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You are here: Home / Features / Mario Maximalism: Super Mario 3D World and What Mario Should Learn from Kanye West
Mario Maximalism: Super Mario 3D World and What Mario Should Learn from Kanye West
January 22, 2015 By Jake Muncy Leave a Comment
A couple months ago, I bought a Wii U. It's the first Nintendo home console I've owned since roughly 2006, when I ill-advisedly sold my Gamecube to, uh, I don't remember, buy an Xbox or a pipe bomb or something. I've missed my Gamecube a bit ever since: there's something uniquely delightful about a good Nintendo console game, a well-developed Mario or Zelda or Metroid. It might be just how carefully crafted and polished they are, or it might be a function of nostalgia, but there's a refreshing pleasure there that I don't get from many other games. Call it Nintende se quoi.
So when I first popped in the disc for Super Mario 3D World, which came bundled with my Wii U, I felt all the excitement and trepidation of reuniting with an old friend. The newest Mario game I'd played, after all, was Super Mario Sunshine, over a decade ago. How would it feel? Would Mario and I even recognize each other after all this time?
In an important sense, I needn't have worried. Super Mario 3D World is nothing if not familiar. 3D here is a bit of a misnomer: this is Mario in something like 2.5, a viewpoint that feels almost isometric at times, largely side-scrolling but with the ability to move on the third plane as well, sometimes a necessary ability, often just a great way to accidentally fall to your untimely death. By utilizing that perspective, the game is able to feel more modern than older Mario games while using essentially the same structure as the NES and SNES titles: a number of worlds with discrete stages, each stage ending with you jumping on a flagpole and each world ending with a castle and a boss fight against Bowser or one of his minions.
The basic structure isn't the only element that's borrowed from earlier Mario titles. In fact, nearly every element here feels taken from somewhere else. There are stages where you have to rotate the camera, like in Super Mario Galaxy; the jumping moves and wall-jumps are straight out of Super Mario 64; there are moments where you can control multiple characters at once like in the Mario & Luigi games, etc, etc, etc. Nearly every conceit from every Mario game is here one way or another, along with a bevy of new elements and ideas. In fact, every corner of this game is bursting with some mechanic, some new powerup, some novel task to keep you occupied. There's a cat suit that lets you climb up walls to reach hidden areas. There's a dinosaur (Plessy, who, bless his heart, is the cutest) you ride as he slides around on his belly, inexplicably his only means of transport.
On top of that, the game has collectibles coming out its ass. Each level has three green stars and one stamp, and collecting them all requires stubborn completionism and competent play, as they often necessitate you using a specific powerup to reach. There's a lot to do here, is my point. So much to do, and it all feels comfortably familiar. Despite that, however, my playtime was always perplexed by a nagging sense of boredom. There was so much to do, but I never actually wanted to do any of it. Despite Super Mario 3D World doing everything it possibly could to keep my attention, I only had to play for a few minutes before I felt myself wander, putting the gamepad down in search of something more stimulating to do.
I have a theory that you can define just about every Mario game based on World 1 or its equivalent. In Super Mario World, for instance, the Mario game I've spent the most time with, World 1 consists of a few basic stages that introduce the core gameplay elements within a mostly unified aesthetic, a grassy-hilly island. One level introduces Yoshi, another shows how water works in Super Mario World, and there's also a switch level, introducing the mechanism whereby you can fill in blocks in the greater world by finding and activating the right switches. The levels are fairly leisurely and unchallenging, and they all iterate on the basic walk-from-left-to-right structure in slow, measured ways.
In contrast, Super Mario 3D World's World 1 is significantly less coherent. It tries to do the same thing its SNES sibling does, introducing all the elements necessary to understand and play the game, but it fails to do so in a way that feels measured or even necessarily logical. The levels force you to acclimate to different forms of camera positioning, multiple new powerups, new mechanics, new secrets, a means to discover hidden platforms and items that involves blowing on your Gamepad (which is never, ever a good idea, Nintendo designers, it feels absurd), the aforementioned Plessy, and the first Captain Toad level, which, despite being charming and fun enough to support its own standalone game (hey, somebody should make one of those…), here just adds to the clutter.
The levels also ditch aesthetic cohesion, with one level taking place in a technicolor chrome circus and the castle somehow ending in a boss fight against a convertible-driving Bowser.
That wasn't a joke.
It doesn't hold together, really, and it's hard to get invested in the play. The novelty, instead of being exciting, was dulling. If every Mario is defined by its World 1, Super Mario 3D World is anxious and hyperactive. "Don't like that?" it says. "Well, how about this? Or—or this? Um, are you having fun yet?"
"Runaway," the centerpiece of Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, begins with one note, a single chord played on the piano. Plink. Plink. Plink. For a long minute, the track is nothing else, no other sound but that insistent yet intermittent chord. Plink. Plink. Plink. This is probably the most powerful moment on the entire album, the emotional start of the emotional climax. And it's mostly silence.
Silence isn't what we really remember about My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, however. The music critic's word of choice here is "maximalism," a sense of bigness, of digging out every element Kanye had at his disposal and throwing it together in a production booth blender. Kanye's 2010 opus is about bigness, excess, always more, always further, no one man should have all that power. And yet. Plink. Plink. Plink.
This is how Kanye's maximalism works; with silence, with blank space. There are moments on the album where he simply raps over a beat, or where the backing music takes over completely. These calmer, quieter moments recalibrate you, let your attention rest so you can pick up subtleties and dig into the complex energy when 'Ye goes big.
Super Mario 3D World is missing blank space. Every moment is filled with the white noise of collectibles, remixed ideas, and attempts at flashy design. It never feels like you get to rest here, or just do Mario things without having to deal with all this other stuff. There's a simple joy in Mario, the joy of progression and well-timed jumps and killing things by stomping on their heads. But you're never given much of a chance to recalibrate to that simple pleasure, that quiet. And without that, Super Mario 3D World's maximalism mostly just feels like noise.
Jake Muncy is a freelance writer, editor, and poet living in Austin, TX. In addition to writing for Loser City, his writing appears on Ovrld and anywhere else he can convince people to post it. You can contact him by email or twitter, where he tweets regularly about video games, the Mountain Goats, and sandwiches. He has very strong feelings about Kanye West.
Filed Under: Features, Reviews Tagged With: game review, Games, jake muncy, kanye west, nintendo, Review, super mario 3d world, video games, wii u
About Jake Muncy
The Scream: Remembering Chester Bennington's Voice and Why It Connected with so Many


Launched in March 2014, SDSN Brasil is a network of 43 civil society organizations, academic and public institutions that also counts on multiple partners from the private sector.
Its main objective is to present solutions for sustainable urban development, focusing on the Thematic Network 09: "Sustainable Cities: Inclusive, Resilient and Connected", of the 12 thematic groups launched by SDSN Global, with a focus on implementing SDG 11.
The work of the Network begins in the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro, in the medium term, to expand nationally. SDSN Brazil will be key to implementing this urban goal in a network effort, whose goals and indicators will help guide its work.
The Rio Sustainable Cities Initiative is one of SDSN Brazil's flagship activities. The project aims to define comprehensive and sustainable urban development strategies that are underpinned by local and national cooperation. By facilitating dialogues on SDGs at all levels of government and society, SDSN Brazil aims to enhance SDG monitoring in metropolitan areas with a view to institutionalize SDGs within planning and policy frameworks.
To take it one step further, SDSN Brazil, in partnership with GIZ, the German Society for International Cooperation, has launched a project with key stakeholders across the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Area (RJMA) and other metropolitan regions throughout Brazil to examine solutions for local implementation of the SDGs. The project catalyzes inclusive dialogue, establishes metropolitan cooperation structures, and helps monitor progress on the SDGs in the specific context of Brazilian metropolitan areas. Results from the Rio Sustainable Cities Initiative will be written up in partnership with Casa Fluminense, a local Rio-based NGO. Using the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Area as a practical example, the report will illustrate how the process of local SDG contextualization, data gathering, and monitoring can be achieved. SDSN Brazil hopes that this initiative can serve as an inspiration to other metropolitan regions throughout Latin America, as well as to localities around the world that face similar challenges.
The objectives of sustainable development are an invitation made for the global community to change inequalities and the course of the action of societies and nations. Accepting the invitation is essential for development in times of uncertainty.


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Trying to shove local politics under your nose since before it was cool: Frederick County Edition
Tag: critical race theory
Let's not let the pearl clutchers prevent our children from learning the truth about history.
June 25, 2021 August 6, 2021 fclocalyokel2 Comments
Oh, grow up!
You've probably been living under a slimy rock if you haven't heard of the newest American culture war: The argument over whether or not to teach Critical Race Theory. If you aren't familiar with the topic, as many people who are protesting it don't seem to be, take a look at this definition from a recent Education Weekly article:
"Critical race theory is an academic concept that is more than 40 years old. The core idea is that racism is a social construct, and that it is not merely the product of individual bias or prejudice, but also something embedded in legal systems and policies.The basic tenets of critical race theory, or CRT, emerged out of a framework for legal analysis in the late 1970s and early 1980s created by legal scholars Derrick Bell, Kimberlé Crenshaw, and Richard Delgado, among others. A good example is when, in the 1930s, government officials literally drew lines around areas deemed poor financial risks, often explicitly due to the racial composition of inhabitants. Banks subsequently refused to offer mortgages to Black people in those areas."
The 1619 Project offers a lot of great viewpoints on our history and if you take the time to really invest in becoming a more educated and thoughtful person, you may become pretty angry at the gaps in your own education. Let's look at an example of how white washed our history was/is by exploring a Washington Post Magazine article about a Confederate re-enactor which includes some very interesting passages from the main subject of the article's Junior High School textbook:
"We're not claiming bad things never happened," he finally said, after pocketing his rescue inhaler, "but it wasn't all whippings and killings, either." This echoed a lesson from the eighth grade, page 401, about Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin." The 1852 abolitionist novel "described scenes of horrible cruelty which were supposed to have grown out of slavery," the textbook says. "Southern people knew that the [novel] gave a false picture. A Richmond magazine said that it was wicked for Mrs. Stowe to use her imagination in such a bad way."
With most able-bodied white men off fighting, the authors wrote, "the Negroes could easily have run away." Yet they "remained loyal to their white mistresses even after President Lincoln promised in his Emancipation Proclamation that the slaves would be freed." The historic decree — which isn't discussed anywhere else in the book — was issued after 21 months of war. Frank said he will argue to his "dying breath" that it was conceived as an appeal to anti-slavery sentiment in the European public, to discourage England and France from recognizing the Confederacy.
This year was the 100 year anniversary of Tulsa race massacre. Not until we were much older did your Lady Yokels learn of this massacre, and not until this very year did we learn that Black houses and businesses were destroyed by airplanes using incendiary devices! How is it acceptable that this information was withheld (because people made deliberate decisions to keep this incident and other important events out of our classrooms) and how can we allow it to continue? We've allowed generations of Americans to grow up with half truths and a perception of a rose-colored past…and it shows! The All Lives Matter folks aren't all acting out of menace and racism, they literally do not know the history of their country because the systemic racism in this country hid it from them. To everyone's detriment!
These anti-critical race theorists would like you to believe that teaching the truth about American history is going to make white children feel bad about themselves and to that we say:
Absolute trash!
First of all, if young people of color have to experience racism, and unfortunately they still do, then white children can learn about the origins of it. There's a great book by a former West Point historian, Ty Seidule, called "Robert E Lee and Me." Not only does the author explore his own past of growing up in Virginia and learning to worship Robert E. Lee, he also comes to the conclusion that the Lost Cause narrative led not only to the continued oppression of black people, but also left the white people ignorant of their own country's history. One of the best arguments the author makes for whites learning the truth about our history is the cotton candy analogy.
It's okay to be uncomfortable. But it's worse to avert your eyes and not deal with it. We can deal with it. We Americans aren't made out of cotton candy. We defeated the Germans and liberated the concentration camps. We put an end to chattel slavery. You know, we can deal with the harsh truth of the past and get better. But if we don't deal with it, we're going to continue to be abused by the past, rather than be able to use the past to make a more just and equal society.
We can take the truth, we should demand the truth, and we need to make sure our children learn the truth. The reason we need to be aware of this today is because the ones who believe we are made of cotton candy will try to take over the school board next year. Just look at what is happening across the river in Virginia. We all need to keep in mind the points made in this Slate article about not allowing this topic to become the next culture war in these here parts. The noodley appendage is already freaking out and getting people riled up over this topic. And why is it that these people always insist in showing us just how important it is to have these topics taught in school?
Sigh, if only critical thinking had been taught in school when she was a student a lot of trouble would have been saved for all of us!
Truth!
Let's all continue to educate ourselves and insist on a proper education for our children, so maybe just maybe we can honestly reckon with our past and allow ourselves to make some real progress in this country. Then, and only then, will this be a country in which everyone has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We can't let these people take us backwards.
We will leave you will this video of our current Chief of Staff answering a very ignorant question from sleaze ball Congressman (come on Florida!) Matt Gaetz:
https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2021/06/23/general-mark-milley-critical-race-theory-matt-gaetz-vpx.cnn
Tagged #we are not made of cotton candy, critical race theory, Frederick County Board of Education, Project 1619

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Horn Face
How large is our Milky Way galaxy
by horn face
Among History Channel's productions regarding our known 'universe' a recent program depicts astronomers' conclusions about the size of our Milky Way saying it is 'approximately 26,000 light years from Earth to the center of our Milky Way' and that we are on the outer fringes. If so, then our universe is approx. 55,000 light years diameter.
This begs the question: What are our astronomers identifying as 'the Milky Way?' Are they really seeing just a segment, a 'constellation' perhaps 'within' our Universe — or the whole shebang! Compared to the immensity of space 26,000 light years is not very far, really.
Let's digest this topic from other points of view.
NASA has recently retired the Space Shuttle program – perhaps they were just too slow! If our next ships, (the Constellation Program) could travel faster, let's say the speed of light (186,000 miles per second), we could maybe zip around the universe and see for ourselves the vastness of it. But traveling the speed of light, it would take us a very very long time to cross from one end to the other—according to NASA.
"When we leave the Solar System, we find our star and its planets are just one small part of the Milky Way galaxy. The Milky Way is a huge city of stars. It is so big that even at the speed of light (300,000 kilometers per second or 186,000 miles per second) it would take 100,000 years to travel across it. All the stars in the night sky and our Sun live this galaxy. There are also of other stars that are too faint to be seen."
Image above: Imagine that our galaxy is the size of a quarter Credit: Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STSCI/NASA); US Mint
On NASA's website:
"Imagine that our entire Solar System were the size of a quarter. The Sun is now a microscopic speck of dust. The nine planets are too. Their orbits are represented by the flat disc of the coin. On this scale, the diameter of our Milky Way galaxy will be about the size of the United States! How far away is the nearest star –Proxima Centauri to our Sun? In our model, it would be the size of a quarter, too. And it would be two soccer fields away! "
"So how big is the Universe? No one knows if the universe is infinitely large. We are not sure if ours is the only Universe that exists. And other parts of the Universe, very far away, might be quite different from the Universe closer to home. Future NASA missions will continue to search for clues to the ultimate size and scale of our cosmic home."
In a nut shell this about covers Science and NASA's estimations. What does mankind, on planet Earth's scriptural references have to say:
Holy Bible: There is much speculation as to interpretations, yes, but basically, the bible simply asserts that "God made the heavens and the earth" in 6 days and rested on the 7th day. Another place in the bible is written 'one day to God is like 1000 years to man,' therefore the Christian religionists conclusion of a 6,000 year old earth and its parent universe.
Still, regarding 'size' of the universe … the bible gives no definition other than phrases like "a vast expanse."
An interesting dissertation regarding biblical credibility versus astronomy's findings is found in a book, The New Answers Book 2 by Dr. Jason Lisle March 4, 2010 wherein he justifies the 6000 year old Christian age-of-earth claim: Says Dr. Lisle:
"Scripture also addresses the age of the universe. The Bible teaches that the entire universe was created in six days ( Exodus 20:11 ). We know from the genealogies and other events recorded in Scripture that this creation happened about 6,000 years ago."
On a local-Utah side note: A recent poll in 2009 reveal that 78% of the LDS culture hold to this 6000 year-old Earth belief.
What do Mormons have to say of the vastness of this space?
In LDS (Mormon) scripture there is very much to say about the "heavens." In addition to the traditional Christian scripture "in my Father's house are many mansions," there are other scriptural versus noteworthy describing differing levels of heaven all encompassing the "three degrees of glory" where all believers go, and "outer darkness" where those who reject God will dwell.
It may be safe to say that the whole of religion takes more of a mystical approach to the word "heaven" as if heaven were not really a physical location at all, but a belief. Could one actually navigate in time, to the actual Isle of Paradise, or heaven?
To bring this query into reality rather than mystical: imagine at tonight you go outside into the dark. You look up asking 'where, at this moment is my grandfather" (who has passed away). As you gaze up into the night's sky with that question in mind; and pointed your finger space-ward moving from left to right (for instance), would you be getting 'hotter' or 'colder' in that line between your finger and the end of that line out in space where your grandfather actually is? Another question for another topic, is 'how did he get there?'
Mystical-thinking keeps us from thinking logically.
Perhaps the most descriptive on universe cosmology is found in the LDS 'Book of Abraham' scripture, wherein father Abraham was shown the secrets of the universe:
11. Thus I, Abraham, atalked with the Lord, face to face, as one man talketh with another; and he told me of the works which his hands had made;
12. And he said unto me: My son, my son (and his hand was stretched out), behold I will show you all these. And he put his hand upon mine eyes, and I saw those things which his hands had made, which were many; and they multiplied before mine eyes, and I could not see the end thereof.
13. And he said unto me: This is Shinehah, which is the sun. And he said unto me: Kokob, which is star. And he said unto me: Olea, which is the moon. And he said unto me: Kokaubeam, which signifies stars, or all the great lights, which were in the firmament of heaven. (Abraham chapter 3)
Outside of the Christian scripture…
The Holy Quran has some interesting verses that are perhaps is a fit to present-day astronomist's conclusions. According to Al Islam—the Official Website of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, in the Quran:
And the heaven We built with Our own powers (aydin) and indeed We go on expanding it (musi'un).1
Do not the unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were a closed-up mass (ratqan), then We clove them asunder (fataqna)? And We made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?2
The Torah: What is the Jewish belief regarding the immensity of space? In a recent speech by Rabbi Yossi Mizrachi (youtube January 01, 2010) the Torah, "as written 3321 years ago," God answers, in essence, a calculation equating to 10 to the power of 19 or (10 19). That number approaches 1 quadtrillion stars.
The Sikh Schripures. In the SikhiWiki … Guru Granth Sahib on the Universe:
"There are planets, solar systems and galaxies.
If one speaks of them, there is no limit and no end."
Translation from the original text in Gurmukhi recited by Guru Nanak
in about 1499 found in the Sikh holy scripture called the Guru Granth Sahib
The Sikh scriptures have said great many things about the Universe. However, although Gurbani has been in existence since about 1499 and the Guru Granth Sahib has been the Guru of the Sikh since 1708, the world has not been listening.
Carl Sagan was an American astronomer, astrochemist, author (1934 – 1996), as well as an expert in astrophysics and other natural sciences. Carl Sagan was also a consultant/adviser to NASA since the 1950's and briefed the Apollo astronauts before their flights to the Moon.
This is what Carl Sagan, wrote in his book the Pale Blue Dot:
"How is it that hardly any major religion has looked at science and concluded, 'This is better than we thought! The Universe is much bigger than our prophets said, grander, more subtle, more elegant'? Instead they say, 'No, no, no! My god is a little god, and I want him to stay that way.' A religion, old or new, that stressed the magnificence of the Universe as revealed by modern science might be able to draw forth reserves of reverence and awe hardly tapped by the conventional faiths."
Back to the original question – the size of our Milky Way…
The most in depth claim on the cosmos is found in the Urantia Papers—claimed to be authored not by any human, but our celestial overseers 'in our universe' assigned to enlighten us. There are hundreds of pages attributed to the vastness and cosmology of space found in the Urantia Papers. The timing of their transmitting was between 1905 – 1935, but not printed until 1955.
Compared to the History Channel's conclusions that our Milky Way is 26,000 light years from Earth to it's center; and NASA's findings (100,000 years from one end of Milky Way to the other—or 50,000 light years from Earth to the 'center'), the Urantia Book says it (the Milky Way) is "a trifle less than 250,000 light-years" from the outermost inhabited planet to the 'center' … and we (Earth/Urantia) are quite toward the outer edge.
Further … the Urantia book says that "Uversa" which is at the 'center' and headquarters sphere of Orvonton–our Superuniverse (the milky way), is about 200,000 light years from Jerusem (not Jerusalem, but Jerusem–our headquarters world of our LOCAL SYSTEM of Satania, of which our small solar system is a part).
15:3.1 Practically all of the starry realms visible to the naked eye on Urantia belong to the seventh section of the grand universe, the superuniverse of Orvonton. The vast milky way starry system represents the central nucleus of Orvonton, being largely beyond the borders of your local universe. This great aggregation of suns, dark islands of space, double stars, globular clusters, star clouds, spiral and other nebulae, together with myriads of individual planets, forms a watchlike, elongated-circular grouping of about one seventh of the inhabited evolutionary universes.
So then, what of the 26,000 light-years as History Channel's astrologers have presented; or the 100,000 light-years which NASA has discovered. If it is 250,000 light-years from the "outermost edge" of milky way to center of milky way; and 200,000 light-years from center to our local system headquarters world "Jerusem," this leaves 50,000 light-years difference. And since HC and NASA say 26,000 light-years from Earth to center … the question is 'center of what?'
With this information from the Urantia Papers, one could postulate that what our present-day scientists are calling the Milky Way may only be our system of Satania (which has presently 619 inhabited worlds and near-countless other planets and stars); or our Constellation of Edentia; or Nebadon—our local universe made up of 100 systems. (see chart below).
What is the 'system of Satania?'
Per the Urantia Papers, Satania derives its name from a pretty high-up administrator of 'our' segment of the universe ages-ago which 'rebelled' against Michael the Creator-Son and the Universal Father (which answers why we are on such a barbaric planet, perhaps)… yes, Satan, the cohort of Lucifer.
Remember, scripture refers to Lucifer as the one time a "son of the morning" a most brilliant personality, who simply came out in open rebellion against God ages ago, and drew with him "one third" of the hosts of heaven. The Urantia Papers say this rebellion-infected neck of the woods was Satania — the very system of which we live.
Being the most drastic-affected of this 'rebellion,' Earth suffered the greatest losses of all the rebellion-isolated planets. "One third" of our "system of Satania" fell–joined the rebellion (much like depicted in Star Wars movie).
Enter Adam and Eve …
Still, per the Urantia Papers: With the evolutionary Earth hundreds of thousands of years under the rule of the fallen ones, Adam and Eve, from our system capital, volunteer to come and take on human-form. They are provided earthen bodies wherein they can react with us. The Garden was set up to sustain them and the "tree of life" was to keep their immortal bodies energized.
Being under strict orders to 'not mix their seed with the seed of the native Nodites' … and that 'in the day that they did so, they would be cut off from their tree of life and will suffer death like the mortals outside the garden,' Adam and Eve did well–for about 100 years–until the sophisteries of Satan and Lucifer overcame Eve.
The very Creator himself (Michael/Jesus) came here 2000 years ago as 'one of us' intending to reclaim mankind through his pure love and teachings of truth. The powers that be simply rejected and crucified him—plunging us into the 'dark ages.'
Back to the 'size' of our universe…
Another likelihood, what History Channel and NASA's experts are describing as 26,000 light years maybe very well be the whole "Local Universe—Nebadon" (Jesus' personal creation) of which Satania is a small part.
The Urantia Papers describe Nabadon as having a present registry of 3,840,101 inhabited worlds (still very young in evolutionary time-line… maximum will be 10,000,000 worlds). What our scientists are calling Milky Way is most likely Nebadon. This would make more sense given the approximate 50,000 light-years difference in the words above.
32.2.11 The Satania system of inhabited worlds is far removed from Uversa and that great sun cluster which functions as the physical or astronomic center of the seventh superuniverse. From Jerusem, the headquarters of Satania, it is over two hundred thousand light-years to the physical center of the superuniverse of Orvonton, far, far away in the dense diameter of the Milky Way. Satania is on the periphery of the local universe, and Nebadon is now well out towards the edge of Orvonton. From the outermost system of inhabited worlds to the center of the superuniverse is a trifle less than two hundred and fifty thousand light-years."
One could calculate then, the 'superuniverse' of Orvonton what the Urantia Papers call our "Milky Way" is approx. 500,000 light years diameter. That is 20 times more light-years than our present astronomers thinking.
In essence the Milky Way, according to the Urantia Papers, is one of 7 such 'super-galaxies' that revolve around the central perfect universe of Havona—the center of which is the Isle of Paradise.
See the chart below for the vast breakdown of inhabited worlds of time/space.
Len Mckee–Examiner
15:2.9
The Grand Universe. Seven superuniverses make up the present organized grand universe, consisting of approximately seven trillion inhabitable worlds plus the architectural spheres and the one billion inhabited spheres of Havona. The superuniverses are ruled and administered indirectly and reflectively from Paradise by the Seven Master Spirits. The billion worlds of Havona are directly administered by the Eternals of Days, one such Supreme Trinity Personality presiding over each of these perfect spheres.
15:2.10Excluding the Paradise-Havona spheres, the plan of universe organization provides for the following units:
Superuniverses
Major sectors
Minor sectors
Local universes
Local systems
Inhabitable planets
7,000.000,000,000
15:2.11Each of the seven superuniverses is constituted, approximately, as follows:
One system embraces, approximately
1,000 worlds
One constellation (100 systems)
100,000 worlds
One universe (100 constellations)
10,000,000 worlds
One minor sector (100 universes)
1,000,000,000 worlds
One major sector (100 minor sectors)
100,000,000,000 worlds
One superuniverse (10 major sectors)
1,000,000,000,000 worlds
15:2.12All such estimates are approximations at best, for new systems are constantly evolving while other organizations are temporarily passing out of material existence.
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Home » Our guides » The Marriage of Figaro by Beaumarchais (Book Analysis)
Tags: 18th century literature, Beaumarchais, class, comedy, condition of women, deceit, Enlightenment, French Revolution, French theater, love, marriage, politics, social criticism
The Marriage of Figaro by Beaumarchais (Book Analysis)
978280801161754EBookPlurilingua PublishingThis practical and insightful reading guide offers a complete summary and analysis of The Marriage of Figaro by Beaumarchais. It provides a thorough exploration of the play's plot, characters and main themes, including privilege, social class and the position of women in society. The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time. This clear and detailed 54-page reading guide is structured as follows: Biography of Beaumarchais Presentation of The Marriage of Figaro Summary of The Marriage of Figaro Character study Figaro Suzanne Count Almaviva Countess Rosine Marceline Chérubin Bartholo Analysis of The Marriage of Figaro A controversial political play Revitalizing comic theater Comic techniques in The Marriage of Figaro Figaro's monologue About The Marriage of Figaro The Marriage of Figaro is one of the best-known works by the French polymath Pierre-Augustin Caron, better known as Beaumarchais. It is the sequel to The Barber of Seville and features a number of the same characters, including the eponymous valet, Count Almaviva and the elderly fool Bartholo. It was first performed in 1784, just five years before the advent of the French Revolution, and numerous subsequent politicians and critics have suggested that the play's political dimension and social criticism foreshadowed this momentous event. About Beaumarchais Beaumarchais was born Pierre-Augustin Caron in 1732. The name by which he is best known today is believed to be derived from the name of an area of land that belonged to his first wife, "le Bois Marchais". Beaumarchais flitted between an extraordinary number of careers over the course of his life: he initially followed in his father's footsteps as a master watchmaker, before acting as a music tutor for the King's daughters, then taking on a number of political positions and supporting both the French and American revolutions. However, today he is best known for his plays, particularly the Figaro trilogy (The Barber of Seville, 1775; The Marriage of Figaro, 1784; and The Guilty Mother, 1792).This practical and insightful reading guide offers a complete summary and analysis of The Marriage of Figaro by Beaumarchais. It provides a thorough exploration of the play's plot, characters and main themes, including privilege, social class and the position of women in society. The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time. This clear and detailed 54-page reading guide is structured as follows: Biography of Beaumarchais Presentation of The Marriage of Figaro Summary of The Marriage of Figaro Character study Figaro Suzanne Count Almaviva Countess Rosine Marceline Chérubin Bartholo Analysis of The Marriage of Figaro A controversial political play Revitalizing comic theater Comic techniques in The Marriage of Figaro Figaro's monologue About The Marriage of Figaro The Marriage of Figaro is one of the best-known works by the French polymath Pierre-Augustin Caron, better known as Beaumarchais. It is the sequel to The Barber of Seville and features a number of the same characters, including the eponymous valet, Count Almaviva and the elderly fool Bartholo. It was first performed in 1784, just five years before the advent of the French Revolution, and numerous subsequent politicians and critics have suggested that the play's political dimension and social criticism foreshadowed this momentous event. About Beaumarchais Beaumarchais was born Pierre-Augustin Caron in 1732. The name by which he is best known today is believed to be derived from the name of an area of land that belonged to his first wife, "le Bois Marchais". Beaumarchais flitted between an extraordinary number of careers over the course of his life: he initially followed in his father's footsteps as a master watchmaker, before acting as a music tutor for the King's daughters, then taking on a number of political positions and supporting both the French and American revolutions. However, today he is best known for his plays, particularly the Figaro trilogy (The Barber of Seville, 1775; The Marriage of Figaro, 1784; and The Guilty Mother, 1792).application/pdf1
This practical and insightful reading guide offers a complete summary and analysis of The Marriage of Figaro by Beaumarchais. It provides a thorough exploration of the play's plot, characters and main themes, including privilege, social class and the position of women in society. The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time. This clear and detailed 54-page reading...
This practical and insightful reading guide offers a complete summary and analysis of The Marriage of Figaro by Beaumarchais. It provides a thorough exploration of the play's plot, characters and main themes, including privilege, social class and the position of women in society. The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time.
Biography of Beaumarchais
Presentation of The Marriage of Figaro
Summary of The Marriage of Figaro
Count Almaviva
Countess Rosine
Chérubin
Bartholo
Analysis of The Marriage of Figaro
A controversial political play
Revitalizing comic theater
Comic techniques in The Marriage of Figaro
Figaro's monologue
About The Marriage of Figaro
The Marriage of Figaro is one of the best-known works by the French polymath Pierre-Augustin Caron, better known as Beaumarchais. It is the sequel to The Barber of Seville and features a number of the same characters, including the eponymous valet, Count Almaviva and the elderly fool Bartholo. It was first performed in 1784, just five years before the advent of the French Revolution, and numerous subsequent politicians and critics have suggested that the play's political dimension and social criticism foreshadowed this momentous event.
About Beaumarchais
Beaumarchais was born Pierre-Augustin Caron in 1732. The name by which he is best known today is believed to be derived from the name of an area of land that belonged to his first wife, "le Bois Marchais". Beaumarchais flitted between an extraordinary number of careers over the course of his life: he initially followed in his father's footsteps as a master watchmaker, before acting as a music tutor for the King's daughters, then taking on a number of political positions and supporting both the French and American revolutions. However, today he is best known for his plays, particularly the Figaro trilogy (The Barber of Seville, 1775; The Marriage of Figaro, 1784; and The Guilty Mother, 1792).
Persian Letters by Montesquieu (Book Analysis)
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Meet your private driver at the pier in Livorno, and head to the city center of Florence, where you enjoy free time on foot to see the most famous monuments such as the Gothic Duomo (cathedral), Giotto's bell tower, the Baptistery doors, the Palazzo Vecchio, Loggia and Ponte Vecchio bridge.
This private excursion includes a driver guide who provides commentary while you are in the vehicle and then you have free time in both Florence and Pisa. Your driver guide can make recommendations based on your interest.
If you decide you want to visit the interior of any sites, we can provide a service of a licensed guide and skip-the-line tickets for the Academy Gallery (David) and the Uffizi Gallery.
You will have time for lunch and shopping according to your wish.
In the afternoon you drive to Pisa to visit the UNESCO-listed "Field of Dreams". This pedestrian area is one of the finest architectural ensembles in the world, including the Leaning Tower and the Duomo, a Romanesque masterpiece dating back to the 11th century.
Florence: Cradle of the Renaissance, romantic, enchanting and utterly irresistible, Florence is a place to feast on world-class art and gourmet Tuscan cuisine.


Step it up, the PUMA Platform Shimmer sneaker has. Sitting on a 4cm flatform sole, this profile will let you keep up with the off-duty style scene. The light grey leather upper features a shimmering Formstrip and silver foil branding.


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Newfoundland and Labrador, Canadian province, Vexillology/Vexillography, History
Flag of Newfoundland and Labrador
Christopher Pratt
Flag of the Franco-Terreneuviens
The flag of Newfoundland and Labrador was introduced in 1980, and was designed by Newfoundland artist Christopher Pratt. The flag design, with the proportions 2:1, was approved by the House of Assembly of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, on May 28, 1980. It was flown for the first time on Discovery Day; June 24, 1980.
The design was chosen due to its broad symbolism. The blue colour represents the sea, the white colour represents snow and ice of winter, the red colour represents the effort and struggle of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and the gold colour symbolizes the confidence Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have in themselves and for the future.
The blue triangles are meant as a tribute to the Union Jack, and stand for the British heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador. The two red triangles are meant to represent the two areas of the province—the mainland and the island. The gold arrow, according to Pratt, points towards a "brighter future"; the arrow becomes a sword, honouring the sacrifices of Newfoundlanders in military service when the flag is draped as a vertical banner. The red triangles and the gold arrow form a trident, symbolizing the province's dependence on its fisheries and the resources of the sea.
1 Newfoundland
2 Labrador
3 Proposals for a New NL Province Flag
4 Proposals for Newfoundland and Labrador separately
Newfoundland[edit | edit source]
Flag of Newfoundland
The Newfoundland Tricolour was originally the flag of the Star of the Sea Association, a fraternal organization in St. John's, in the late 19th century. The flag, a green–white–pink vertical tricolour, is currently used as unofficial flag of the island of Newfoundland.
Labrador[edit | edit source]
Flag of Labrador
Michael S. Martin
This section uses Creative Commons licensed content from Wikipedia. (view authors)
The unofficial flag of Labrador is used to represent the mainland part of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador as distinct from the island of Newfoundland. It was designed in 1973 by Michael S. Martin. The flag has been influential in Labrador; its colours are mirrored in the flag of Nunatsiavut, and its spruce twig was adopted for use on the Franco-Terreneuvien flag.
Proposals for a New NL Province Flag[edit | edit source]
NL Flag Proposal "Hank Gigandet"
NL Flag Proposal "Gigandet - amended by Tibbetts 1"
NL Flag Proposal "Gigantes - amended by Tibbetts 2"
NL Flag Proposal "Tibbetts 1"
NL Flag Proposal "Jack Expo"
Newfoundland and Labrador Province Canada Flag Proposal No. 1 Designed By: Stephen Richard Barlow 15 SEP 2014 at 1100hrs cst
Newfoundland and Labrador Province Canada Flag Proposal No. 2 Designed By: Stephen Richard Barlow 15SEP2014 at 1117hrs cst
Newfoundland and Labrador Province Canada Flag Proposal No. 3 Designed By: Stephen Richard Barlow 15SEP2014
Nordic Cross using the shade of Green off the NFLD Tricolour, bordered by white. The left cantons use the pink off the NFLD Tricolour, and the right cantons use the blue off the Labrador flag. The Nordic Cross is defaced with the escutcheon of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador exactly in the center of the cross, and the upper right canton is defaced with a to-scale version of the Labrador spruce twig. By Ryan Menchion, 7 November 2014.
Newfoundland and Labrador Flag Proposal by 5thEye. 2014.
Newfoundland and Labrador Province Canada Flag Proposal No. 10 Designed By: Stephen Richard Barlow 04 FEB 2015 at 1303 HRS CST.
Newfoundland and Labrador Province Canada Flag Proposal No. 10a Designed By: Stephen Richard Barlow 04 FEB 2015 at 1309 HRS CST.
Newfoundland and Labrador Province Canada Flag Proposal No. 10b Designed By: Stephen Richard Barlow 04 FEB 2015 at 1316 HRS CST.
Newfoundland and Labrador Province Canada Flag Proposal No. 10c Designed By: Stephen Richard Barlow 04 FEB 2015 at 1542 HRS CST.
Newfoundland and Labrador Province Canada Flag proposal No. 10d Designed By: Stephen Richard Barlow 05 FEB 2015 at 1420 HRS CST.
Newfoundland and Labrador flag proposal 1 by Hans. Feb 2016. (details)
Cross with multi color field. Design by Rotten Ali.
Newfoundland and Labrador Flag Proposal 1 by Ted.peterson22. July 2018
Proposal for a flag for Newfoundland and Labrador. By Qaz Jan 2020 (details)
Proposals for Newfoundland and Labrador separately[edit | edit source]
A traditional Newfoundland Tricolour defaced by a slightly vertically off-centered Great Seal of Newfoundland. By Ryan Menchion.
Newfoundland flag proposal by Philip Tibbetts
Labrador flag proposal by Philip Tibbetts
Retrieved from "https://vexillology.fandom.com/wiki/Newfoundland_and_Labrador?oldid=33435"
2 Massachusetts


The City of Madison is offering mini-bonds to our residents! By buying mini-bonds, residents can invest in the future of our city, and earn tax-exempt interest at the same time.
Residents will be able to buy mini-bonds for one week only, October 3-9, 2018.
The City will use the funds from the mini-bond program for the expansion of Olbrich Botanical Gardens. The new learning center at the Gardens will welcome learners of all ages, interests, abilities, and backgrounds. An energy-efficient greenhouse will grow even more flowers and plants for the gardens. The project is being funding jointly by the City of Madison and the Olbrich Botanical Society, with each partner providing up to $6-million in support.
Bonds are usually sold in denominations of $5,000, but the City has lowered this amount to $500. Offering smaller bond amounts will make the bonds more accessible to community investors.
The City, through broker-dealer Neighborly Securities, will sell up to $2.1 million in bonds during the 7-day order period, October 3-9, 2018. The City will issue bonds on a first-come, first-served basis on orders between $500 and $50,000.
The City will be holding two informational sessions to allow residents to ask questions about the new program. These sessions will be held in late September and early October and will be announced in the near future.
Community bonds are exempt from federal taxes only. Under state law, interest on community bonds is not exempt from state taxation. City of Madison mini-bonds will not be subject to redemption prior to maturity. The interest rate will be determined at the opening of the order period.
To learn more about buying mini-bonds, please visit cityofmadison.com/community-bonds. For more information about the project, or to make a tax-deductible contribution to Olbrich Botanical Society's Rooted and Growing Capital Campaign visit olbrich.org.
For questions about setting up an account with Neighborly to purchase Neighborly bonds, please contact Neighborly at (866) 432-1170, support@neighborly.com, or neighborly.com/madison.


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Home/Ford Edge/2023 Ford Edge ST: What We Know So Far
Ford EdgeFord Edge ST
2023 Ford Edge ST: What We Know So Far
All New Ford Edge ST Concept, Specs, and Price
fordcarusa Send an email July 16, 2021
2023 Ford Edge ST – In terms of performance, the 2023 Ford Edge ST is unquestionable. This car is capable of being a comfortable explorer that is equipped with various driver assistance features including the Co-Pilot 360 feature from Ford which is ranked as the top Safety Pick.
2023 ford edge st concept
The Ford Edge ST 2023 brings a powerful engine in the form of a 2.7-liter turbocharged V6 engine that produces 335 horsepower and is channeled to all-wheel drive. The New Ford Edge ST 2023 is expected to reach 60 mph in less than six seconds. Of course, some of its competitors such as the 2023 Chevrolet Blazer and the 2023 New Honda Passport will provide fierce resistance in its ranks.
2023 Ford Edge ST Interior Redesign
2023 Ford Edge Titanium Redesign
New 2024 Ford Edge: Spacious, Powerful, and Noise Free
Ford Edge ST 2023
In its latest generation, the 2023 Ford Edge ST Concept offers several small improvements such as improvements in driving comfort and several improved technologies. Improvements to the infotainment system are in the form of a 12-inch touch screen and equipped with the latest SYNC4 features from Ford.
Not only that, there is a heated steering wheel, 10-way passenger seats, rear parking sensors now present on the New Edge ST 2023. This car also gets an upgrade on the gearbox side, namely engine power is now driven through a seven-speed automatic transmission.
New Ford Edge ST 2023 Exterior
On the exterior, the New Ford Edge ST 2023 offers a simple style but looks tough and has fast performance. The 2023 Edge ST is equipped with 20-inch alloy wheels, fake vents, dual exhausts, black hexagonal grille and is equipped with front and rear LED lights. Seen from the dimensions, the New Edge ST 2023 is a crossover that has a fairly large size with an overall length of 189 inches, has a wheelbase of 112.5 inches, and a height of 68.5 inches, with a ground clearance of 8.5 inches.
New Ford Edge ST 2023
The Edge 2023 is 76 inches wide and has a maximum weight of 4,122 lbs, while the 2023 Ford Edge ST Model has a maximum weight of 4,515 lbs. This difference is due to the heavier V6 engine in the 2023 Ford Edge ST, compared to the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that comes with the regular 2023 Ford Edge.
2023 Ford Edge ST Model Engine
As a vehicle that prioritizes performance, the 2023 Ford Edge ST Redesign relies on a powerful engine in the form of a 2.7-liter turbocharged V6 engine that produces 335 horsepower of power and 380 lb-ft of torque. This V6 engine will reach a maximum power of 335 horsepower at 5,500 rpm. The performance produced by the V6 engine is almost like a turbocharged diesel engine, although with an additional 1,000 rpm.
2023 Ford Edge ST Redesign
New Edge St 2023 Interior
In its latest generation, the Ford Edge ST 2023 receives an upgrade to the interior with a fresher design. The inside of the cabin is decorated with a 12-inch touch screen interface like the New Ford Mustang Mach E 2023. Some physical buttons are still available because Ford did not transfer all controls to the touch screen interface. Some of the buttons in the form of the main sound system and buttons for adjusting climate control are still separate.
Not only that, the 2023 Ford Edge ST also offers special bucket seats in several model variants and is equipped with a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. The front is also decorated with a 4.2-inch dual LCD screen in the instrument cluster, as well as an updated infotainment screen on the front center console.
2023 Edge ST Cargo and Space
As a vehicle that is in the crossover range, it is fitting for the New Edge ST 2023 to offer a large cargo capacity. Of course this car doesn't disappoint with the rear seats in place, the 2023 Edge ST has 39.5 cubic feet of space. But lowering the rear seats will result in a wider cargo space of 73.4 cubic feet.
The latest generation 2023 Ford Edge Model also offers impressive interior storage. Inside the cabin, there are double cupholders on the back of the middle seat in the rear row. On the front there is also a pair of cupholders, as well as large storage located behind the center console. The middle passenger seat is also equipped with armrests and is equipped with a large storage area. Overall, the Ford Edge 2023 is capable of being a very practical vehicle.
2023 Ford Edge ST Redesign Features
New Edge ST 2023 is equipped with advanced features and looks very good. Some of these features in the form of the Co-Pilot 360 feature, hill start assist, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and collision warning are available. The car is also equipped with remote start, dual 4.2-inch LCDs in the instrument cluster, keyless entry with push-button start, cruise control, rain sensing wipers, rear parking sensors and automatic LED headlights.
2023 Edge ST Interior Model
Other features include wireless charging, heated front seats, dual zone climate control, hands-free liftgate, ambient lighting and heated steering wheel. Not only that, several additional features such as adaptive cruise control, panoramic sunroof, 180-degree parking camera, and ventilation for the front seats are also available.
2023 Ford Edge ST Price Release
Although Ford has not provided a leak regarding the 2023 Ford Edge ST Price, it is estimated that the price offered will increase slightly compared to before. Preliminary estimates, Price of the Ford Edge ST 2023 will start from MSRP $44,000. The price excludes a destination fee of $1,250 and an acquisition cost of $650. As for the price of the New Ford Edge ST 2023 the high variant will reach the range of $ 55,000.
2023 Ford Explorer XLT Interior Exterior Design
2023 Ford Explorer Hybrid Concept Released
2023 Ford Edge Interior First Look


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Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso, Your Lie in April (2014), 四月は君の嘘
Music accompanies the path of the human metronome, the prodigious pianist Kousei Arima. But after the passing of his mother, Saki Arima, Kousei falls into a downward spiral, rendering him unable to hear the sound of his own piano. Two years later, Kousei still avoids the piano, leaving behind his admirers and rivals, and lives a colorless life alo… more Music accompanies the path of the human metronome, the prodigious pianist Kousei Arima. But after the passing of his mother, Saki Arima, Kousei falls into a downward spiral, rendering him unable to hear the sound of his own piano. Two years later, Kousei still avoids the piano, leaving behind his admirers and rivals, and lives a colorless life alongside his friends Tsubaki Sawabe and Ryouta Watari. However, everything changes when he meets a beautiful violinist, Kaori Miyazono, who stirs up his world and sets him on a journey to face music again. Based on the manga series of the same name, Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso approaches the story of Kousei's recovery as he discovers that music is more than playing each note perfectly, and a single melody can bring in the fresh spring air of April. less
Rating: 9.96 (50 Votes) Rate it!
Genres: Drama, Music, Romance, School, Shounen
Watch Your Lie in April Online
Your Lie in April Episode 22 Mar 15, 2016
Your Lie in April Episode 9 Mar 15, 2016


At the Milan Fashion Week spring/summer 2015 -Alexandre Cunha, Florian van Bael, Angus Low, Wojtek Czerski, Anatol M and Camil W. – Thank you guys for great season.
Panda Models actions from catwalks and backstage.
The Eyes Have It–Returning to the pages of Details after a story last year, Brazilian model Alexandre Cunha appears in the magazine's June/July 2014 issue. Photographed by Doug Inglish, Alexandre heads outdoors, soaking in California's sunny rays. Equipped for the summer sun, Alexandre rocks luxury sunglasses from labels that include Saint Laurent and Ray Ban.


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Monthly Update – August 2020
This month's updates from the Office of Research.
FACULTY ENGAGEMENT:
CONGRATULATIONS! We are happy to announce the FY21 awardees for all Office of Research award programs. Seventy-two proposals were submitted to seven award programs, of which 33 were awarded (16 to female lead PIs) for a total of $2.9M. Details on program awardees can be found here: Core Instrumentation & Dean's Matching Fund; Ming Hsieh; Collaboration Fund; Zumberge Diversity & Inclusion; Zumberge Individual; Zumberge Interdisciplinary Large. The Request for Proposals for the 2020 Provost's New Strategic Directions in Research award will be announced soon! We are also still accepting applications for the Zumberge Interdisciplinary Small program (rolling deadline).
Research during COVID-19: We are in Phase 2 (letters and added numbers have been dropped) and happy to scale research up to 50%, per the latest guidance found here.
Researcher forums: We held open forums on Research During COVID-19 (including featuring USC research on COVID-19) on August 18th and Navigating Research @ USC on August 19th. The slides are found here.
Mentoring and training workshops: Click here for new 2020 Center of Excellence in research workshops.
FEDERAL FUNDING PATHWAYS: NIH announced a virtual seminar on program funding and grants administration to be held in October, intended to demystify the application and review process, clarify federal regulations and policies, and highlight areas of special interest or concern. Registration begins on September 4th; more information is found here. The FY 2022 R&D budget priorities memo was released in August, outlining key White House priorities as agencies begin working on their budget submissions for the next fiscal year. The five R&D budget priorities are: 1) American public health security and innovation; 2) American leadership in the industries of the future and related technologies; 3) American security; 4) American energy and environmental leadership; and 5) American space leadership. The full memo is found here. For assistance related to federal funding opportunities, please contact Steve Moldin.
USC STEVENS CENTER FOR INNOVATION: Michael Arciero, Director of Technology Licensing and New Ventures, has accepted a position as VP of Intellectual Property and Corporate Development at ERS Genomics. His last day USC was August 31, 2020. Michael joined USC Stevens in 2015 and contributed significantly to the growth in licensing activity; we are appreciative his service and wish him all the best in his future endeavors. Until a replacement is hired, Jennifer Dyer will assume the responsibilities with the support of two Associate Directors of Licensing: Donaldson Santos (Life Sciences) and Ruben Flores-Saaib (Physical Sciences), and Sue Kim, (material and data transfer agreements and confidentiality agreements). Also please see the updated list for school/department licensing contacts.
RESEARCH INTEGRITY: The Office of Research Integrity has updated the USC policy on misconduct in research, with input from the University Research Committee and the Academic Senate. The new policy, Research and Scholarship Misconduct, explains misconduct and details the USC investigation process, including how and where to report any allegation of potential falsification, fabrication, or plagiarism of data. If you have questions regarding the policy or would like to report or discuss any potential research misconduct concerns, please contact Dr. Kristen Grace.
OPRS/IRB: As we move to allow for limited field/community-based research, iStar has been updated. Under item 9.1, the PI will need to indicate if the study includes engagement in in-person direct participant interaction in field/community-based contexts. If yes, the PI will need to upload a new study-specific PI plan. In addition, if the study involves field/community-based activities, the study team will be required to answer iStar questions from EH&S to ensure that the study team will have the correct protections while in the field. Please see the OPRS website for more information.
CONTRACTS & GRANTS: DCG recently announced new KC Proposal certifications and questions to assist faculty in ensuring relationships with foreign entities comply with federal disclosure requirements. Foreign components of federally funded research, as well as applicable other support, should be disclosed on proposals, progress reports, and final technical reports. Additional information and resources on how to meet International Collaborations and Disclosure Requirements, including Sponsor Guidance, can be found on the Office of Culture, Ethics and Compliance website.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY: EH&S, in collaboration with the Office of Research, University Research Committee, and other stakeholders, developed a new Research Personnel Protection policy. The new policy applies to USC faculty, staff, students, and visitors working in hazardous spaces (e.g., labs, workshops), or who oversee/engage in hazardous field work, and defines safety principles, responsibilities, and enforcement protocols.