a number of other girls join TK.)
Student: Hey there Kari!
Kari: Hi everybody!
(TK stumbles back in, looks at the student and smiles.)
TK: Hey! Who's your friend?!
Student: I was about to ask the same thing.
Kari: This is TK… he's um… a new student and I volunteered to show him around.
Student: Ow wow… see you're always doing stuff like that. You're so perfect!
Kari: I know!
Student: Well, we can't be late for class! See you Kari!
Kari: Bye!
(The girls rush off. Kari drops the charade.)
TK: What was that?
Kari: Oh- I'm perfect. Good grades, captain in everything I'm involved in, most popular girl in school. I'm your typical over-achiever.
(Kari walks off.)
Kari: Deal with it.
(Without warning, the song "Run Around," heard throughout the second season, is played, its chorus on an endless loop. After about two minutes of it, most of the students cover their ears in pain.)
Student: I can't take much more of this!!
(TK is staring at a loudspeaker, visibly confused.)
TK: This is one messed up school. Kari, what's going on?
(Kari is visibly concerned. She looks around, then grabs TK by the arm.)
Kari: The signal- come on!!
(They rush to the back of the school, and approach a dumpster. Kari opens it. Inside is a tube.)
Kari: Follow me!
(Kari jumps in. Follow Kari as she slides through a series of tubes, and falls into a chair. The chair continues through automatically along a conveyor belt, and ends up conveniently in the underground headquarters of AEGIS. Joe and Mimi greet her as the chair pulls up to a table.)
Joe: Hello Kari.
Kari: Hi Joe!
Joe: Could you call me Commander? I could use an ego boost.
Kari: Oh. Sure. Commander.
(Joe smiles.)
Joe: Where's TK?
Kari: He should be right behind me.
(TK stumbles through the entrance, without a chair. The conveyor belt slides his body in.)
Joe: Hmm… Mimi- have the maintenance guys put another chair in the tube.
Mimi: I'll make a note of it!
Joe: How's it going TK?
TK: Wow… a secret base under the city of Tokyo. This must be a big organization.
Mimi: It sure is. You have to be pretty big to have a secret base under Tokyo.
(A guy enters through a door and looks at Joe.)
Guy: Hey, is this NERV?
Joe: No, This is AEGIS. NERV is down the hall.
Guy: Thanks.
(The guy shuts the door.)
Joe: Since you are a Gatekeeper, it's important to understand exactly who you're fighting against.
TK: Hold on… let me guess- the Invaders are aliens from another dimension that want to destroy Earth and because they can't be stopped by normal means, we're the only thing standing between them and their goal.
(Joe looks at Kari. She shrugs.)
Kari: I didn't say anything.
TK: No, no, I just kinda pieced it together.
Joe: Well you are wrong.
TK: I am?
Joe: Yes. You see the Invaders are not trying to destroy the Earth. They're trying to enslave humanity.
TK: Okay… what else?
Joe: Well… the rest of that you got right. The whole thing about being from another dimension and how they can't be stopped by normal means- that's right.
Kari: How did you know all that?
TK: I read too much manga.
Mimi: Good. You can give us some pointers.
Kari: (annoyed) What's the mission?
Joe: We have a very important mission for you today…
(TK stands up.)
TK: Where are they attacking? Wherever they are, I'm sure Kari and I can kick their butts! Just tell us where to go and we're on it!
Joe: Actually, it's more like a scouting mission. No battling.
TK: Ah… but whenever you say there won't be any battling- nine times out of ten there will be battling.
Joe: You are good. There probably will be battling. Basically, with this invasion of the Invaders…
(Joe stops to think about how stupid that sounded, before continuing.)
Joe: You two alone will not be strong enough. We're going to need help.
(Joe hits a button on his desk, and a bunch of names fly across the screen. One stops. The screen focuses on that name, eliminates the other ones, and brings up details on this one name- Sora Takenouchi.)
Joe: We've been scouting out possible Gatekeeper candidates. This girl is high on our list. Her name is Sora Takenouchi. She does a lot of charity work, playing piano for children at hospitals and some other goody-good places.
TK: How does that make her a Gatekeeper?
Joe: We don't know if she's a Gatekeeper or not. That's what you have to find out. According to the people that listen to her music, the sound of her tickling the ivories make people feel at ease. This so called "enchanting melody" may be a Gate Power.
TK: Gate Power?
Kari: It's the specific power that you have that makes you a Gatekeeper. I have my magic arrows and my healing abilities. You… well I'm not exactly sure what the heck you have.
TK: I'm just wondering if we're just going to stick the word "Gate" in front of every word to make it sound more relevant to the series.
Joe: Yeah… pretty much. But the point remains- we need to investigate Sora to determine if she is a Gatekeeper. If she is, we can sign her up. Be warned, the Invaders may also know about her abilities, and may make a play for her.
TK: Ha! I told you we'd be battling!
Joe: (arguing) I said may! I didn't say it was definite.
TK: It will be though… right?
(Joe looks away, avoiding the question.)
Mimi: Maybe you should give him his present now… Commander.
Joe: I don't know if he deserves it. He's being a wise-ass.
Kari: He is a wise-ass. I'm planning on quietly trying to ignore it.
TK: …while secretly harboring romantic feelings… right?
Kari: In your dreams, Takaishi.
TK: So what's this about a present?
Joe: We actually have a couple of them for you.
(Joe hands over a small object, similar to Kari's thingies that extend to form her bow and arrows.)
Joe: When you open your Gate, this will amplify your energy and allow it to be controlled easier.
(TK takes it, and it extends to become a kendo stick. TK swings it around a couple times.)
TK: All right- now we're in business. What else you got?
(Joe sighs.)
Joe: Come with me.
(Joe, Kari, and TK head to a large room in the facility.)
Joe: Try not to drool too much.
(Joe pulls out a remote and pushes a button. A door opens dramatically, with a glorious white light behind it. As the light subsides, it's… a new car. It's a blue Toyota, and looks really sharp. TK's visibly impressed.)
Joe: This is what you'll be getting around in. It's specially equipped and personalized towards your specifications. Have you ever driven before?
TK: Nope.
Joe: That won't be a problem. This handles like a beauty and is incredibly easy to drive.
(From under the car, Izzy Izumi pops out on a dolly. He stands up and wipes his hands with a rag.)
Izzy: (smiling, sarcastic) Just try to get it back in one piece 007.
Kari: Bad comparison Izzy. When compared to Bond, TK's twice as dangerous and half as suave.
TK: This is mine?!
(TK starts to drool.)
Kari: I take that back, half as suave as James Bond would be a compliment.
Joe: TK, I'd like you to meet Izzy Izumi. He's our ace mechanic and all around annoying smart guy.
(Izzy and TK shake hands.)
Izzy: Pleasure to meet you. Have fun riding her. If she's half as good as she was in the test drives, I'm sure you will.
TK: But I don't have a driver's license. Is that a problem?
Joe: Nope. Who needs a driver's license when you have this?
(Joe hands TK a similar-looking license. It has the AEGIS logo and TK's picture on it.)
Joe: This is the Earth Defense License. With it you'll be able to do whatever you need to do to complete your mission. You have full diplomatic immunity.
TK: Great! Kari! Let's rock!
(TK and Kari head off into the car. Joe tries giving them last minute instructions.)
Joe: Wait! You know where Sora's house is, right?
Kari: Yeah. I'll watch him and make sure he doesn't screw up.
Joe: Okay. Good luck.
(TK and Kari get into the car and speed off. Joe shakes his head.)
Joe: They're going to screw up. Just watch.
Izzy: Well I have faith in them.
Joe: You do?
Izzy: Not really… but I do know that if he trashes my car I'll throttle his neck.
Joe: You know, you probably should go and…
Izzy: Right. I'm all over it…
(The car is cruising down the highway. TK is enjoying the ride.)
Kari: You seem to be having fun.
TK: Yeah. This is great!
Kari: I bet your father would have liked this too.
TK: Don't bring him up. I'm trying to forget about him.
Kari: Why? Didn't you say he died in that plane explosion?
TK: That doesn't change anything. He was never here to begin with. Always breaking promises. He was always off on his own doing his own thing. I don't know if he really cared about us. It's a wonder Mom didn't divorce him sooner.
(TK speeds past another car.)
Kari: Um… don't you think you should be slowing down?
TK: Why? You said Sora lived pretty far away.
Kari: Well yeah… but you're going 90 miles an hour!!
TK: So? We can go as fast as we want…
Kari: Okay, fine… but at least drive on the right side of the road!
TK: I am driving on the right side!
Kari: Exactly! It's Japan- you're supposed to drive on the left side!
TK: Wauugh!!
(TK swerves over into the left lane, barely avoiding a head on collision with a semi.)
(Somehow, they have arrived safely at Sora's house. Kari is on a couch in the living room, interviewing Sora, in a chair opposite her. TK is walking around, checking out the room. Sora's mother is standing in an entryway, quietly observing the situation)
Kari: Miss Takenouchi, have you experienced any strange phenomenon recently? People acting strange, performances from either you or somebody you know that can be deemed as extraordinary, supernatural…
TK: Freaky-deaky?
Sora: Well… let's see… I got a D on my Biology test last week.
(Kari looks at her, confused. She turns to TK, equally confused.)
Kari: I mean good, unusual stuff.
Sora: That was good. That was a whole 65.
Kari: A… whole… 65?
Sora: Yeah. I usually get forties and fifties.
Kari: Forties?
TK: Fifties?
Kari/TK: Out of?
Sora: Out of? Um… I don't know what those tests are out of. I never get that high.
(Kari and TK sweatdrop.)
Kari: Let's see… TK do you have any questions?
TK: Yeah… Sora- are you an idiot?
Mrs. Takenouchi: (angry) That's it! This interview is over! Sora! You have piano lessons!
Sora: But what about my friends?
Mrs. Takenouchi: The piano waits for no one!
Sora: Oh. Coming Mother.
(Sora leaves with her mother.)
TK: Okay then…
Kari: Jeez, TK, you shouldn't ask such insensitive questions!
TK: I wanted to know! She certainly seems like an idiot!
Kari: Let's get out of here…
(TK and Kari head out. Along the way, they hear Sora's piano playing. They are mystified by the sound, and begin to hallucinate.)
TK/Kari: (entranced) Enchanting melody…
Tai: (OS) CUT!!
TK/Kari: (entranced) What's wrong, Tai?
Tai: Nothing… it's just a good time for a commercial break.
TK/Kari: (still entranced) Then why did you yell so loud?
Tai: (angry) Would you two knock it off?!
(Sora approaches Tai.)
Sora: Tai… I don't mean to question your judgement… but why is my character an airhead?
Tai: Because we need an airhead and Mimi's already the secretary.
Sora: But why me? Do I look like an airhead?
Tai: No… but we need a secretary, a "child of light," a tomboy, and an airhead. Sorry!
Sora: Well… can't I be the tomboy? I used to be a tomboy!
Tai: I suppose that could be possible… there's just a catch.
Sora: What?
Tai: The tomboy has a crush on TK.
TK: Sweet!!
Kari: What's so sweet about that?
TK: Oh come on, you had Davis drooling over you for so long, but what did I have? Nothing! But here- I got a tomboy drooling over me! Tai, how bad does she have it for me? Is she as bad as Davis?
Tai: Actually, it's worse.
TK: Oh yeah?! How bad?
Tai: Let me put it this way… there's a Christmas episode.
(TK jumps in excitement, pumping his fist.)
Tai: Actually, to be perfectly honest, TK gets a nice little Tenchi thing going for him later on…
TK: I'M KING OF THE WORLD!!!
Sora: Wait- doesn't that mean that even the airhead has a crush on TK?
Tai: Well… maybe… but if the tomboy was Ryoko, the airhead is Mihoshi.
Sora: Mihoshi already is an airhead!
Tai: Well, would you rather be Ryoko? Or Mihoshi?
Kari: I thought the tomboy and airhead were named Kaoru and Reiko.
Tai: Shut up Kari.
Sora: Fine, fine, I'll be the stupid airhead…
Tai: Good! Places for Act Two! TK! Get down from there!
(TK is still dancing around excitedly.)
TK: Up from where?
(Kari comes in and drags TK away.)
Kari: Cloud nine. You know this is all pretend, right?
TK: You know I can still dream, right?
(A concert hall. TK and Kari are entering. While TK and Kari are both in their standard school uniforms, everybody else is dressed appropriately for the event. A sign says- "Sora Takenouchi- Live and Uncensored!")
Kari: They really have to sell these piano recitals don't they?
TK: You bet- I usually wouldn't be caught dead here… but that uncensored thing really catches my eye!
(Kari elbows TK in the stomach.)
Kari: Look, we're here for one reason only- I think we're on to something. Sora's playing has got to be a Gate Power.
(Kari and TK get their tickets and hand them to an usher to be directed to their seats.)
Usher: (irate) What the hell do you want?
Kari: Uh… aren't you going to direct us to our seats?
Usher: What do I look like, your navigator?! Your seats are written on your tickets, find them yourselves. Lazy bums.
TK: Hey, come on, isn't it your job to…
(The usher grabs the tickets angrily and points to them.)
Usher: (caustic) Look- Row 1. Here's a hint- look towards the front. Like maybe the very front. I bet you'll get lucky. Now get moving or I'll have you both thrown out.
(TK and Kari walk past him.)
TK: Boy. The workers are a bit uppity today.
Kari: Good thing we didn't order anything from the concession stand.
(They pass a guy with a cup of soda… resting upside down on his head. The soda is still dripping down.)
Soda Guy: I learned that the hard way…
TK: Let's just take our seats.
(Backstage, Sora is getting some last minute coaching from her mother.)
Sora: Why am I doing this again?
Mrs. Takenouchi: (encouraging) Because, Sora, all these people are here to see you. Do your best… or I'll disown you.
(Sora gulps.)
Sora: (nervous) Thanks Mom.
(Sora heads on stage and begins to play the piano. The music is very calming, and gives one the feeling that one is underwater. This is especially the case, as the entire audience begins to hallucinate that they are indeed underwater, with coral surrounding the room and fish swimming overhead. TK pulls out his extend-o-kendo stick and stabs one of the fish.)
Kari: (quietly reprimanding) TK…
TK: What, I missed lunch.
(Suddenly, the irate usher starts to scream and go into seizures. Other ushers do as well.)
Kari: Are they watching Pokémon or something?
(Without warning, another army of Invaders, in the same black suits, crash into the room and begin to open fire. Sora continues to play, oblivious, and the ocean hallucination remains. The audience conveniently decides to run for their lives.)
Kari: Oh no… not here. What are the odds?
TK: Hey I was right! We are battling! Tell Joe to kiss my…
(One of the Invaders fire, narrowly missing TK.)
TK: Oh my God! They're battling!
(TK turns to Kari, scared.)
TK: Kari, what do we do?
Kari: I'll protect Sora, you hold them off.
TK: Right.
(TK pulls out the stick.)
TK: GATE OPEN!!!
TK: Hello? Aren't you supposed to amplify my energy?
Kari: (OS) Try it again!
(Again, nothing. TK looks up at Kari.)
TK: Kari, I think this thing's broke- did Joe save the receipt?
Kari: Look out!
(An Invader goes right after TK, but TK jumps behind him.)
TK: Aw, screw the magic powers, I still have a big stick to fight with.
(TK swings the stick, which takes down an Invader. TK goes to work hitting them, while Kari throws in the occasional pot shot with her bow.)
Kari: TK! What are you doing?
TK: I'm doing fine!
Kari: No you're not!!
TK: Why do you say that?
(All of the Invaders he took down stand up, unfazed.)
TK: Oh shoot…
(Kari rushes over, takes out a few immediate ones, until she and TK can get a distance between them and the Invaders.)
TK: So I suppose I DO need the gate opened…
(Kari suddenly turns pissed and slaps TK across the face. The Invaders pause for a second and turn their heads, obviously shocked at the slap. They regain composure and resume the attack.)
TK: What was that for?
Kari: You're acting like an idiot!
TK: Yeah, that's the whole point! Remember? It's a TV show.
Kari: Look, you have to concentrate your energy. Feel your Gate Power…
(An Invader gets too close to Kari. Kari quickly elbows it in the ear. A small object falls out- an earplug. Without it, the Invader begins to go into seizures due to the music and blows up.)
TK: That's it! They can't stand Sora's music!
Kari: Attack the ears!
(They both aggressively focus on removing the earplugs on the ears of all the Invaders. The Invader stock is falling fast, but things aren't over yet, as the red guy pops in again.)
Kari: Oh no…
Kari: They're going into combat mode.
TK: Combat mode?
Kari: Remember the giant ball?
(The remaining Invaders fuse together. This time, however, it's not a giant ball… but a giant boombox.)
TK: This doesn't look good…
(To counter Sora's "enchanting melody," the boombox starts to play some Metallica. It drowns out the piano, and force TK and Kari to cover their ears in pain.)
Kari: I can't take much more of this!
TK: Is there anything we can do?
Kari: I'm trying to think… but the music's too loud!!
TK: Damn you Metallica!!
Kari: The only way to stop it is for Sora's music to overpower it!
TK: And just how the heck do we do that?
Izzy: (VO, over a loudspeaker) Leave that to me!!
(TK and Kari look up to see Izzy in the sound booth, smiling.)
Izzy: (VO) Need some help?
TK/Kari: (unable to hear) What?
Izzy: (VO) Never mind…
(Izzy presses a button on a control panel. A bunch of speakers and amplifiers pop in from under the stage and begin to amplify Sora's music. It begins to affect the giant boombox.)
Kari: It's working.
(The giant boombox spits some flying ninja compact disks at the piano, which promptly slices it in half, disabling the music. Sora looks up.)
Sora: What happened?
Kari: Oh boy… not good!
TK: Hey! That looked like an expensive piano!
Kari: That's it TK- get mad. Vent your frustrations over the damaged Steinway!
TK: GATE OPEN!!
(This time it works, as his kendo stick glows blue, he charges at the boombox, and slices it in half, effectively destroying it. Once it is destroyed, everything returns to normal. Sora stands up, totally confused.)
Sora: Wh… what just happened?
(Kari runs up.)
Kari: I'm Kari Kamiya, and this is TK Takaishi. Your magic just helped us stop the Invaders. We need your help. We want you to become a Gatekeeper.
Sora: I have magic?
TK: Yep. And it just saved our hides.
(Izzy strolls in.)
Izzy: Not to mention the fact that I conveniently decided to tag along in case you needed me.
Sora: I should probably ask my mother…
(Sora's Mom enters.)
Sora's Mom: I'm not exactly sure what they're asking you to do Sora… but it's a decision you will have to make on your own. I know I've been a little demanding Sora, but right now you have to make this decision alone.
Sora: I do… that's certainly nice of you.
Sora's Mom: Nice has nothing to do with it. Look what happened to this place!
(Indeed, the concert hall is a total disaster.)
Sora's Mom: Now I don't know about you, but the people who run this concert hall are going to be asking a lot of questions. So I'm just going to make myself scarce until things die down. Bye!
(Sora's Mom rushes out of the building.)
Sora: (clueless) Bye Mom!
TK: So will you join us?
Sora: Sure! I don't think I'll be doing any more concerts for awhile!
(Everybody laughs.)
Kari: Glad to have you aboard.
(Before they can truly enjoy the moment, police sirens are heard.)
Izzy: But Sora's Mom is right, let's get out of here!
(The four rush out of the building before the police arrive.)
End Episode Two
For those who are extremely anime-deprived, an explanation on a couple of the references- NERV is the secret government organization underneath Tokyo in "Evangelion" while Tenchi is a guy who has six girls fall for him, including the space pirate Ryoko and airhead cop Mihoshi.
Although a few selections Tai makes are genius, most of the casting assignments Tai makes are totally confusing, and Sora as the airhead Reiko is just the beginning. Once again, for the record-
Megane- Izzy Izumi
Reiko Asagiri- Sora Takenouchi
To avoid future confusion, the episode numbers and titles listed after the first scene are accurate according to the anime, while the number and titles at the beginning and end are relevant to Tai's production and the fanfic itself.
Next Episode- Let's Find Another Idiot!
The trio of Gatekeepers head to Himeji Castle in search of another teammate. They find a new one, full of pride and with a desire to do good for the common man. That comes into play as a heartless corporation wants to fill some valuable salt fields. Could the Invaders be involved?


Sir: I'm a real old guy (75) but I have a story to tell. In the fall of 1949 while a senior in high school I attended a night football game. I was sitting in the west bleachers facing east. At one point during the game I noticed a light in the eastern sky fairly low to the horizon. It slowly kept rising and the first thing I thought of that it was a *mail plane*. They were flying old DC-3s for that purpose back then. However, when it got up to about a 45 degree angle it stopped. I thought that that's odd. After a few seconds it shot off to the north making a 90 degree angle and man it was fast. It disappeared almost immediately. I've never forgotten this and ever since I've been a true believer in something out there.
Hi, Hope this finds you well. Sorry it has taken so long to get back to you, it is Football season and my son plays for (removed) so my wife and I "tramp around the northeast" this time of year!
Well a little background. My dad was Chief of the FAA office in Presque Isle. All the guys there were electronic techs and were responsible for navigational aids and some other equipment such as teletype machines at NOAA and Loring AFB. The nav-aids included the Presque Isle instrument landing system, PQI VOR and TACAN which were (and still are ) located in the middle of a potato field in Washburn, Me. This VOR equipment is considered one of the most important nav-aids in the States because it is the first or last an aircraft uses. Loring aircraft and any other military aircraft use the TACAN and it too is the first or last site in the USA. Ok now the boring is out!
I had a good friend from Boy Scouts whose father was the structures fire chief at Loring. They lived outside of PQI near Quoggy Joe State Park. Our families did a lot together outside of scouts, snowmobiling, camping, and family get together. That October, our troop had a Court of Honor which included a Pot Luck dinner. Rick's father Dale, didn't show up and his mom was very worried. That next weekend the Riley's were over and Dale told us about the sighting.
Seems that calls came in from some of the families on the base. They also saw the lights moving around the base. The base sent out an engine after the first calls came in from the base housing area claiming that lights were seen threw the trees as well as in the air. Dale said that, and I can't remember who, one of the higher ranking officers requested the engine to check out the housing area, and he assumed that it was because of a possible light plane or helicopter crash. After cruising the housing area they saw the lights towards the flight line and they headed in that direction. After reaching the gate to the flight line Dale said that they could see a red light over the area where the Nuclear storage site was located. The light stayed there for a time while the radios were going "nuts". After a short time (minutes) the light flew off only to return again before disappearing.
The Pentagon closed the base down, not letting anyone on or off, and cut off all non approved communications. In fact, before Dale got home, Rick called me and told us that they were afraid the war was "just around the corner", remember that Loring was a "Dew line" base or first strike .
Dale was allowed off base the next day, late in the afternoon after being debriefed by Air Force personnel. He was not on base the second night, but of course found out about it when he returned later in the week. A few days after this happened he was ordered to report for another debriefing. This time they were "suits". His words not mine. I didn't learn about the "men in black" until years later.
Now Dale retired and moved to Alaska, where they transferred from. Rick is now a minister somewhere in the middle America area, I've lost track of him while in the service.
What I find interesting is that the year before there was another series of sightings in the area. I have come to understand that Loring was visited then too, this from Dale. In December of 74, my next door neighbor and I were out snow sledding one night and observed a strange light passing over the town.
Thank you to the person for relating this interesting report.
Time: Around 12:30 - 1:00 p.m.
de Lima. This is what happened on a clear night at about 12.30 to 1:00pm. All of a sudden a bright orange ball at about 10 o'clock surrounded by a bright blue light, like a after burners of a jet fighter at about 15 to 20 miles high appears not moving at all for about 7 to 10 seconds, and than began to drop so fast that only took 2 to 3 seconds for this thing to stop at no more than 3000 feet. It almost went to a full stop and making a 45 degree turn as it was turning. You could see it vibrating a bit and it went halfway up and took off as fast it came. At the moment that it was coming down, it is like they know you are there. I have seen shooting stars, but this is something else. What I am intrigued by is the speed. Nothing that I know of has that kind of speed. Hope to elaborate a bit more. Thank you.
Location of Sighting: Over London, UK.
Shape of objects: Shape of triangle dark color.
HBCC UFO Research Note: The person who filed this report resides in Bratislava, Slovakia.
Full Description of event/sighting: I was looking for a job in London in past time and I was clearly witness of dark triangle strange looking object over London. I saw it somewhere on the higher ground place going from Hampstead, Brixton to London center. So it was somewhere going down to the edge of "center" 15 minutes to the position of bridge. It was clear day with some clouds, but very visible, the time was somewhere I can't remember, 10-12 a.m.
I was going with the two floored bus and I was on top in front position. So I had a very good view more than 180 deg. First I saw the dark triangle in air, probably really big because it feels it's more than 3-6km away from me. I was amazed, heart was bumping and I didn't believe my eyes. The bus was going so after few seconds I saw it one more time and it was clearly there, not moving in the air. It was a dark colored triangle shaped object and I didn't see any lights coming out from it. I can't really tell what was it but, for me really a UFO experience. I never saw a thing like this before, so maybe this info will help you. Thanks and good by.
Location of Sighting: Yard and side of home.
Shape of objects: Large and reddish.
Full Description of event/sighting: At approximately 2:00am that morning I heard a large bang that sounded like someone or something had hit the side of my home, vinyl siding, this sound was distinct and actually shook the house. We have had deer run through occasionally, so at first I thought it could have been a deer. I decided to go down stairs and investigate, I turned on my outdoor lights to back yard and as my eyes were adjusting. I noticed a large dark upright object standing next to a large bush adjacent to my neighbors yard. I grabbed a flashlight and shut off my outdoor lights and waited near my back door. In about 30 or so seconds I could make out something moving out from behind the bush and I then quickly turned on my flashlight and aimed at object. Six feet or larger about 400 lbs. or so and wide with long reddish hair, it let out a scream, this is the only way I could describe it that I have never heard before in my life, but won't forget. I decided to get a weapon and go investigate. Nothing was there but there was odor that smelled like a wet dog. No visible footprints, but a lot of broken and snapped branches. This is the first time I have told this story. Thanks for your time.
Weather Conditions: No clouds, sunny, open skies.
Description: While walking in the park called Signal-de-Bougy with my two daughters, me and my older daughter (who is 14) spotted a shape of an x caused by airplanes flying. We both looked up in the sky and my daughter pointed at something. There were 20 or 30 white objects, on the middle of the right side of the x shape, very far up in the sky. They were all in a cluster, moving independently but gradually all moving from the west to the east. They were all bunched up in the form of a circle, moving in between each other but never separating completely. They were very hard to see but also very bright since we could see them in daytime. We could see them for about 5 minutes, after which we couldn't spot them anymore. I took a picture of the x shape but the objects being very far away, they cannot be located.
Weather Conditions: Good, clear visibility.
Description: As my partner and I were making our way to the Bath bound platform at Old Field Park, I noticed one orange light below the Moon. At first I dismissed it as a star but it was bright orange and too large. To give an idea of size, if I were to hold a ruler up at arms length I would say it was 2 - 3mm in size. Also it was to low in the sky, we had good visibility and could make out the stars in contrast which were all above the Moon. I then noticed a second light and my partner a third and in the space of a minute there were five in total, all exactly the same. They were all moving vertically and seemed to be flying in a formation (zig zag).
this point I telephoned our friends who we had just left. They also witnessed these light but from at least half a mile away. When the lights reached a certain height in the sky they then went left across the sky towards Bath.
Description: Object was dull black, about 10'x10' but just an estimate. I along will others saw an object hovering just South of the Alliance Airport during practice runs of the Thunderbirds. This was in preparation of the Alliance Airshow which was to start the following day.
The object appeared during the practice and just hovered. The jets flew right past it without incident.
The following day I asked a crew chief of an F-16 if he saw the object, and he said he did. He didn't know what it was either. It slowly across the runway and after about 10 minutes or so went straight up. I'm wondering if anyone saw the same and have pictures. There were two people with telephone lens cameras. One person zoomed into it and said it was not a balloon.
Shape of object: Round front while the rear of craft was obscured by bright light.
Weather conditions: Clear in area of viewing with distant clouds.
Description: Approximately 1 hour after sunset, I noticed a peculiar red light in the sky N.E. of our home as I was in the back yard. The initial view was less than 1 km away while the object was approximately 2,000 feet off the deck. I thought that perhaps the light source was a helicopter conducting a search as the speed of travel was far too slow to be a fixed wing aircraft. Upon further observation the object emitted absolutely no sound whatsoever as it travelled very slowly from north to south close to 34th street, between 23rd avenue and Anthony Henday Drive.
slight arc to the S.E. while appearing to gain altitude and disappear out of site. The object made no sound, left no vapor trail nor was there any blurred trace effect on acceleration. Neither my wife or myself have ever witnessed anything like this previously.
Weather Conditions: Clear with some cloud.
Description: I saw either the same light-object as previously seen on the 10th October. This time it was slightly to more West and an hour earlier. (I'll eat my hat, if it turns out to be a star!) But I doubt it is a star, as I had a good and more clear-headed look at it last night.
Shape: I think it's an illumined cylinder or long thin cone. I also think it was revolving, slowly, as it looked like a round light (the front end, two lights, (turned slightly) growing to a line. I don't know how far away it was; it looked about 1/2 centimeter, through window. It stayed in the same place again for about 20 minutes. I got up to look out of a different window and by the time I got there, it had vanished.
Colour: This, I don't understand. I have two sets of binoculars, both about X25 mag. Through one set, it appeared arc-light green. Through the other, bright but smoky orange. ????
I will try and find out if it's a blimp or some kind of tethered illuminated balloon or something. (But why would it get turned off at different times?) Without binoculars, it looked like a large, bright star.
Time: 3:00 a.m. to 3:30 a.m.
Description: I was looking outside my window and I spotted 2 objects in the north sky. They seemed to be further away than an airplane would be. They were very bright and had different colored bright lights projecting from them - white yellow red violet amber. They seemed to be hovering and making irregular and random movements.
Time: Between 22:00hrs and 23:00hrs.
Description: Me and my husband was enjoying our weekend break in the JAL Hotel and Spa, Fujairah, UAE, we had just finished our meal and decided to go and sit outside to relax when a bright orange light caught my eye. It was traveling from a east to west direction, at first I didn't get alarmed I just sat and watched and was trying to understand and make sense of what I was seeing. I went through all the options, could it be the sun? No, could it be the moon? No, I then thought maybe it is a aeroplane or helicopter, it was far too high for a helicopter and it was silent and orange, then I thought maybe it was a aeroplane but I can say 100% this was not a areoplane either, this was a single very bright glowing orange light, so we didn't really have any explanation.
3mins at a very fast speed, then went upwards at a sharp angle and then disappeared. So we still don't know and cant make any explanation of what this was we had seen, could you please tell me if you have had any other reports from the same location or any other northern Emirates that could enlighten us or give some explanation of the possibilities. Many thanks for your time. We hope you hear from you soon.
Shape of objects: From a distance they appeared circular.
Full Description of event/sighting: While out trick or treating with the kids I looked up and observed a yellow orange glowing object slowly moving through the sky, followed approximately 1 mile by two more yellow orange glowing objects. After about 5 minutes the 2 following objects met up with the single object. All objects were about 1/2 mile apart. Approximately 5 minutes later the three objects appeared to ascend into the sky and disappeared.
Location of Sighting: Nelson Ledges Quarry Park.
Shape of objects: Round orange spheres.
Full Description of event/sighting: We were at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park listening to music and back at the campsite I saw an orange round object moving back and forth slowly in the sky, and then it would rapidly accelerate to another part of the sky and continue its' surveying. Others came out of nowhere to join the first, and they were in some sort of ring formation. The ring was oscillating, and growing in diameter it seemed. There were clouds coming in and the object became obscured, and for a good 20 mins this went back and forth, and the weirdest part, as soon as some one from another campsite started yelling about what that was and everyone was starting to talk about it the objects in the sky just vanished. There were a couple thousand people there at least, but due to the cloud cover it was hard to tell what shape they were in, and from talking to people the next day it seemed alot of people saw it.
Location of Sighting: Sacriston, North East England.
Shape of objects: Orange glowing orbs.
Full Description of event/sighting: On the late evening of November the 1st, 2008 while returning home, my wife and I witnessed a singular glowing globe travelling in an east to west direction. Initially I thought it was perhaps a helicopter beam, but as it came closer there appeared to be no other light on the object but a glowing orange orb. As it approached I attempted to listen for any identifying engine noise but none was heard.
About 3 or 4 minutes later a similar object in size and colour appeared travelling in an identical course. Again as it approached I switched off my engine and my wife and I got out of our car to watch and listen. As before, the object was totally silent and similar in shape and colour. We observed this globe again heading westward where we could see the other one perhaps 10 to 15 miles in the distance. The second one continued onward to meet up with the other one and we watched to see them appear to hover together in the sky. Because of the distance it was difficult to estimate the height they were but it did seem quite high. There was partial cloud cover but visibility was quite good. We had not been drinking or given to flights of fancy.
Shape of objects: Saucer or diamond shape.
Full Description of event/sighting: While watching TV in front of patio door, huge glowing object caught my attention. I called the wife over, turned TV off and we watched it cross our view for about 15 seconds. Object was travelling west to east, toward Aurora,and not changing in altitude, which I would estimate to be 5000 - 10000 feet. I would estimate speed at twice that of a jet, about 1000 mph. It appeared to be quite large, and we could make out a defined shape in the consistent white glow. My first impression, and my wife agrees, was a round saucer shape tilted forward 15-30 degrees. There was a glow to the rear which would also make it appear diamond shape like the other nearby report from last night ( we are 40 miles SW of Lake Simcoe.) From inside the house we did not hear any noise. Object was definitely too slow to be a meteor and was close enough that we could see a solid core in the glow, so I if 3 miles away, the size would be over 150 feet across.
Object must have been just south of Orangeville and the visibility was very clear with heavy jet traffic approaching Pearson Airport from the north. I would be really surprised if no one else saw this as it was so huge and in view for a long time. Immediately after observing the object, one of the jets made a dozen zig zag maneuvers, and turned his spotlights on, I think he was reacting to the object crossing his path, and then (I'm guessing) air traffic control started using another approach path as the jet traffic in my view immediately stopped. We were seeing a plane every 2 minutes, and then only one more followed the zig zagging one into Pearson.
Shape of objects: Rough shape.
Full Description of event/sighting: I spotted it by chance outside my window after I woke up. At first I thought it was a set of balloons, but when I looked more closely, part of it was swaying sideways (perpendicular to its direction of motion). It was difficult for me to make out because it was a bit far, but it looked like a banner with embedded balloons or something of sort. It wasn't very long. It's length was twice it's height and it was about the size of a helicopter. It was floating silently to the west, too fast for a balloon. To my estimate, it was about the speed slightly less than a helicopter at normal cruise. Later it changed direction to northwest and started ascending slowly as it became less visible, until it was too far to be seen. This all lasted less than 5 minutes. It had various colours, mainly purple and a yellow, roughly spherical part that was swaying. The background was cloudy. Almost immediately before I spotted the object I heard the sound of a helicopter which is common in my area, but the sound came from somewhere else and it stopped after a few seconds.
Location of Sighting: 8 miles past Salem on Sunnyview Rd.
Full Description of event/sighting: We were driving past some fields after leaving Lancaster and Sunnyview. The sky was completely black. My friend said "do you see that?" right as I looked up. It was a bright greenish light. It went down quite rapidly, and seemed to curve away from us; as if it was dropping elevation and propelling itself forward after leveling off. We went trough our options and there were no logical explanations to what we had witnessed.
November 2nd, 2008, Vernon, BC, around supper time, there was an incredible rainbow, so I ran to grab my Sony cam-corder to capture the rainbow, but it was pretty much faded by the time I returned. However the sky was full of what appeared to be glowing and pulsating white orbs. They stayed in formation, and drifted together until they were pretty much all gone within maybe 10 minutes. I tried to get a good shot of them, but the camera kept going out of focus. It was amazing to say the least.
Thank you to the witness for the report and sending the link for the footage.
Location of Sighting: QEW highway going from Fort Erie to Niagara Falls between Netherby and Sodom.
Number of witnesses: 4 in our car many other cars.
HBCC UFO Research Note: The witness for the below report says there were other vehicles on the highway at the time of the sighting of the triangular craft and that some slowed down I guess because they would have spotted the craft. So if anyone else saw this would they please contact Brian Vike at hbccufo@telus. net or through my website at http://www.hbccufo. org Thank you.
Full Description of event/sighting: I saw exactly what I have been looking into lately as reports in our area have been escalating. I saw one of the black triangle crafts last night at around 7-7:10 pm (dark) Me my friend (name removed), (names removed) were on our way to the Niagara Square to see a movie. That day I had been talking about aliens coincidently because I do in fact believe in them. As we traveled down the QEW, we see a very bright light as we drive out of Fort Erie, my friend was joking, saying oh is that a UFO?
This was not a human craft, or if it was, they are in league with much more intelligent beings.
It was hovering silently and motionless, completely stationary over a field on the right side of the highway if you are driving away from Fort Erie for all to see as if to say (I see you, you see me and how are you tonight) and only about 100 feet up. Just a little to the side of the highway you could see it was a massive craft and on it were some of the brightest lights I've ever seen. It illuminated the field and sky.
All the traffic on the highway had slowed down significantly as there was no way to miss it. It looked like a carnival in the sky and everyone was getting a good look at it, they sure weren't afraid of being seen and it was defiantly, distinctly triangular in shape. We rolled down the windows and could hear no engines, but their technology is far beyond that. So before this I was being made fun of by my friend earlier that day. She said believing in aliens was childish and stupid, but she apologized later that same day. all true if you know of better places to post this story let me know or if anyone saw the UFO on the QEW, November 2, 2008 at 7:00pm - 7:30pm near Netherby/Sodom road, contact me.
Brian, Last night three friends and myself seen a similar shaped air craft last night before 7:20pm. It had three large lights to shape a triangle and then a red light in the center. There were two smaller white lights on the sides on the red one. We seen it around the Netherby road exit, we were on the QEW from Fort Erie going towards the Niagara Square to see the new Saw movie. It was in one spot hovering, not moving at all. Other cars were slowing down around the object, they probably seen it too. It was on our left. When we came back from the movie we went the same way and it wasn't there.
Thank you very much to this witness for their report.
Time: From Dusk to 7:30 p.m.
HBCC UFO Research Note: This report below is sure welcomed as the folks are confirming the sighting for November 2, 2008 of a triangular UFO seen between Fort Erie To Niagara Falls, Ontario. Although these witnesses were a distance away and was not able to make out the shape of the craft, they still believe they witnessed the same as the other folks. The two below links are from other witnesses to this sighting.
Hello Brian, I am emailing you a second time as I am not sure the first one went thru. I do not see it in my sent box. I was searching the web for info. or reports on any sightings from Sunday night, Nov. 2nd 2008. I seen your site and this report. Me and my son were fishing along the shore of the Niagara river in Buffalo NY shortly before dusk and up until about 730pm.
Living in the Riverside section of Buffalo all my life, I am very familiar with the night sky and layout of the Canadian shoreline. Sunday night was a very clear, calm night at sunset with a nice orange horizon. Once it got dark, while we were still fishing, I happened to notice a bright light slightly to the left of the West River area which is along the Canadian border between Grand Island, Niagara Falls and Canada. The light was not a light I had ever seen in this spot and at the time I had been watching it, my son was also watching it.
The area where this light is, definitely sounds to be the same spot the other guy wrote about. No doubt. As we were getting ready to leave our fishing spot, my son mentioned to me as to what is that light, and is there maybe a fire over there? Referring to the glow on the land/trees in the area below the light. I thought maybe it was just ground light from a shopping mall type area?
I mentioned that the light is no way a star, as it appeared a little bit before it was actually completely dark. I mentioned as to look up and see that it is hard to see many stars from our vantage point with alot of city lights, and the moon was out (1/3 moon) with a visible planet above the moon to the left side. This light was to the right of the moon below it and about 100 feet minimum from the ground.
There was also a plane about 1/4 mile from this bright object, it was coming out of the West flying towards us. This plane had to have seen this object also. This light was approx. 2 - 3 miles from us. It was directly across from us and clear and crisp. We noticed once we really started to look at talk about it, a red flickering color from the bright light also.
At the distance we were, if there was three lights, of course it would only look like one to us. There is not doubt, that we seen red within this bright light. It just stayed in this one spot, without ever moving for at least 30 minutes, or even longer. As we kept watching it and talking about it, all of a sudden, it quickly dimmed, and then it was gone. It turned off like a light switch would turn a light out.
Like I said, the distance would not enable us to see a triangular pattern with the naked eye, but this is no doubt the same thing that everyone else seen. It was not a plane, tower, star, planet, flare, etc. etc. No way!
Feel free to email me and let me know what you think about this sighting of ours. Thanks.
Hi Brian, hope you are keeping well and enjoying. I wanted to report a sighting of something with many blue-white faded lights resembling the shape of a triangle. This just happened tonight, November 3, 2008. The time would be about after 7:00pm. I'm driving on Hwy 401 eastward. I'm noticing a stationary, bright intense flashing red light and white light 1-2 miles away north. This would be just east of Scarborough, at the Rouge River bordering western Pickering, Ontario. I'm guessing at about 1500 feet high in altitude. As I'm looking directly north, to the left of this helicopter, flashing a very rich bright intense red light. I noticed a "large" double tier triangular formation of faded blue-white lights to the left of the chopper. The attitude look as close as the helicopter's position.
The distance looked maybe another half to one mile away further from the helicopter. I was just really curious. If maybe you had received any reports of that I witnessed while driving my car on the 401. There was definitely something hanging in the night sky besides this stationary red flashing helicopter. There must have been other witnesses who were even closer in area. They must have noticed all the lights in a large span in the sky. This object may have even closer over the Metro Toronto Zoo. Big thanks for your time and your website of data reports in Canada/World. Take care.
Location of Sighting: Stone Mount Dr, Lr Sackville.
Shape of objects: Linear formation.
Full Description of event/sighting: I was looking out the front window of my house drinking a cup of coffee when I observed some lights off to the south. The time was 5:35am, and I initially thought that there were several planets lined up. I couldn't recall that anything like this was going to happen so I found it interesting that I had seen it by chance. As I continued to observe this formation it became apparent that it was moving toward me, but at a slight angle. As I realized this, I thought that it must be a plane of some sort, but I noticed some of the lights were not blinking in a regular pattern and I couldn't recall ever seeing a commercial aircraft head in that direction. I decided to go outside to get a better look.
I went into the yard and observed what appeared to be a small cluster of 4 bright white lights in a diamond shape with 4 or 5 small red/orange lights extending out from either side. The red-orange lights would appear and disappear at irregular intervals, unlike any blinking lights a normal aircraft might display. These lights were all in what appeared to be a straight line on either side of the white diamond pattern as it moved from the south-west to the north-east almost overhead of Lower Sackville NS.
As it got closer, I also noticed it was being followed by two blue-white lights that were positioned a ways behind and off to either side of the front line formation. They maintained a fixed position in relation to the other formation until they were almost overhead. Then the one that was on the left (from my view) suddenly maneuvered through two distinct arcs to a position behind the initial formation, but still slightly behind it. My impression was that this thing or things were high up in the sky. I didn't notice any noise, but stars did disappear as it passed in front of them. So I went on about my business getting ready for work and I really didn't mention this to anyone. I did, however check the local news on-line and listened to the radio to see if anyone else might have seen this thing. The sky was clear, there were no clouds at all. I also looked at different sights on the internet and I found a reference to, what seems to be a similar sighting at Calidonia, Nova Scotia in September.
Thank you very much to the witness for the excellent report.
Shape of objects: Blurry blobish (probably obscured by clouds).
Full Description of event/sighting: We were out walking around our property when the sky was lit up by a very bright object in the eastern sky (up Williams Creek valley) that seemed to be tumbling downwards following an erratic path. The sky seemed somewhat cloudy in that direction so the object was not well defined but it was very bright and lasted about five seconds as it tumbled downwards from SE to NE - as bright as a lightning flash but it was certainly not lightning. The trajectory was not a straight line but more of a tumbling corkscrew.
Location of Sighting: A pair traveling north to south southeast.
Full Description of event/sighting: I was in my backyard smoking a cigarette. I have always looked up when I'm outside, looking for meteorites falling, satellites, etc. I would have never imagined I would see 2 UFOs. They were flying side by side traveling about the speed of a falling meteorite. I would have figured that they would have been except the one on the left started swerving left and right like it was dodging something. I only saw them for a about 3 or 4 seconds before they went out of sight. I couldn't see any shapes or anything. They were about as bright as the human eye sees the stars. That's as best I can describe.
Location of Sighting: North East sky.
Shape of objects: Dark Triangle.
HBCC UFO Research Note: Recently there has been a number of witnesses to a black triangle sighting in Ontario, Canada. I now receive a report of a black/dark triangular UFO being seen hovering then shooting straight up out of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It is very important if anyone has been witness to a black triangle sighting in Ontario and Saskatchewan would you please contact me with a detailed report. You can email me directly at: hbccufo@telus. net or go through my website which can be found at: http://www.hbccufo. org Thank you, Brian.
Full Description of event/sighting: My husband and I were driving North on Preston Avenue, I was in the passenger seat looking out the window when I noticed this dark triangle with 3 lights hovering in the northeast sky, just sitting there. I started to ask my husband, "do you see that?." and just kept saying what ? He made a U-turn just as the triangle went straight up really fast. There was this trail of light as it went up. By the time we completed the U-turn it was gone. He never got to see we I saw, to confirm what I was seeing. I can only hope someone else seen what I seen.
Location of Sighting: Prince George, British Columbia.
Full Description of event/sighting: Hi Brian, this is Grandma here, remember us? I live with my daughter and grandson. I had taken him to his dentist appointment at 9:30 and when we were turning on to First Ave. I had noticed above me two white lines in the sky, they didn't look like the normal white line that planes sometimes leave behind them, these were very short and in a V shape. I couldn't see any plane attached to it or any noise. Anyways it started at 1st and Tabour and we drove home down 5th Ave. keeping our eye on it. It was getting smaller and smaller but it remained looking the same and just vanished. I thought it was odd looking as it didn't change shape and the two white very skinny lines didn't change. I also sensed yesterday morning that I was going to see something, that was surely odd. That's all I have to tell you.


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Politico drops a Superdelegate piece….
This is the joke read-in for me this morning….
The piece brings up superdelegates and contested nomination…
Did the author get a 'advance' from the Sanders campaign?
Superdelegates are now allowed after the first Democratic convention balloting….
They ARE firmly establishment people….(Read moderate)
Who in the two three IS an establishment moderates?
Contested convention?
AFTER Iowa and New Hampshire?
Who is the leader in state Democratic polling?
In the end?
The super delegates WILL confirm the choice …
They will NOT split…
The 'One'?
Has headwinds in the media to content with besides other candidates and Trump….
After months of consolidation, there are signs the top tier of the Democratic presidential primary may be expanding, leaving Democrats to confront the prospect of a lasting, multi-candidate contest that could drag on long into next year.
"I think it will be a brokered convention," said former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who said he came to that view within the past month, after seeing "Warren's rise, and Sanders staying where he's always been … and, I think, Biden's steadiness."
Richardson's outlook remains a minority view….
image….woai.iheart.com
Filed Under: Entertainment, Politics, Polling Tagged With: Biden, Contested convention, Democrats, Politico, Politics, Sanders, Superdelegates, Warren
My Name Is Jack says
Yes this stuff comes up very four years…
I'm gonna go way out on a limb and "predict " that the Democratic nominee will be chosen on the first ballot!
Ghost of SE on Inflation just keeps rising….Open Thread for 1/12/22……I'm trying to imagine who the tens of people are w…
Ghost of SE on Inflation just keeps rising….Open Thread for 1/12/22……https://www.easy-online-courses.com/site/political…


Jen McPherson (PhD Candidate, University of New Mexico) is a graduate project assistant for the American Historical Association's Career Diversity Initiative at the University of New Mexico. Today she shares some important lessons from her work with Erstwhile.
For the last three years, the History Department at the University of New Mexico has been one of four pilot programs participating in the American Historical Association's (AHA) Career Diversity for Historians initiative. At this year's AHA annual meeting in Denver, I had the opportunity to discuss UNM's progress, our successes, and more importantly, the chance to reflect on the lessons we have learned.
At UNM History, our program motto for career diversity is "Better Professors. Better Professionals." In our attempt to change the culture and structure of doctoral history education at UNM, we have developed a wide array of services and programs under the umbrella of career diversity. These activities include professionalization and teaching workshops, a "Career Pathways" speaker series, "Mellonized" seminars (I'll talk more about this below), and "open spaces" for students to ask faculty career-related questions. For PhD students, specifically, we have established a doctoral internship program that allows students the chance to design their own internship with a local or regional organization. During our first year, the department organized an internship fair with invited guests to pitch their organization and internship program. The following year, we increased our focus on student-engagement and established a full-fledged internship program. Now, students are encouraged to collaborate with an organization or center to design an internship that complements their research and professional interests. Students participating in the internship program have gained entrepreneurial skills, experience in outlining project budgets, timelines, and deliverables. Following the completion of an internship, students submit an internship report, present their work to the faculty and university community, and some have blogged for AHA Today about their experience. Since the start of our internship program, students have partnered with the National Hispanic Cultural Center, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, the Wheels Museum, the National Trails Intermountain Region, Edible Santa Fe, Morocco Worlds News, Scottsdale's Museum of the West, and the Albuquerque Museum.
During the first year of Career Diversity at UNM, we learned that introducing a separate project-based course with a client did not fully create the broad cultural and program changes we were aiming for. In the months that followed, we turned to our course offerings and wondered how best to integrate the AHA's "Five Skills" into our seminars. The questions for us then became: "What would happen if we tweaked one or two assignments?" "What would happen if we emphasized intellectual self-confidence or introduced quantitative literacy into seminar A?" We then realized we were asking ourselves to imagine, what one professor called, a "Mellonized" course. The term "Mellonized" recognizes the support received from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. It also describes the department's effort to better prepare graduate students for a broad array of careers by identifying, integrating, and enhancing career diversity skills within our current courses.
Since then our "Mellonizing" Faculty-Student Committee created a faculty resource bank of alt-assignments and exercises that are easily integrated into preexisting courses. Graduate teaching assistants can also use the list when designing undergraduate teaching syllabi. Some examples of alt-assignments proposed by our faculty and students include one-page policy briefs, peer-review critiques, student-designed collaborative projects, community presentations, historiographic videos, community-based learning projects, as well as, writing grants and conference proposals. UNM is at the beginning stages of this endeavor, but through open discussions and departmental surveys, we have learned that many of our courses are already well on their way to becoming Mellonized. A few of these courses can be found on the AHA's Career Diversity Faculty Resource page.
In everything that UNM Career Diversity for Historians has accomplished (and attempted) these last three years, the biggest lesson we have learned is that our best resource in creating the next phase of graduate history education is and always has been our alumni. Acknowledging and celebrating the diverse careers of our alumni, UNM History will host our first History Graduate Alumni Retreat on February 24-25. This two-day retreat welcomes back History PhDs from the last forty years. We have also invited university administrators from the Graduate School, Center for Teaching and Learning, the Alumni Association, and the UNM Foundation to take part in the retreat. We are asking our alumni to help us imagine and develop a comprehensive alumni network that creates synergy between our alumni, students, and faculty. We are excited to learn from and work with our alumni to implement career diversity across UNM. With a broad range of careers spanning professions inside and beyond the academy, the knowledge, experience, and insight of our alumni will surely better prepare our department and the University to think broadly about career diversity and its implication for graduate education.


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Some of the students of a rural school in SVG receive a donation of 20 laptops from digicel
DIGICEL connects 1,000 kids in rural schools
Christmas came early for some students in rural schools in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) this year with Digicel's recent gift of 20 laptops to help ace their studies.
The gift of 20 laptops to four rural secondary schools and one primary school will see 1,000 students benefiting from being connected, a Digicel release states.
The lucky schools were Central Leeward Secondary, West St. George Secondary, Sandy Bay Secondary, Georgetown Secondary and Langley Park Government.
Expressing delight at the opportunity to help the schools and students, Digicel St. Vincent and the Grenadine's CEO, Victor Kovacs said "This is what it's all about for Digicel. Life is all about connections and so are we – so it made perfect sense to us to gift our school kids with the connectivity tools they need to excel in their studies."
He continued: "Every small step towards bridging the digital divide and allowing people to benefit from being a part of the knowledge economy translates to increased opportunity for all. We're proud to play our part in building beautiful St. Vincent and the Grenadines as a digital destination and happy to help these kids to a brighter future."


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Encyclopedia > Phoenix, New York
Phoenix, New York
Phoenix is a village located in Oswego County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 2,251.
Geography Phoenix is located at 43°13'53" North, 76°17'53" West (43.231324, -76.298066)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.2 km² (1.2 mi²). 3.0 km² (1.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 8.80% water.
Demographics As of the census of 2000, there are 2,251 people, 959 households, and 578 families residing in the village. The population density is 762.4/km² (1,966.2/mi²). There are 1,041 housing units at an average density of 352.6/km² (909.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the village is 98.22% White, 0.36% African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. 0.98% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 959 households out of which 33.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.7% are married couples living together, 17.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% are non-families. 33.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 17.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.34 and the average family size is 2.98.
In the village the population is spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 80.5 males.
The median income for a household in the village is $30,199, and the median income for a family is $36,442. Males have a median income of $29,542 versus $22,412 for females. The per capita income for the village is $16,434. 13.2% of the population and 9.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 19.0% are under the age of 18 and 11.2% are 65 or older.
... of the town is 98.12% White, 0.00% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. ...


Yes, but in a respectful way. Listen to each other. Don't judge each other.
And if you disagree with someone, it means you see things differently, not that the other person is wrong. Perhaps if we listened more, respected each other more, we would understand more.
Politics have no place at a family event, especially not the dinner table.
Preparing and sharing a meal is an act of love and fellowship. Maybe pair it with a good bottle of wine, but never politics.
Some families like to discuss politics and have respectful discussions. I like speaking with my aunt, although she has some views that are different than mine ... but above all is our fondness and respect for each other.
If we cannot embrace respectful discussion about our political differences at a special meal where we should all be thankful for each other—and what we are grateful for—why are we even talking to each other? Keep the dialogue open; that is our only hope for change.
I think it is important for families to discuss world events and politics when they get together. In some cases, holidays are the only time the extended family is in the same place at the same time. The exception would be if there is a hothead in the family who can't have a mature conversation without losing [his or her] cool.
When guests and family overstay their welcome, I bring up not only politics, but also religion and spouses. My house gets cleared out pretty quick.
When it comes to politics, strong opinions can be found on all sides, but is it appropriate to discuss politics at the holiday table? Some say sure; the right to speak our minds is a treasured American value and we can disagree without being disrespectful. Others warn that political discussions trigger strong emotions that can turn what should be a time for peace and goodwill into a verbal war zone.


Anne is an acknowledged competition law expert whose clients value her strong business sense and her pragmatic and results-oriented advice.
Anne, who heads the firm's Brussels office, is a Partner in our Competition & EU Law Group.
Anne has nearly 25 years of experience advising clients in all areas of EU, German and international competition law. Her practice has a strong focus on merger control and cartel investigations. Anne has been involved in a large number of complex Phase 2 merger control cases before the European Commission and the German Federal Cartel Office and she frequently handles and coordinates multijurisdictional merger control proceedings. She regularly represents clients in EU cartel proceedings and assists companies in conducting internal investigations to identify and address anticompetitive conduct. Her practice also covers representing companies in EU and national abuse proceedings and advising on the competition law aspects of a broad range of agreements. Many clients also seek Anne's strategic advice and assistance for developing and implementing competition law compliance programmes.
Anne's industry expertise spans a number of sectors, including automotive, electronics, telecommunications and post and logistics.
Anne is a member of the board of the German competition law association (Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht). She is regularly listed as a "frequently recommended" competition lawyer in the German directory JUVE and as a leading practitioner in The International Who's Who of Competition Lawyers & Economists. She was featured in Global Competition Review's 100 "Women in Antitrust" 2013 survey and was ranked as one of the leading female competition lawyers in Belgium in the Euromoney Guide to the World's Leading Women in Business Law.
Anne is fluent in English and French.
Anne Federle splits her time between Brussels and Düsseldorf, and is at her most visible in merger control proceedings and cartel investigations.
One impressed interviewee states: Anne Federle "is outstanding - very personable, a quick thinker, pragmatic and solution-driven."


Foundations - fixed timestep game loop, resource loading, sprites, etc.
Level Maps - Using a simple image to define levels.
Entities - data driven entities.
Collision Detection - simple grid collision detection.
Game Logic - state machines and decoupled pub/sub event handling.
On a related note, if there happens to be any pixel artists out there who might be interested in collaborating on spicing up the graphics for this project please get in touch. I'm using programmer art and sprites ripped from old NES roms, but I think its about time I found someone to help make my games look a bit better.
If you are interested, please get in touch jake@codeincomplete.com. If you are in the Seattle/Eastside area all the better!


Adequate bioassays are needed during all stages of drug development, e.g. for candidate screening, characterization of potential modes of action and safety assessment during preclinical testing as well as potency, stability and comparability testing during manufacturing.
Glycotope provides extensive knowledge in the development of functional assays for different biotherapeutics. We have specialized experience with complex cell-based assays for antibodies using human primary immune cells to support drug development in the field of immuno-oncology, e.g. immune-cell recruiting bi-specifics and checkpoint antibodies. Furthermore, we also have long-term expertise in developing in vitro bioactivity test systems for hormones and coagulation factors.
We develop multiple types of bioassays by using a broad array of technologies, e.g. cell-based assays, multicolor flow cytometry, imaging, ELISA, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, Alpha technology and electrochemiluminescence (ECL).
With our broad experience we establish the best assay design to meet individual customer requirements for a specific drug from assay design up to method development and ICH-compliant validation. Glycotope is also certified according to ISO 9001.